Popular vs. Unique Names

I want to preface that I love language and etymology. Always have. (And I'm NOT pregnant!)

• etymology |ˌetəˈmäləjē|
• noun ( pl. etymologies )
• the study of the origin of words and the way in which their meanings have changed throughout history.
• the origin of a word and the historical development of its meaning. 

It's no wonder that my major in college was Linguistics. One of my favorite classes was semantics where we had a whole section on names and their meanings. My professor introduced me to the Social Security website. They track the popularity of names in the United States. It's very neat to compare today's trends to ones as far back as the 1800s.

I thought it would be fun to create a list of comparable names of the top 100 for both boys and girls. (Yes, I consider this a fun activity! Go ahead and call me a nerd.) 

The list I created includes names that are totally usable, more unique, and less popular than the ones on the top 100 list. I love a lot of the names on top 100 list, so it was hard trying to come up with comparable names that have/give the same feeling.

I used the website to look up new names. They've got some awesome blogs about names if you want to check them out!

(The names in black are the U.S. popular names and the names in red are their alternatives.)

Popular Names in 2011/Unique Alternatives

Rank	Male name	Female name
1	Jacob Jacoby	Sophia Cassia
2	Mason Miles	Isabella Isadora
3	William Wilder	Emma Gemma
4	Jayden Holden	Olivia Odelia
5	Noah Noll	Ava Ada
6	Michael Micah	Emily Esme
7	Ethan Emmett	Abigail Ariel
8	Alexander Xander	Madison Matilda
9	Aiden Oden	Mia Mina
10	Daniel Dashiell	Chloe Clio
11	Anthony Anton	Elizabeth Eliza
12	Matthew Mattias	Ella Etta
13	Elijah Uriah	Addison Adelaide
14	Joshua Jasper	Natalie Noelia
15	Liam Lucian	Lily Iris
16	Andrew Atticus	Grace Greta
17	James Jude	Samantha Seraphina
18	David Daughtry	Avery Ivy
19	Benjamin Brighton	Sofia  Saskia
20	Logan Lawson	Aubrey Selby
21	Christopher Crosby	Brooklyn  Bryony
22	Joseph Jet	Lillian Lilianna
23	Jackson Jameson	Victoria Viviana
24	Gabriel  Gardner	Evelyn Lennon
25	Ryan Royce	Hannah Harlow
26	Samuel Samson	Alexis Allegra
27	John Vaughn	Charlotte Margaret
28	Nathan Breccan	Zoey Suzy
29	Lucas Silas	Leah Lola
30	Christian Bishop	Amelia Aurelia
31	Jonathan Jensen	Zoe Zara
32	Caleb Callen	Hailey Hadley
33	Dylan Declan	Layla Leila
34	Landon Denton	Gabriella Genevieve
35	Isaac Ike	Nevaeh Nova
36	Gavin Griffin	Kaylee Maylee
37	Brayden Boden	Alyssa Amalia
38	Tyler Trevor	Anna Annabel
39	Luke Duke	Sarah Cora
40	Evan Everett	Allison Ellison
41	Carter Porter	Savannah Delilah
42	Nicholas Nico	Ashley Ashton
43	Isaiah Asa	Audrey Audra
44	Owen Rowan	Taylor Sloane
45	Jack Jed	Brianna Bianca
46	Jordan Gordon	Aaliyah Alora
47	Brandon Bram	Riley Rory
48	Wyatt Wade	Camila Cecilia
49	Julian Harlan	Khloe Cleo
50	Aaron Alden	Claire Clara
51	Jeremiah Garrison	Sophie Josie
52	Angel River	Arianna Aurora
53	Cameron Camden	Peyton Portia
54	Connor Dexter	Harper Briar
55	Hunter Gunnar	Alexa Adia
56	Adrian Hadrian	Makayla Myla
57	Henry Henrik	Julia Jane
58	Eli Arlo	Kylie Kalina
59	Justin Trace	Kayla Katia
60	Austin Weston	Bella Della
61	Robert Ronan	Katherine Keelin
62	Charles Calvin	Lauren Lorelei
63	Thomas Theo	Gianna Georgiana
64	Zachary Rigby	Maya Raina
65	Jose Che	Sydney Sadie
66	Levi Levon	Serenity Circe
67	Kevin Kellan	Kimberly Waverley
68	Sebastian Shephard	Mackenzie Kensington
69	Chase Dash	Autumn Anona
70	Ayden Odin	Jocelyn Gisele
71	Jason Jace	Faith Faye
72	Ian Ewan	Lucy Ruby
73	Blake Blair	Stella Flora
74	Colton Trenton	Jasmine Juniper
75	Bentley Bradley	Morgan Margo
76	Dominic Donovan	Alexandra Veronica
77	Xavier Kiefer	Trinity Elodie
78	Oliver Otto	Molly Polly
79	Parker Pierce	Madelyn Miranda
80	Josiah Soren	Scarlett Sabrina
81	Adam Graham	Andrea Aviva
82	Cooper Granger	Genesis Isis
83	Brody Brogan	Eva Isla
84	Nathaniel  Bartholomew	Ariana Amara
85	Carson Burke	Madeline Emmaline
86	Jaxon Jove	Brooke Blythe
87	Tristan Kelton	Caroline Coraline
88	Luis Lash	Bailey Bellamy
89	Juan Joaquin	Melanie Maxine
90	Hayden Tiernan	Kennedy Kenley
91	Carlos Hugo	Destiny Story
92	Jesus Moses	Maria Marigold
93	Nolan Quinn	Naomi Neely
94	Cole Cade	London Teagan
95	Alex Calix	Payton Perry
96	Max Dex	Lydia Libby
97	Grayson Grant	Ellie Ellery
98	Bryson Gideon	Mariah Maura
99	Diego Milo	Aubree Rosalie
100	Jaden Shane	Kaitlyn Kelby
Note: Rank 1 is the most popular, rank 2 is the next most popular, and so forth.