Shakespeare Asks, "What's in a Name?" Lehigh Valley Health Network Shares Most Popular

by Lesley Misko

"What's in a name," asks Juliet, one of the star-crossed lovers in Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet.  

In countless classrooms around the world, on the first day of school, teachers struggle to figure out what some of the students' names are and how to pronounce them. At the same time, students with unusual names or unusually spelled names silently practice the speech they will have to give to correct the teacher. They are likely to have to give  that same speech countless times during their lives to come.  

A name is the first gift a baby receives—and the first label that will influence the world's impression of them.   Will that name have a lasting influence on how the baby is regarded and what opportunities s/he has. 

There is evidence that names can influence how others treat us. Studies of job applications show that identical résumés receive different reactions, depending on the name at the top, suggesting that names can trigger beliefs  about race, class, or gender. Teachers, too, may unconsciously expect different behavior or performance based on a student’s name.

According to Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN, part of Jefferson Health), "Part of the excitement for many [when a baby is born] is choosing a name." Some new parents "may feel pressure to make the right choice since it has impact on their identity and journey throughout life. Parents often choose a name that reflects family traditions, cultural backgrounds or religious beliefs, or honors loved ones. Often, choosing a name is influenced by popular culture: sports figures, movie stars or musicians play a part in the decision. Or, some parents simply pick a name just because they really like it!"

Seeking insight on current trends, LVHN/Jefferson Health tracked the 2025 most popular names among the thousands of babies born across 10 LVHN hospitals that deliver babies.  Here is what they found:

"The most popular name for girls is Sophia, chosen by 60 parents, with the name Emma coming in second place, chosen by 53 parents, and Isabella right behind with 52.

"For boys, Noah came in first place as the most popular boy name with 103 babies given the name, followed by 91 named Liam. Noah is also the most popular boy name nationally.  

"More than 45 Coopers were born this year, perhaps inspired by Eagles Super Bowl hero Cooper DeJean and hometown megastar Bradley Cooper. Speaking of the Eagles, seven Jalens were born, perhaps a nod to quarterback Jalen Hurts. Families continue to favor names that resonate with Phillies fans, including 35 Harpers (both boys and girls!) and seven Bryces. Among the births is a boy named Kelce; we like to think the inspiration for the name came from the former Eagles player Jason Kelce, and not the other Kelce who is engaged to the world’s biggest pop star!

"In looking at Jefferson Health’s 2025 list, there were quite a few unique names, including those of geographic locations such as Toronto, Egypt, Boston, Bronx and Holland, and names that evoke the joy of having a baby, including Love, Miracle, Charm and Wonder.

"Looking at a national snapshot, according to babycenter.com, Noah and Olivia held onto their number one spots for boys and girls. The top five boy names are exactly the same as in 2024, with Noah #1, Liam #2, Oliver #3, Elijah #4 and Mateo #5. For girl names, Olivia and Amelia are holding onto the number one and two spots, respectively, and Emma moved up to #3 (from #4), Sophia dropped to #4 (from #3) and Charlotte moved up to #5 (from #6)."

Fortunately, names are not cages. People can rename themselves or insist on being called exactly who they are.

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