Virginia reports more babies born in 2024 named 'Liam' or 'Charlotte.' It's a years-long trend
Is Virginia in the midst of a 'Liam' or a 'Charlotte' population explosion? Apparently.
According to data released May 2 by the Virginia Department of Health's Office of Vital Records, Liam and Charlotte were the most popular names among the 94,443 babies born in 2024 across the commonwealth. It is the sixth straight year Liam has been on the top and the fifth for Charlotte.
'The 2024 list showcases a blend of strong, meaningful names that parents are embracing for their little ones,' Celes Davis, the chief deputy state registrar, said in a statement announcing the findings.
The release is something VDH does annually.
Rounding out the top 15 names chosen for boys in 2024 after Liam: Noah, James, Oliver, William, Henry, Theodore, Lucas, Elijah, John, Levi, Ethan, Dylan, Benjamin and Michael.
The top 15 girls' names after Charlotte? They are Olivia, Emma, Sophia, Amelia, Isabella, Mia, Ava, Eleanor, Evelyn, Harper, Elizabeth, Sofia, Abigail and Aurora.
While Liam has reigned supreme for the past six years, the only time Charlotte was not atop the list was in 2019 when the No. 1 choice was "Ava."
The Office of Vital Records even broke down the five most popular names of 2024 based on the family's ethnicity:
Asian: Boys – Noah, Muhammad, Henry, Lucas and Ethan; Girls – Sophia, Emma, Olivia, Chloe and Eliana
Black: Boys – Noah, Amir, Josiah, Elijah and Ezra; Girls – Nova, Naomi, Ava, Brielle and Zuri
Hispanic: Boys – Liam, Dylan, Matteo, Noah and Thiago; Girls – Mia, Isabella, Sofia, Genesis and Camila
White: Boys – James, William, Oliver, Henry and Theodore; Girls – Charlotte, Olivia, Eleanor, Amelia and Emma
'Baby name trends are always evolving, and over the past five years, we've seen some exciting shifts,' VDH said in the announcement.
For example, 25 years ago, the chosen names defined a generation. 'Jacob' and 'Emily' were the top picks then, with more traditional names such as 'Matthew" and 'Sarah' not far behind.
VDH said parents then started to steer away from the classics and began basing their children's names on things such as nature, pop culture and elegance.
Since 2019, the trend has been to reintroduce the traditional names with those from the other areas.
Hopewell council fires city manager and clerk 'without cause.' The vote is controversial
In addition to names, VDH also tracked data such as the most common day of the week to give birth last year:
August was the most popular birth month, with 8,370 births.
The most common birthday was Oct. 18, with 344 births.
Friday was the most popular day for births, with 14,274.
Sunday was the least common birth day, with 8,778.
There were 2,806 sets of twins and 53 sets of triplets born.
There were 177 babies born on New Year's Eve 2023, and 161 born on New Year's Day 2024.
The number of babies sharing a birthday with their mothers was 277. Babies sharing their fathers' birthdays totaled 283.
If you are interested in searching for more records such as these, check out VDH's Office of Vital Records website.
Police investigate shooting at Virginia State University
Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) is an award-winning journalist who covers breaking news, government and politics. Reach him at batkinson@progress-index.com or on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @BAtkinson_PI.
This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Virginia releases lists of most popular baby names in 2024
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
a day ago
- New York Post
Shipwreck treasure worth $20B found near Colombia -- coins could be the 'holy grail' proof
Officials claim they used coins discovered inside a shipwreck off the coast of Colombia to prove the underwater graveyard is the legendary San José that was carrying a $20 billion treasure when it sank. The Colombian government used an unmanned vehicle to inspect the wreckage of the 18th-century vessel to prove it has found the lost Spanish galleon. The underwater craft carried out a non-intrusive investigation to document areas of the shipwreck that have yet to be photographed that contained coin-like objects, according to a study from Antiquity. 7 Coins discovered in a hoard area of the stern of the shipwreck off the coast of Colombia. ARC-DIMAR 2022/VARGAS ARIZA ET AL. ANTIQUITY 2025 Coins found in a hoard area in the ship's stern were photographed and analyzed. Scientists used photogrammetry on the images to produce 3-D models of the treasure, along with models of similar coins, to determine its age and origin. Engraved markings revealed the coins were minted back in 1707 in Lima, Peru. Heraldic symbols were discovered to bear the crests of the crowns of Castile and Leon indicating a Hispanic galleon, the study found. The coins also bear a Jerusalem Cross, Columns of Hercules, sea waves, and symbols denoting the Lima mint and the number 8 for 'Escudo de 8,' the type of coin. 'Coins are crucial artifacts for dating and understanding material culture, particularly in shipwreck contexts,' lead researcher Daniela Vargas Ariza in the study. 'Hand-struck, irregularly shaped coins—known as cobs in English and macuquinas in Spanish— served as the primary currency in the Americas for more than two centuries.' 7 Heraldic symbols were discovered to bear the crests of the crowns of Castile and Leon indicating a Hispanic galleon, the study found. ARC-DIMAR 2022/VARGAS ARIZA ET AL. ANTIQUITY 2025 7 The shipwreck of what is believed to be the San José sits at the bottom of the ocean off the coast of Colombia. Presidencia de la República – Colombia Vargas Ariza is from the Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History (ICANH). The San José was the flagship vessel of the Flota de Tierra Firme, a fleet tasked with transporting the treasures from South America across the Atlantic back to the Spanish Empire to South America during the War of the Spanish Succession. During one voyage, the doomed ship was struck by a British warship during an ambush and sank on June 8, 1708. The prized haul is believed to include emerald, gold, and silver worth as much as $20 billion. 7 The San José galleon explodes after an ambush from a British warship during the June 8, 1708, battle off Cartagena, Colombia. 7 Tea cups were discovered buried in the sand among the wreckage. Colombian Presidency/AFP via Get The resting place for the ship was unknown until at least the late 20th century, when the American company Glocca Morra — now Sea Search Armada — claimed to have discovered a shipwreck off the coast of Colombia. The company shared the coordinates with the Colombian government in a deal that would net them half the fortune of treasure on board, approximately $10 billion. Colombian officials say they've never found a shipwreck at the coordinates but claim they found the missing San José in an undisclosed location in 2015. 7 The prized haul is believed to include emerald, gold, and silver worth as much as $20 billion. Colombian Presidency/AFP via Get Sea Search has sued the Colombian Government under the US-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement believing the country found part of the same debris field in 2015 that it first discovered 34 years earlier. Colombian President Gustavo Petro has ordered the shipwreck to be preserved and the treasure exhumed from the bottom of the ocean by the time his term ends in 2026. In 2024, Colombia proclaimed the shipwreck to be a 'protected archeological area' that would ensure its 'long-term preservation.' Colombia's culture ministry said it 'guarantees the protection of heritage' and would allow for the 'development of research, conservation and valuation activities,' the AFP reported. 7 The resting place for the ship was unknown until at least the late 20th century. ARC-DIMAR 2022/VARGAS ARIZA ET AL. ANTIQUITY 2025 Petro initially wanted to bring the 62-gun, three-masted ship to the surface and had requested a public-private partnership be formed. No official declaration of discovery has been made of the San José.
Axios
2 days ago
- Axios
Columbus Zoo is on baby elephant watch
Talk about big news: For the first time in the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium's history, two Asian elephants are pregnant at the same time — and one is due any day now. Why it matters: The species is endangered, and its population in accredited zoos is currently unsustainable due to dwindling numbers and a lack of genetic diversity, according to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The calves' father — Sabu, from the Cincinnati Zoo, who lived here temporarily — has no living offspring, so the births will bolster the gene pool. The big picture: The news comes as some zoos are moving away from keeping elephants amid increasing care standards, which require lots of space and expense. Others, like Columbus, are investing more by expanding habitats, encouraging breeding, and working with global partners to conserve wild elephants. Advocates say keeping elephants is important for research and education. A 2023 AZA strategic plan calls for increased collaboration among zoos, including transferring animals for breeding. Threat level:"If we don't do something as a group, we're not going to have elephants in 100 years," says Adam Felts, senior zoo curator and head of the AZA's Species Survival Plan. At last count, there were 157 Asian elephants in 27 AZA institutions. Zoom in: Felts took Axios behind the scenes to meet 38-year-old matriarch Phoebe, who is expecting her sixth calf. She's "all business," with a big appetite. The 7,400-pound pachyderm calmly used her trunk to funnel biscuits into her mouth while a veterinarian scanned her with an ultrasound probe. Her calf is likely the size of a Great Dane. It's impossible to see the entire thing in one image, but vets can view ribs, a skull or a beating heart. All appear healthy. Another elephant, 16-year-old Sunny, is due with her first calf between now and August, while Phoebe is due in the fall. Keepers hope the experienced mom will show Sunny the ropes. They're encouraged by her bond with Phoebe's 3-year-old calf, Frankie, who still lives at the zoo. The arrangement should mimic wild herd behaviors, in which females raise the young together and males are mostly solitary. The intrigue: The new calves will make history in another way, as Columbus' first to be vaccinated for elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV). The devastating virus is the leading cause of death among AZA elephants, and calves are especially at risk. A vaccine became available last year. What's next: Elephants are pregnant up to 22 months, so expect lots of fanfare when the 200-plus-pound bundles of joy finally arrive. 1 fun prenatal ritual: elephant yoga Impress your friends with this fun fact: the Columbus Zoo's herd is trained in "elephant yoga." How it works: The elephants follow a target and maneuver into various poses, such as stretching their feet and trunks, kneeling, and lying on the ground. Between the lines: Keepers say practicing the moves keeps them limber and engaged. It also helps them learn to get into positions for routine health monitoring, such as blood draws, exams and ultrasounds. 😅 Alissa's thought bubble: I definitely couldn't move as gracefully during my pregnancy as 7,400-pound Phoebe does. Impressive.
New York Post
2 days ago
- New York Post
Story of Vietnamese orphans who resettled here 50 years ago proves there are greater things than politics
Fifty years ago, near the end of the Vietnam War, as North Vietnamese troops headed south, the director of the Cam Ranh Christian Orphanage, Pastor Nguyen Xuan Ha — known to everyone as Mr. Ha —decided it was time to escape to somewhere safe. Mr. Ha put 85 children and staff on two buses and headed for Saigon where he hoped they could flee to safety. One of the buses was shot at by a North Vietnamese soldier and the buses separated. Somehow they re-united in Saigon. After renting a boat and getting some distance from shore, the engine quit. For five days they drifted before a Thailand tanker approached. The captain refused to help, but later changed his mind, turned around and towed them for a while. After cutting the tow line, a group of fishermen towed them toward Singapore. Soldiers refused to let them ashore. Mr. Ha wrote a name on a piece of paper and asked a soldier if he could locate a missionary named Ralph Neighbour to help. Dr. Neighbour (now 96), newly arrived in Singapore, was miraculously found. He picks up the story from there in an email to me: 'Singapore government kept them out on St. John's Island. Our missionary team took clothes and food out. USA embassy contacted Swiss United Nations Refugee Center. Special flight arrived. Children whisked thru Singapore on bus with windows covered. Government feared losing neutrality during war. No official record they were there.' I knew Dr. Neighbour from when he was a pastor in Houston where I worked at a local TV station. He called and asked if I could help get the orphans and staff to the United States and find temporary housing for them. I contacted some Washington officials I knew and permission for them to enter the country was granted. When they arrived in Houston, a church couple with a large ranch offered them shelter and food until the Buckner Children and Family Services in Dallas could assist with processing and adoptions. I interviewed the youngest, oldest and one in between who made the anniversary trip. Sam Schrade, who was a baby when he was rescued from the streets of Saigon, is 51 and owns a successful media business in Houston. How would his life have been different had he stayed in Vietnam? He says the fact that he is of 'mixed race' (American-Asian) would make it 'doubly hard' because native Vietnamese 'look down upon such people. I have been told by many people I would not have had a good life here because of the race issue and a government that didn't want me.' Kelli St. German, now 56, thinks she might have been growing coffee beans and doing hard labor had she not come to America. She also believes she would not have developed a strong faith because of the state's antipathy toward religion. 'I became a teacher for 30 years.' Thomas Ho, the oldest orphan, now 76, was 25 when he left Vietnam. He helped organize the evacuation and prepared small amounts of food for the children. In America he became a chef and then studied to become an engineer. He says if he had stayed in Vietnam, 'I might not have survived, especially at my age now. Life here is very difficult. A lot of the food is not very healthy.' Reuniting with these adults, many of whom I met when they were children, is a reminder that there are things far greater than politics, celebrities and the petty jealousies that are the focus of too many of us. There are few greater blessings than to have had a role in changing these lives for the better. These former orphans are blessed. So am I. Cal Thomas is a veteran political commentator, columnist and author.
