Whoa, baby! The US Social Security Administration just announced the top baby names in the USA in 2008- Jacob and Emma. Arizona had different choices, however, with Anthony and Isabella.

The top 10 AZ boy names were:

Anthony, Daniel, Angel, Alexander, Jacob, Michael, Ethan, Jose, Jesus and Joshua

The top 10 AZ girl names were:

Emma, Isabella, Sophia, Emily, Mia, Abigail, Ava, Samantha, Madison and Elizabeth.

The top 10 USA boy names were:

Jacob, Michael, Ethan, Joshua, Daniel, Alexander, Anthony, William, Christopher, Matthew

The top 10 USA girl names were:

Emma, Isabella, Emily, Madison, Ava, Olivia, Sophia, Abigail, Elizabeth, Chloe

Interestingly, only a little more than 1% of boys born in 2008 were named the #1 name, Jacob, and .9% of girls went home with the #1 name Emma.

Nationally, Biblical names remained popular and Granny names were on the rise for girls. Interesting names that broke into the top 1,000 included Miley (assumedly for Miley Cyrus) and Barack (obvi). Another interesting note was the rise in the name Caylee, due in part to the case of the missing toddler Caylee Anthony. It is said that names of high-profile missing people often rise due to the sheer exposure of them- other examples include Laci (Laci Peterson) and Natalee (Natalee Holloway).

The biggest upset this year was the rise of the name Emma, which knocked Emily from the #1 name spot it held for more than twelve years to the #3 spot.

For long-term historical and geographical baby name studies, visit BabyNameWizard.

May 13, 2009