Data... a love story
As everyone knows, I LOVE DATA! Whether it is old math, new math, statistical analysis, or just rankings, give me some numbers and I am happy.
One of my favorite datasets is 'Most Popular Baby Names.' I also enjoy 'most popular dog names' and 'most popular surnames.'
The Social Security Administration has just released its list for 2007. in addition to providing a national listing, one can also see how each state compares to national trends. Even more exciting (for me, at least) is the fact that you can compare lists over time - annually since 1960! At the national level you can see how your name ranks back to 1880 (as long as it falls in the Top 1,000). For example, Kurt ranked 913 in 1894, moved up to 801 in 1896, and then disappeared until 1911. Popularity increased annually, beginning in 1948, and reached its highest point - 109 - in 1964. My moment was short-lived as Kurt began to lose its cache, falling to 957 in 2005, and off the list for 2006 and 2007. On the other hand, when my son was born in 1980 we named him Noah - a name than ranked 241 nationally and out of the Top 100 in Michigan. We started a trend which has resulted in Noah ranking 14th nationally in 2007 and 5th in Michigan. I mentioned this to him last night and he confirmed that he is getting tired of hearing young mothers calling for Noah everywhere he goes.
While we were trend setters with our son, the naming of our daughter - Leah - in 1983 did not catch on quite as well (a fact that, judging from our son's experience, is probably appreciated by her). In the year of her birth, her name ranked 82nd nationally and 140th in the State of Michigan. By 2007, she had risen only 14 spots nationally but jumped to 59th in her home state.
Where do you rank? If your name is Emily you have been #1 nationally since 1996, succeeding Jessica (9 years), Ashley (2 years) and Jennifer (15 years) who ruled the roost since 1970. On the male side of the equation, Jacob has held the top spot for the last 9 years, taking over for Michael which was #1 every year from 1961 through 1998. In fact, Michael was also #1 from 1954 to 1959, falling behind David only in 1960.
Go to the Social Security Administration's website and have some fun - http://www.socialsecurity.gov/OACT/babynames/index.html - you never know what facts you can store and retrieve when conversation hits an uncomfortable silence.
I told you that DATA CAN BE FUN!
Kurt Metzger
Research Director, United Way for Southeastern Michigan
One of my favorite datasets is 'Most Popular Baby Names.' I also enjoy 'most popular dog names' and 'most popular surnames.'
The Social Security Administration has just released its list for 2007. in addition to providing a national listing, one can also see how each state compares to national trends. Even more exciting (for me, at least) is the fact that you can compare lists over time - annually since 1960! At the national level you can see how your name ranks back to 1880 (as long as it falls in the Top 1,000). For example, Kurt ranked 913 in 1894, moved up to 801 in 1896, and then disappeared until 1911. Popularity increased annually, beginning in 1948, and reached its highest point - 109 - in 1964. My moment was short-lived as Kurt began to lose its cache, falling to 957 in 2005, and off the list for 2006 and 2007. On the other hand, when my son was born in 1980 we named him Noah - a name than ranked 241 nationally and out of the Top 100 in Michigan. We started a trend which has resulted in Noah ranking 14th nationally in 2007 and 5th in Michigan. I mentioned this to him last night and he confirmed that he is getting tired of hearing young mothers calling for Noah everywhere he goes.
While we were trend setters with our son, the naming of our daughter - Leah - in 1983 did not catch on quite as well (a fact that, judging from our son's experience, is probably appreciated by her). In the year of her birth, her name ranked 82nd nationally and 140th in the State of Michigan. By 2007, she had risen only 14 spots nationally but jumped to 59th in her home state.
Where do you rank? If your name is Emily you have been #1 nationally since 1996, succeeding Jessica (9 years), Ashley (2 years) and Jennifer (15 years) who ruled the roost since 1970. On the male side of the equation, Jacob has held the top spot for the last 9 years, taking over for Michael which was #1 every year from 1961 through 1998. In fact, Michael was also #1 from 1954 to 1959, falling behind David only in 1960.
Go to the Social Security Administration's website and have some fun - http://www.socialsecurity.gov/OACT/babynames/index.html - you never know what facts you can store and retrieve when conversation hits an uncomfortable silence.
I told you that DATA CAN BE FUN!
Kurt Metzger
Research Director, United Way for Southeastern Michigan
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