Whether you're for hippie flower power or the punk style of the 80's, retro names from American cultural history and places are a great way to pay tribute to your favorite cultural era or location.

American Baby Names

Good old American pie and baseball are just some of the hallmarks of American culture.  Capture a bit of the essence of the pure American spirit in your baby's name.  There is so much more to Jack and Sue than meets the eye.

American pop culture influences baby name choices not only in the States, but in Europe, Asia and other remote regions.  A writer's decision for a character name on a TV show can have lasting effects on a whole generation.  Take the soap opera Days of Our Lives for example.  A character named Kayla gave the name incredible popularity, and hundreds if not thousands of Kayla's today are the product of the show's trend-setting influence. 

A similar phenomenon can be seen in the UK.  The name Keira, and its alternative spelling Kiera jumped up in popularity when British actress Keira Knightly became famous world wide for her roles in Bend It Like Beckham and Pirates of the Caribbean.  Even a bad reputation has been known to spark trends.  An evil nanny named Peyton in the film The Hand that Rocks the Cradle made the name an instant favorite, whereas before it was virtually unheard of.

It seems some names became extremely popular after appearing in a hit song dedicated to a person of that name. After all, who can think of a better name choice, than one that is worth writing songs about?

So you know what the popular names of today are, but do you know which names were popular in 1880? The “fashion” of names has changed throughout the years, but some names have stayed on top of the charts.

The 80's are back – Names inspired from bulls & bears, the Ivy League and the Trumps
80's inspired names are the new trend according to recent polls and surveys. These names are more traditional, conservative and are inspired by T.V. series, universities and the global money market which boomed and crashed in the spandex decade.

Popular Baby Names in New York
So what does the New York State parent think of when naming their baby? In the case of naming baby girls, it looks as if naming is all about glamour. According to the most up to date US Social Security Statistics, Emily, Isabella and Ava ranked in top 3 spots.

Baby Name Ideas from New Jesrey
New Jersey is the “it” state for parents looking for a unique baby name or ideas for inspiration.  The Garden State just happens to be one the most racially and ethnically diverse states in the country.

Popular Baby Names in California
California’s parents have their trends set for their baby name favorites.  For baby girls, Emily, Isabella, Ashley, Mia and Samantha came in at the top 5 spots, respectively.  As far as baby boy names go, the names Daniel, Anthony, Angel, Jacob and David have been chosen by California's parents more than any others.

Related Reading:

American Baby Names and Meanings
Top Celebrity Baby Names

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