Top baby names for girls and boys born in Asheville in ’13

Jason Sandford January 28, 2014

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

Here’s a list of the top 10 baby names for girls and boys born in Asheville/Buncombe County, as recorded by the Buncombe County Register of Deeds Office. I asked Register of Deeds Drew Reisinger for the information a couple of days ago, and he quickly responded.

Drew said his office is working with some new software that he says will hopefully result in a greater ability to work with the data it collects and provide that data to the public. Thanks to Drew for the quick response.

First up, the names for girls:

Top Ten Girl Names

1) Olivia (24)

2) Abigail (22)

3) Ava (19)

4) Harper (18)

5) Hannah (17)

6) Sophia (16)

7) Madison (15)

8) Emma (15)

9) Isabella (15)

10) Ella (14)

So, Asheville, what do you make of these names? I feel like “Olivia” has been popular for a few years now. Same for “Sophia” and “Ella.” How about “Harper”? Where did that come from?

Now for the boys:

Top Ten Boy Names

1) William (26)

2) Elijah (25)

3) Jacob (24)

4) Liam (23)

5) Samuel (22)

6) Noah (21)

7) Isaac (20)

8) Mason (19)

9) Matthew (17)

10) Daniel (17)

“William” is number one? Really, Asheville? Can’t we get more creative than that? These are almost all straight-up Biblical names for the boys. What do you think?

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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9 Comments

Bob Dobbs Jr February 5, 2014

Screams bourgey and last minute gen-x poser urban aristocracy to me on the girls side. And having lived in area between Hendersonville and Tryon… the hardcore hippies were all new age pseudo-christian – meaning – they don’t do the organized church thing. Even if they tended to be into “the crystals” and such, they all named their kids (the afore mentioned gen-x crowd having kids at 42yo) with biblical names. Yankees are clueless.

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Big Al January 29, 2014

If they need a support group, doesn’t that make the person who named them a child abuser?

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robyn January 28, 2014

Both lists pretty tame- don;t reflect the Asheville I know.
My kids belong to a support group for kids with hippy names.!
I bet George will move up in the ranks for 2014.

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JML January 28, 2014

We are in the bible belt! I think it’s a nice change from all the Daves and Michaels and Laurens and Melissas. Our son’s friends’ names are much more creative than this list, but that’s artist types hanging with artist types, which won’t be on a top ten list, probably ever

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1. Big Al January 29, 2014
  
  Dave and Michael are religious, too. David was King of ancient Israel, Michael was an archangel. I believe even Melissa is a derivation of an ancient Hebrew matriarch.
  
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Anissa Starnes January 28, 2014

Harper is most likely for Harper Lee, Author of great southern novel To Kill A Mockingbird.
I love the return of classic names and there are many on this list.

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Big Al January 28, 2014

These are the names for all of Buncombe County. Outside of the city limits of Asheville, Buncombe County is still very much a notch in the Bible Belt, hence the Biblical names (many of whom are passed on from ancestors since the 18th century).

Only within city limits are there a significant number of hippy/hipster types who name their children Moondoggie, Dreamweaver, and other names more apt for family pets.

I am pleasantly surprised that names of sports figures did not favor in the top ten: Dale, Peyton, LeBron, Cam(eron), and the like.

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Will January 28, 2014

WILLIAM FOR THE WIN!

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1. Jason Sandford January 28, 2014
  
  yeah man!
  
  Reply