Change Comes to List of Tennessee's Top Baby Names

Birth Rates Also Rise Again for Tennessee

NASHVILLE - Tennessee’s new parents in 2008 have voted, and results are in for the top choices for baby names. The list of most popular names for Tennessee babies born in 2008 includes some newcomers breaking into the top ten, and shows some formerly popular names falling out of favor.

The top ten names new Tennessee parents chose for their babies born in 2008* are as follows:

 Rank           Girls            Boys

1                   Emma         William

2                   Madison     Jacob

3                   Addison      James

4                   Abigail        Elijah

5                   Emily           Joshua

6                   Ava              Ethan

7                  Chloe           Jackson

8                  Olivia           Christopher

9                   Isabella      Noah

10                Elizabeth     Jayden

*provisional data

The list of Tennessee's top names for girls shows some turnover in traditional choices from the previous year. Hannah and Anna both made the top ten in 2007, but were replaced by Olivia and Elizabeth for 2008. The list for top boys' names also has two new contenders in 2008, with Elijah and Jayden making the cut. Two more traditional choices, Michael and John, dropped out of the top ten since 2007.

And while it did not make the list of top choices for baby names, Barack Obama was chosen by one Tennessee mother as the name for her child born in 2008.

Tennessee also has a growing number of parents. The state's birth rate for 2007, the most recent year available, shows a 1.4 percent increase from 2006. According to the Division of Health Statistics, Tennessee resident births totaled 86,661 in 2007, an increase from the 2006 birth total of 84,308. More than three percent of the 2007 births were multiple births, such as twins or triplets. Just over 57 percent of babies born in Tennessee in 2007 were born to married parents.

One issue of concern noted in Department of Health statistics on pregnancies in 2007 is the number of women who smoked during pregnancy. Figures show 19.4 percent of the women giving birth in Tennessee in 2007 reported smoking cigarettes while pregnant. Smoking percentages among the 18-24 age group of expectant mothers was even higher, at 26 percent. Of all the women who reported smoking during pregnancy, 74 percent smoked half a pack or more cigarettes per day.

The Department of Health offers smoking cessation programs at all Tennessee county health departments, and places a special emphasis on assisting pregnant women who smoke. For more information, contact your local health department. A list of county health department locations and contact information can be found online at  http://health.state.tn.us/localdepartments.htm.

The Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine also offers free counseling and support to all Tennessee residents who want to quit smoking or using other tobacco products. Learn more about this service by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW or visiting the QuitLine Web site at http://health.state.tn.us/tobaccoquitline.htm.