Other possible ways to identify the top names in a period

The lists and tables which are available via other pages identify the most popular names based on the total number of babies for which each name was the first forename. However, there are other ways in which one could assess the popularity of names over a period. For example, one could;

• take the total of each name’s annual rank, in which case the name with the lowest total would be regarded as the most popular;
• add up each name’s annual percentage of the total number of babies of the relevant sex, in which case the name with the largest result would be regarded as the most popular.

To illustrate this, the tables below show what would be regarded as the most popular names in one decade (the 1990s) on the basis of the two methods which were described above.

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It will be seen that the results of the ‘rank-based’ method may differ noticeably from those of the ‘percentage-based’ method and of the ‘number-based’ method (which are available via The top names: by decade page on this website ). In part, this is because a small difference in the number of babies (and, hence, in the percentage of all births) may make a big difference to the rank, particularly lower down the list. A name whose popularity has changed greatly during the period will tend to appear less popular using the ‘rank-based’ method, as the total of its ranks may be large due to it not being in (say) the Top Ten for part of the period.

For example, based on the number of babies, Ryan was the top first forename for boys in the 1990s (having been given to 8,513 babies), with Andrew second (8,474 babies). The percentage-based method also has Ryan first and Andrew second. However, when ranks are used, Andrew appears to be more popular than Ryan, because the total is lower for Andrew (34, based on the following rankings in the ten years: 5, 3, 3, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 8 and 6) than for Ryan (42, based on the following rankings in the ten years: 15, 9, 8, 2, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 and 3).

Similarly, based on the number of babies, David was the third most popular name for boys in the 1990s: it was given to 7,757 babies, with Scott fourth (7,605 babies) and James fifth (7,396 babies). The percentage-based method also has David third, Scott fourth and James fifth. However, when ranks are used, Scott appears to be third, James fourth and David fifth. This is because the totals of their ranks are as follows: Scott 53 (having been ranked 4, 5, 2, 4, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9 and 9); James 59 (having been ranked 7, 7, 4, 5, 6, 5, 7, 5, 6 and 7) and David 67 (having been ranked 1, 1, 1, 3, 4, 6, 12, 9, 13 and 17).