The Most Popular Baby Names of 2007

In a couple years playgrounds across America will be bustling with kids named Jacob, Emily, Michael, and Isabella – the most popular choices for the approximately 4 million babies born in the United States last year. But, don't be surprised if little Isabella finds herself on the teeter totter with a toddler named Miley or pushed off the swings by baby Shiloh. These familiar sounding celebrity baby names are coming in popularity for the children of Joe and Jane Public.

"When 500 parents think of the same new name, they have to get it from somewhere," says Laura Wattenberg, creator of the website, The Baby Name Wizard. "They all reflect attractive young, female celebrities." The big climber in 2007 was none other than Miley, influenced by the teen sensation Miley Cyrus, pre-Vanity Fair photograph however. "It wasn't even in the charts in 2006, and in 2007 there were three different spellings in the top 1000," says Wattenberg. Ironically, 'Miley' isn't the given name of the Disney (DIS) channel star, but a childhood nickname given because she was such a happy "smiley" tot (her legal name was Destiny Hope).  

Baby names can also reflect a reality television star's proverbial 15 minutes of fame. "Names rise and fall really fast," says Wattenberg. 'Jordin' with an 'i', a la American Idol (NWS) winner Jordin Sparks, is now replacing the traditional spelling of 'Jordan.' Some reality stars' names, however, have already lost caché . 'Trista', made popular by the television dating show The Bachelorette, and 'Talan,' of Laguna Beach (VIA.B) fame, are in the top 10 of fastest falling baby names.