What's in a Name?

I understand that children's names go in and out of popularity, but I saw this list today for 2010, and it fascinates me how a particular name gets to be so popular. Maybe a celebrity starts it. No one could have predicted that Olivia would be the #3 name for girls. The good news is that Tiffany, Amber and Dakota seem to have gone by the wayside at last.

Top 10 Girls' Names of 2010
1. Sophia
2. Isabella
3. Olivia
4. Emma
5. Chloe
6. Ava
7. Lily
8. Madison
9. Addison
10. Abigail

Top 10 Boys' Names of 2010
1. Aiden
2. Jacob
3. Jackson
4. Ethan
5. Jayden
6. Noah
7. Logan
8. Caden
9. Lucas
10. Liam

Of course, by way of comparison, I had to check out the most popular names from the year I was born: 1950. Now these are (*ahem) normal names. I swear I know a kid from those days with each of these names. I think there were two other Patty's in my class growing up as well.

Top 10 Boys' Names of 1950
•1. James
•2. Robert
•3. John
•4. Michael
•5. David
•6. William
•7. Richard
•8. Thomas
•9. Charles
•10. Gary

Top 10 Girls' Names of 1950
•1. Linda
•2. Mary
•3. Patricia
•4. Barbara
•5. Susan
•6. Nancy
•7. Deborah
•8. Sandra
•9. Carol
•10. Kathleen