Baby Names: What’s In A Name? Traditional, Biblical Names Make Top 10 Baby Names
PHOENIX — So what makes parents who grew up with people named Jacob, Anthony and Daniel want to name their newborn boys Liam?
Or choose Olivia for their baby girls even though women of child-bearing age are more likely to be familiar with Ashley, Samantha and Emma?
Sometimes it’s literature or old-fashioned names, particularly for girls.
The names for boys tend to be less volatile from year to year, with a perennial emphasis on those found in the Good Book. Think Old Testament prophets and figures like Daniel and Noah and New Testament disciples and saints like James and Sebastian.
But why are there sudden shifts? Who knows?
This year in Arizona the ninth most popular name for new boys was Ezekiel. That’s according to data compiled by the Arizona Department of Health Services which keeps those records because it gets all birth certificates. Five years ago, it came in at 96; in 2011 it didn’t even crack the top 100.
Or, for girls, Gianna. Five years ago is was at number 80. This year it rose to number 12.
But the bigger shock comes when looking back to when the new parents of today were being named by their parents. Or even when their parents — the current crop of grandparents — were choosing names for them.
Oh, sure, some names withstand the test of time.
Some 45 years ago, more Arizonans chose Michael for their new baby boy than any other. And while its popularity has waxed and waned over the years, it still is in the top 20 this year.
But Liam? How many parents in 1976 were choosing that for a name for a newborn?
Instead, William was in the top 20 as were more “traditional” names like David, Robert, Joseph, Mathew, Richard and Anthony.
Even 20 years later the list of the most popular names had not changed a lot, though there were some less traditional ones starting to sneaking in, like Tyler, Austin and Brandon.
And they didn’t last long, with nary a Tyler, Austin or Brandon anywhere in this year’s top 100.
Instead, after Liam, we get Noah, Mateo, Oliver and Sebastian rounding out the top of the list.
For girls, however, the situation is much different — and much more subject to change.
Let’s start with this year’s crop of new grandparents.
Back in 1976, their parents chose names for them like Jennifer, Melissa, Amy, Michele and Heather.
None of those name even cracked the Top 100 this year in Arizona.
Want to talk more recent? Let’s talk about what happened when all those Jennifers, Melissas and all grew up?
If they were having babies in 1996, they chose names like Ashley, Samantha, Emma, Mia and Emily for their newborn girls.
And now? Of those, only Emma and Mia are still in the top 10. And you won’t find an Ashley in the entire top 100 list.
Anyone want to guess what this year’s crop of newborns will be naming their kids in, say 2041?
Historical most popular baby names in Arizona
Boys Rank / 1976 / 1996 / 2011 / 2016 / 2021
1 / Michael / Michael / Jacob / Liam / Liam
2 / Jason / Jacob / Anthony / Noah / Noah
3 / Christopher / Daniel / Daniel / Daniel / Mateo
4 / David / Jose / Michael / Sebastian / Oliver
5 / Robert / Tyler / Angel / Alexander / Sebastian
6 / James / Joshua / Ethan / Michael / Elijah
7 / Daniel / Matthew / Noah / Julian / Benjamin
8 / John / Christopher / Aiden / Oliver / Santiago
9 / Brian / Anthony / Alexander / Benjamin / Ezekiel
10 / Matthew / David / Mason / Mason / Julian
11 / Joseph / Nicholas / Gabriel / Elijah / Alexander
12 / William / Joseph / Jayden / Jacob / James
13 / Jeremy / Austin / Julian / Aiden / Daniel
14 / Ryan / Brandon / David / Ethan / Ezra
15 / Joshua / Andrew / Benjamin / Mateo / Michael
16 / Richard / Jesus / Joseph / David / William
17 / Steven / Zachary / Liam / Anthony / Angel
18 / Eric / Ryan / Adrian / Gabriel / Elias
19 / Aaron / Christian / Isaac / James / Levi
20 / Anthony / Alexander / Matthew / Matthew / Jesus
Girls rank / 1976 / 1996 / 2011 / 2016 / 2021
1 / Jennifer / Ashley / Sophia / Emma / Olivia
2 / Melissa / Samantha / Isabella / Sophia / Emma
3 / Amy / Alexis / Emma / Olivia / Sophia
4 / Michelle / Taylor / Mia / Mia / Camila
5 / Heather / Emily / Emily / Isabella / Isabella
6 / Jessica / Sarah / Olivia / Ava / Mia
7 / Lisa / Hannah / Abigail / Emily / Charlotte
8 / Angela / Madison / Ava / Sofia / Amelia
9 / Stephanie / Alyssa / Elizabeth / Abigail / Ava
10 / Shannon / Maria / Chloe / Charlotte / Luna
11 / Christina / Elizabeth / Victoria / Amelia / Penelope
12 / Kimberly / Stephanie / Madison / Victoria / Gianna
13 / Rebecca / Amanda / Natalie / Evelyn / Aria
14 / Maria / Kayla / Sofia / Camila / Scarlett
15 / Monica / Brianna / Lily / Aria / Evelyn
16 / Amanda / Megan / Samantha / Scarlett / Emily
17 / Elizabeth / Victoria / Hailey / Harper / Sofia
18 / Veronica / Jennifer / Brooklyn / Penelope / Mila
19 / Andrea / Vanessa / Camila / Elizabeth / Layla
20 / Laura / Nichole / Grace / Avery / Abigail
-- Source: Arizona Department of Health Services
Island Mele: Daniel Ho Releases Live Album; Art Umezu Honored In Compilation Release
Jan. 9—"East West Players Presents : Daniel Ho & Friends Live in Concert "
Daniel Ho & Friends Daniel Ho Creations Daniel Ho holds a unique place in Hawaii's music history with six Grammy Awards for his work as a record producer and recording artist, received during the seven years that Hawaiian music had its own category. Ho also received two Na Hoku Hanohano Awards as a recording artist for his work with slack key master George Kahumoku Jr.
His current album—"East West Players Presents : Daniel Ho & Friends Live in Concert "—is a 2022 Grammy finalist in the best global music album category.
Ho recorded it as the opener of the East West Players' 55th season in November 2020 in the David Henry Hwang Theater in Los Angeles. His friends are Randy Drake (percussion ), kumu hula Keali 'i Ceballos (vocals /hula ), Kanani Toji (vocals /hula ), and his wife, Lydia Miyashiro-Ho ("stand in bass ").
The set list is a retrospective of Ho's work as a songwriter and recording artist, from his early low-profile days as a member of a mainland smooth jazz group to his current interest in world music and his recent collaborations with Mongolian, Kazakh and Indigenous Taiwanese musicians.
The project is also Ho's first full-length live album and includes his introductions to the selections. Hawaii residents already know about the importance of Spam in island culture ("The Spam Song "), but his explanation of the complex, multicultural rhythms at play in a song titled "Na Pana 'Elua (The Two Heartbeats )" will likely be new information for almost all listeners. That information is a good reason to hit replay at least a couple of times and listen attentively to what Ho and his friends are doing there with the various percussive rhythms.
Other selections will spark memories—"Off to Work " and "Pineapple Mango, " to name two.
Whether "Live in Concert " wins him another Grammy or not, Ho's album is another significant milestone in his remarkable career.
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"Kauai.. An Everlasting Beauty "
Various artists Music of Kauai Art Umezu was an important part of the team that developed the boy band first known as Bad Boys Club, then BBC, then The New Generation, and finally TNG, in the late-1980s and early 1990s. The group won a Na Hoku Hanohano Award in 1990 and was then signed by Reprise, a national record label that released a full-length TNG album. Thirty years later, TNG is still the biggest boy band to ever come out of Hawaii.
TNG is only one entry in Umezu's repertoire. Born and raised in Japan, Umezu has made Kauai his home since 1975. He founded Music of Kauai as a record label and production company in 1981. For the last 40 years, he has provided recording opportunities for talents across the spectrum, from professionals to first-timers—and often written songs for them.
This limited-edition CD is a compilation of 11 of Umezu's hapa-haole originals recorded between 1994 and 2013 by an assortment of individual artists—Sherieme "Mele " Glovasa, Robbie Kaholokula, Daphne Sanchez, Kahanu Smith, Kamika Smith and Doric "Kaleo " Yaris. Kumu hula Troy Lazaro performs the chant that opens the first song.
Umezu writes in the liner notes that the project is dedicated to Walter and Mokihana Smith, the owners of Smith Boat Tours, which has provided employment for musicians and hula dancers since 1946.
The most notable "ready for prime time " performances here are Sanchez singing "Mokihana, " Kaho lokula on "My Lovely Hula Girl, " and Yaris in all four songs he took part in.
"My Sweet Maile Girl " also deserves local radio play. Arranged by Kaholokula and sung by Kamika Smith, the tune brings to mind the classic style of the Invitations, the popular local singing group of the 1950s and'60s. Hawaii's airwaves can certainly use more of that !
There's more, of course, and proof that Umezu is "the man " when it comes to finding talent and recording it on the Garden Island.
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Harry Potter’s Daniel Radcliffe Reveals He Had Secret Crush On Co-star – And Even Wrote Her A Gushing Note
THE stars of the Harry Potter movies have reunited – and revealed the secret crushes they had on their fellow actors while making the huge box office hits.
Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint have spoken about what went on behind the scenes as they celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of the first film in the franchise.
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Daniel admits he had a crush on Helena Bonham Carter, now 55, who played Bellatrix LestrangeCredit: AlamyDaniel, who debuted as the boy wizard in Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone, said: “I feel so lucky to be where I am and have the life that I have.
“But none of that is possible without Harry Potter. It was a very good ten years.”
Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes, Robbie Coltrane and Gary Oldman are among the other stars who appear in Sky Max reunion show Harry Potter 20th Anniversary — Return To Hogwarts, which airs on New Year’s Day.
But JK Rowling, who created the Potter world with her best-selling books, features for less than 30 seconds during the 155-minute special.
The author, who has fallen out of favour with some after sharing her views on transgender issues, is mentioned only fleetingly by the films’ directors and cast.
Instead of being interviewed on the show, 56-year-old JK appears in short films made in 2019 for the Warner Bros Studio Tour.
She says in one clip: “I have found it an extraordinary world to be involved with.”
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JK aside, the special looks at every element of the production, from the hunt for actors to play Harry, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger and the creation of the film’s sets.
And the cast reveal behind-the-scenes secrets from the movie — shot in Warner Bros’ studio in Leavesden, Herts. Daniel admits he had a crush on Helena Bonham Carter, now 55, who played Bellatrix Lestrange.
Reading out a note he once sent to the actress, he says: “Dear HBC, it was a pleasure being your co-star and coaster in the fact I always ended up holding your coffee. “I do love you and I wish I’d just been born ten years earlier so I might’ve been in with a chance.”
And he wasn’t the only one who liked a fellow cast member. Actor Matthew Lewis, 32, who played Neville Longbottom, says: “There were endless crushes, people were going out with each other, breaking up.”
Daniel added: “We were all hormonal teenagers, so when in (fourth Harry Potter film) The Goblet Of Fire they brought in a whole bunch of new people for the Triwizard Tourn-ament who were purposefully hot, well . . . ”
‘I felt very lonely’Emma, 31, had a crush on Draco Malfoy actor Tom Felton, 34, while she was playing Hermione — and still holds a candle for him.
Recalling one of their school lessons on set, she explains: “The assignment we were given was to draw what you thought God looked like. Tom had drawn a girl with a backward cap on a skateboard and at that moment I fell in love with him.
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“I used to come in every day and look at the call sheet, and if he was on it, it was an extra exciting day.”
And touching on her struggles with fame, she added: “Tom was the one I could be more vulnerable with. Nothing has ever happened romantically with us. We just love each other and that’s all I can say.”
Emma was just 11 when The Philosopher’s Stone was released. Daniel was 12 and Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley, was 13.
The global fame almost proved to be too much for Emma — and she came close to quitting in 2006. David Yates, who directed four Potter movies, explains how he had heard she was not sure she wanted to start filming the fifth film, The Order Of The Phoenix.
There were endless crushes, people were going out with each other, breaking up
Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom)And Tom said: “Daniel and Rupert had each other and I had my cronies. But Emma was not only younger, she was by herself.”
Emma says: “I did find a diary entry from that time. There were times that I felt very lonely. I think I was scared. I felt like, this is for ever now. The fame thing had finally hit home in a big way.”
Daniel added: “We never talked about it ’cos we were just kids. As a 14-year-old, I was never going to turn round and say to another 14-year-old, ‘Hey — are you OK?’”
And Rupert, 33, said: “I also contemplated what life would be like if I called it a day.” The support of Harry Potter fans helped Emma to stay on board until the final film, The Deathly Hallows Part II, was released in July 2011.
But the struggles went on, with all three of the child stars admitting they found the later movies tough. Rupert said: “I lost track of who I was and who the character was. I didn’t really know where they ended or began.
“Even my name didn’t feel like my name.” Daniel agreed: “Yes, like who I am and what do I like to do and what is important to me.”
‘Utterly devastated’But it wasn’t all misery, with the trio recalling some of the hilarious and dramatic moments that never made it to film.
Emma revealed the child cast were all covered in bruises because they were “obsessed” with paying Slaps — where two players try to avoid getting whacked on the back of their hands.
And Daniel recalled a day on set that could have ended in disaster.
He said: “The candles hanging from the roof of the Great Hall, one day they were burning through the ropes that had them hanging there. So much of that would be special effects now.”
On another occasion some damage really was done — Goblet Of Fire director Mike Newell ended up with several cracked ribs after a fight on set went wrong.
The accident happened as twins James and Oliver Phelps, who played Fred and George Weasley, were filming a scuffle.
On the last day of filming I just remember all of us holding each other, all three of us were utterly devastated
Emma Watson (Hermione Granger)James, 35, revealed: “Mike said, ‘No, no, no. This is a fight — really go for it’. So he stepped in and fought me.” Mike said: “I was a tubby 60-year-old gent, so I really shouldn’t have done it — and then I ended up with cracked ribs.”
Lucius Malfoy actor Jason Isaacs remembers how he injured his on-screen son Draco, played by Tom, in a scene that was later deleted.
Jason, 58, said: “I used this cane to whack his hand but I didn’t know how sharp the teeth on it were and they went into his hands.
“He looked up to me with tears in his eyes. Then he said, ‘It’s OK, it’s good for the scene’.”
Tom said: “He’d be this evil father then ‘Cut!’ And he’d give you a cuddle and say, ‘Did it hit you too hard?’ Very Jekyll and Hyde, that one!”
A touching sequence in the TV special honours the acting legends from the Potter films who are no longer with us — Alan Rickman, who played Severus Snape, a actor Richard Harris and Helen McCrory (Narcissa Malfoy).
‘All spirals from Harry Potter’The cast say they are all now family — and the show ends with their love letters to the saga.
Wiping away a tear, Hagrid actor Robbie Coltrane, 71, said: “My children have grown up while I did this. My children’s generation will show it to their children’s generation, so you could be watching it in 30 years’ time.”
Emma added: “On the last day of filming I just remember all of us holding each other, all three of us were utterly devastated.”
And Daniel said: “Every part of my life is connected to Potter. My first kiss is connected to someone here, my first girlfriends were here.“It all spirals out from Harry Potter.”
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Emma, 31, had a crush on Draco Malfoy actor Tom Felton, 34, while she was playing Hermione — and still holds a candle for himCredit: Rex Features
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JK Rowling, who created the Potter world with her best-selling books, features for less than 30 seconds during the 155-minute specialCredit: AFP
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Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint as Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron WeasleyCredit: Alamy
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Recalling one of their school lessons on set, Emma explains: 'The assignment we were given was to draw what you thought God looked like. Tom had drawn a girl with a backward cap on a skateboard and at that moment I fell in love with him'Credit: © 2022 HBO
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Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley, was just 13 when the first Harry Potter film was releasedCredit: TNI Press
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Emma at the British Style Awards on December 1, 2014Credit: Getty Trailer for Harry Potter 20th Anniversary Return to Hogwarts with Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson