WASHINGTON — After slipping from the top of the most popular baby names six years ago, Emma was back at No. 1 in 2014. Noah was the top baby name for boys for the second year in a row.
The Social Security Administration released the annual list of top baby names Friday. Emma was followed by Olivia, Sophia, Isabella and Ava. Noah was followed by Liam, Mason, Jacob and William.
Emma’s popularity soared in 2002, when Rachel, a character on the popular TV show “Friends,” named her baby Emma, and has been ranked among the top three baby names for girls since 2003.
“In this era when trends come and go faster than ever before, that’s incredible staying power,” said Laura Wattenberg, founder of . “Emma seems to be the only name that America has been able to agree on in recent years.”
Wattenberg said Emma’s comeback represents two popular trends in baby names: It was part of the revival of Victorian names, and it is short and smooth.
James is also making a comeback, at No. 9. And Charlotte cracked the top 10 for the first time, at No. 10.
