Take the Northeast, for example. Looking at the most recent SSA data from 2017, we identified the most popular baby names for boys and girls born in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont (the states the Census Bureau defines as the Northeast).
While there was much overlap between the Northeast rankings and national data, there were also points of divergence. On the regional list, Emily sits at No. 10; it’s No. 12 on the U.S. list. Meanwhile, nationally ranked No. 9, Evelyn, falls out of the Top 10, sitting at No. 13 in the Northeast rankings. Leah, Sarah and Gabriella are also more popular in the region (where they rank at Nos. 18, 29 and 32, respectively) than in the U.S. as a whole (where they fall at Nos. 40, 52 and 68).
The Top 10 national and regional lists look quite different when it comes to popular names for boys. In the Northeast, Jacob ranks No. 3, Lucas is No. 5, Michael is No. 6 and Joseph is No. 10, but nationally, those names fall at Nos. 10, 11, 12 and 19, respectively. Other names, like Ryan, have an even more dramatic contrast in ranking ― Ryan is No. 15 in the Northeast vs. No. 43 in the U.S.
Louise Bogan was the fourth Poet Laureate of the United States and the first woman to be appointed to that position, appreciated for her subtle intellectual style. Bogan could be a perfectly acceptable companion to boy named Brogan, Logan and Hogan--though Bogan does have some negative connotations in Australian slang.
Byron
George Gordon Byron, known simply as Lord Byron, was a (if not the) leading Romantic poet of the late eighteenth to early nineteenth century, with the term 'byronic' coming to connote romanticism, melancholy and melodrama. The name Byron still retains something of the poet's dramatic, windswept image.
Chaucer
Geoffrey Chaucer is regarded as the greatest literary figure of medieval England, the father of all the literature that followed. An unusual English occupational name -- it means "maker of leggings"-- Chaucer has a particularly pleasing sound and is beginning to stir up some interest among knowledgeable parents.
Cullen
Countee Cullen was one of the key poetic voice of the Harlem Renaissance. Although his first name is semi-unique, the surname Cullen is one of the hot Irish boys' names, propelled by its appearance as the family name of key character Edward in the "Twilight" series of books and movies. Cullen now ranks at an all-time high of Number 413.
Dove
Rita Dove is a major contemporary American poet, winner of a Pulitzer Prize and Poet Laureate of the United States from 1993 to 1995. The name Dove is one of several soft and gentle bird names, including Wren and Lark, that have become a fledgling category--as opposed to more aggressive avian choices like Hawk and Falcon.
John Dryden
John Dryden was a highly influential seventeenth century English poet in what came to be called "The Age of Dryden." Dryden is a name that could blend well with all the Ryders and Brydens in the playground, with its poetic cred adding a subtle support.
Frost
Robert Frost is the acclaimed poet who famously read his work at the 1961 Inauguration of President Kennedy. Frost, Snow, Winter, January... these are all among the coolest current choices, and the literary tie to the esteemed poet makes Frost all the more appealing.
Giovanni
Nikki Giovanni (born Yolande Cornelia) is a contemporary African-American poet and civil rights activist whose work reflects strong racial pride. Giovanni, the ubiquitous Italian version of John, now ranks at an all-time high of Number 114 in the US, indicating that its one of the Latin names catching on among Anglos, much like Matteo and Gianna.
Hugo
Victor Hugo, the author of "Les Miserables" and "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," first found fame as a poet. Hugo is a rising o-ending name for boys here, and also in Spain and France, where it's in the Top 10. Hugo was the name chosen by Ron and Hermione for their "Harry Potter" franchise son, and it is the hero and title of the latest Martin Scorsese 3-D film.
Kipling
Rudyard Kipling was a memorable poet (Gunga Din, Recessional), as well as the author of "The Jungle Book" and "Kim." When actress Kim Raver (the Kim connection?) named her son Leo Kipling in 2007, it put this evocative yet quirky name on the table.
Lorca
Federico Garcia Lorca was an early twentieth century poet and playwright, a tragic casualty of the Spanish civil war. He was a favorite of fellow poet Leonard Cohen, who named his now grown daughter Lorca in his honor, thereby introducing it as a lovely new girls' name possibility.
Marlowe
Christopher Marlowe was a pre-Shakespeare poet and playwright at the forefront of the sixteenth century drama renaissance. And of the three possible spellings of the name -- Marlo, Marlow, Marlowe -- Marlowe seems to be the current winner, and used primarily for girls; Jason Schwartzman named his baby girl Marlowe Rivers. It's a perfect smoosh of Marley and Harlow.
Paz
Octavio Paz was a leading Mexican poet and polemicist, who has been called "Latin America's most scintillating poet." Meaning peace, Paz is a Spanish unisex favorite, and is currently represented on the international screen by two attractive actresses: Paz Vega and Paz de la Huerta.
Tennyson
Alfred Lord Tennyson was one of the most popular English poets of all time, the Poet Laureate throughout most of Queen Victoria's reign. Russell Crowe made the bold choice of Tennyson as the name of his first son, and you have only to hear the brawny actor speak tenderly of "Tenny" to see the great charm of the name.
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