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For immediate release: December 20, 2007 (07-223)
OLYMPIA ¾ Emma and Jacob are still the most popular baby names in Washington, according to 2006 birth data recently released by the Department of Health’s Center for Health Statistics.
Popular names have been changing over the past 20 years. For example, of the top five girls’ names in 2006, only Emily was in the top 100 in 1986. For boys in 2006, the names Jacob, Alexander and Daniel were on the list 20 years ago. Nearly all of the top five names in 1986 are still on the top 100 list in 2006. So, the “old names” are still popular but they have been topped by “new names” coming in from outside the list.
There were 4,220 more babies born in 2006. The number of births in our state increased by five percent (from 82,625 in 2005 to 86,845 in 2006). The birth rate increased by three percent (from 13.2 per 1,000 women to 13.6).
Birth rates increased for women of all ages, including teen mothers. For women 15-19, the rates increased 3.6 percent (from 30.7 per 1,000 women to 31.8). These changes resulted in a two percent increase in teen pregnancy rates (from 50.8 per 1,000 women to 51.8).
“This is the first rate increase we’ve seen since 1992,” said Pat Starzyk, research investigator for the state Department of Health. “It’s too early to tell if this will be part of an ongoing trend.”
This jump is not unique to Washington state. Teen birth rates increased by three percent nationally, according to data recently released by the National Center for Health Statistics. The Department of Health Web site (www.doh.wa.gov/EHSPHL/CHS/CHS-Data/main.htm) has more information.
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