For the third year in a row in Saskatchewan, Liam has been crowned the most popular boys name and Emma is the most popular name for girls for the fourth year running according to data compiled by Information Services Corporation (ISC).
Emma was the top chosen girls' name in 2012 with 80 babies given Emma as a first name, finishing ahead of Olivia at 71 and Ava at 67. Rounding out the top five placings were Emily with 57 and Brooklyn at 54.
Liam was the runaway most popular name in Saskatchewan with 108 male arrivals named Liam in 2012. Ethan moved into second place among boys names with 75, up from third a year ago, but Ethan had enjoyed a nine-year run as the most popular boys name between 2001 and 2009. Other boys names in the top five were Carter with 72, William at 64, and Mason at 63.
Saskatchewan's birth count reached a 22-year high with 15,035 births in 2012, a jump of 458 babies from 2011.
"We haven't seen a figure this high since 1991," Minister responsible for Information Services Corporation Don McMorris stated in a press release. "People are coming to Saskatchewan for the opportunities that exist here and thanks in part to a rising birth count, our population has never been higher."
The following lists show the top 20 male and female baby names from 2012, plus the top three names from 2012 to 1998.
Top Male Names - 2012
Liam (108), Ethan (75), Carter (72), William (64), Mason (63), Lucas (58), Noah (58), Hudson (58), Jacob (56), Owen (55), Benjamin (55), Alexander (54), Hunter (52), Jack (47), Ryder (46), Dominic (46), Aiden (45), Blake (43), Logan (41), Bentley (40).
Top Female Names - 2012
Emma (80), Olivia (71), Ava (67), Emily (57), Brooklyn (54), Lily (53), Sophia (52), Abigail (48), Ella (45), Sophie (44), Avery (44), Madison (43), Elizabeth (43), Chloe (38), Hailey (37), Isabella (34), Aubree (31), Aubrey (31), Brielle (30), Harper (29), Alexis (29), Amelia (29), Addison (29).
Top Three Girls Names (2012 to 1998)
2012 - Emma (64), Ava (53), Sophia (53).
2011 - Emma (64), Ava (53), Sophia (53).
2010 - Emma (76), Ava (71), Olivia (59).
2009 - Emma (82), Ava (69), Olivia (66).
2008 - Ava (63), Emma (53), Hannah (51).
2007 - Ava (98), Emma (72), Hannah (64).
2006 - Ava (85), Madison (64), Emma (60).
2005 - Madison (79), Emma (76), Emily (71).
2004 - Emma (97), Madison (83), Emily (69).
2003 - Emily (102), Emma (96), Madison (69).
2002 - Madison (88), Emily (77), Hannah (74).
2001 - Madison (101), Taylor (90), Emily (90).
2000 - Madison (93), Emily (84), Taylor (80).
1999 - Emily (89), Taylor (78), Madison (66).
1998 - Taylor (93), Emily (81), Megan (72).
Top Three Boys Names (2012 to 1998)
2012 - Liam (80), Jacob (72), Ethan (71).
2011 - Liam (80), Jacob (72), Ethan (71).
2010 - Liam (89), Ethan (82), Jacob (75).
2009 - Ethan (93), Liam (77), Carter (72).
2008 - Ethan (71), Noah (49), Joshua (40).
2007 - Ethan (91), Logan (78), Matthew (64).
2006 - Ethan (107), Noah (65), Owen (62).
2005 - Ethan (106), Joshua (71), Matthew (61).
2004 - Ethan (120), Matthew (82), Joshua (69).
2003 - Ethan (115), Joshua (88), Matthew (78).
2002 - Ethan (123), Joshua (79), Austin (78).
2001 - Ethan (97), Joshua (92), Austin (84).
2000 - Matthew (113), Ethan (90), Joshua (88).
1999 - Matthew (106), Austin (90), Dylan (78).
1998 - Austin (119), Matthew (115), Joshua (108).
Data: Information Services Corporation of Saskatchewan.
