Huge Oversight, More Baby Names

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Sorry guys but I just realized that in my last post I didn't actually link to Denmark's list of approved baby names. What kind of a blogger am I?! But better last than never, right? So without further ado, here is the list:

http://www.familiestyrelsen.dk/samliv/navne/soeginavnelister/godkendtefornavne/

It's the list for first names. It's searchable and browsable like many other baby name websites if anyone wants to just dive in and have fun. It's also in Danish… But if you use Google a Chrome it will auto translate to English for you. It may translate some of the names, but there's not much one can do about that.

And while we're on the subject, I though I'd just share Pokitiken's list of the most popular baby names in Denmark from 2013. We'll do top 10, but the list goes up to 50 if you're curious. The first number following the name is how many newborns were given that name, the second is how many out of 1000.

Girls:

1. Sofia 258 / 19

2. Ida 239 / 18

3. Isabella 228 / 17

4. Emma 220 / 16

5. Freja 214 / 16

6. Anna 210 / 16

7. Caroline 200 / 15

8. Josefine 200 / 15

9. Clara 184 / 14

10. Laura 184 / 14

Boys:

1. William 309 / 22

2. Lucas 299 / 21

3. Victor 279 / 20

4. Noah 254 / 18

5. Frederik 253 / 18

6. Emil 240 / 17

7. Liam 228 / 16

8. Oliver 223 / 16

9. Oscar 213 / 15

10. Magnus 210 / 15

Not too exciting because the top 10 never are, but it's interesting to note the similarities and differences from populate names in the US. Sofia and William would definitely make the lists there, but Freja and Magnus, not so much (though they're both awesome names).

And because I couldn't resist, one more baby gif 🙂

Omg a DOG!!

 

12 thoughts on “Huge Oversight, More Baby Names”

  2. Just want to say that I love your blog (I discovered it from the BBC article) and your really thoughtful comparisons of the US and Denmark. Your most recent post on the Jante law really got me thinking about the tools a culture develops to maintain stability within its population, and how it affects a culture both positively and negatively. For example, did the Korean custom of total respect for one’s elders ultimately change the outcome of the recent ferry disaster? Or when a culture promotes individualism and creativity does that help a country from an economic standpoint, but hinder its internal stability?

    Thank you for your insights! You have a really good talent for observing things. (You’d be a great anthropology professor!)

    Regards,
    Mary – Washington, DC

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    • Thanks Mary! I’m pretty sure you just made my day ☺️ I’m fascinated by the same questions you propose. That one about the connection between individualism and economic recovery (and dare I say capitalism) is especially insightful.

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  3. I think it’s very much a matter of trends.
    Unless parents are making it up (yes celebrities that’s you!!), there is always some sort of personal connection by the parents to the chosen name.

    Top 3 origins are probably:
    -The name of someone they know and like (and that usually means a “common name”),
    – Name they hear often on media (that might be “new/hip”),
    – A name of a relative they want to pay homage to (sometimes “older/classic” names)

    This will of course make names a little repetitive/generic.

    There are always traditional/ethnic names for each country that will always make the top ten/twenty.
    But for example next year there’s probably going to be a peak of “Noah” because of the movie.
    “George” because of the British royal prince, etc.
    Sometimes these trends/peaks stay for a long time, some quickly fade away.

    For example here in Portugal checking the current top ten it looks like there’s a majority of names that feel “higher class/posh” (at least this is the association that i make with these names).
    And there’s less of the more “traditional” names that can look a little “dated/lower class” to the younger generations.

    On the other side there’s the rejection process. Why don’t we like some names?
    I think that a lot of the binned names are those that the parents identify with someone they dislike (former nemesis in school, childhood friend they have bad memories about, the partner’s ex-crush, etc).

    It’s another cultural/social interesting phenomenon…but it sometimes really get’s out of hand…
    If you want to be original/funny do it with your pets, they don’t care what they’re called :p

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    • Agreed. That’s why you’re seeing an increase of babies named Katniss and Kahlesee in the US right now, thanks to pop culture. What are the post names that are popular in Portugal right now? I’m so curious!

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      • Hey Alisson,

        Sorry for my late reply…i then to forget to checkup on my posts…(no more unticking the notification)

        Girl: Boy:
        1º: Maria 1º João
        2º: Matilde 2º: Rodrigo
        3º: Leonor 3º: Martim
        4ª: Mariana 4º: Francisco
        5º: Carolina 5º: Santiago
        6º: Beatriz 6º: Tomás
        7º: Ana 7º: Guilherme
        8º: Inês 8º: Afonso
        9º: Lara 9º: Miguel
        10º: Margarida 10º: Gonçalo

        Here it is:

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      • Thanks André! I do really like some of those names, but you’re right they do sound fancy with the many syllables.

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