Most Popular Baby Names in the U.S., Secrets Revealed

What are the secrets behind the most popular baby names? Why do parents choose them time and time again over thousands of others?

In a country that strongly values individuality, parents in the U.S. try to choose names for their babies that are special as well as well-liked.

Although you can name your baby anything you choose, some classic names prevail, and each year there is a definitive list of the most popular baby names for boys and girls. According to Yahoo! News, fewer than 10 percent of newborn boys were dubbed one of the most popular names as for 2010, according to a study published that year in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science, so the names that remain popular must be pretty special. 

An Old Testament name that roughly translates to "holder of the heel," the name Jacob has held the No. 1 spot in popularity for newborn boys since 2004, according to LiveScience. The classic Biblical name has impressive staying power, having been on the rise since the 1960s, and having hit its peak in the 1990s when a whopping 7,403 per million newborn babies were named Jacob.

Author Laura Wattenberg explained in her book, "The Baby Name Wizard: A Magical Method for Finding the Perfect Name for Your Baby" (Three Rivers Press, 2013), that the name remains popular due to its religious connotations and attractive "j" and "k" sounds. Babycenter.com ranks Jacob as number 8 on the list of 100 most popular baby names in 2012.

As for baby girls, the number one name in 2012 was Sophia, which has remained on the top 10 list and ranked number one for its second consecutive year. What is it that makes Sophia such a special name? Greek in origin, the name (alternatively spelled Sofia) means "wisdom" or "skill," and perhaps due to its softness and simple beauty has retained its popularity over the years, having busted into the top 10 list in 2006 and staying firmly put.

Other popular names like Mason, Isabella, Olivia and William share qualities of simplicity and timelessness, making them top picks for parents. However, not all of the most popular names have a rich tradition and history behind them.

The name Jayden, which didn't appear on the top 1,000 list of names kept by the Social Security Administration until the 1990s, is a completely new invention. In 2012 it was ranked as No. 9 in the 100 most popular baby names, a huge step up from its spot at 254 in 1999. Celebrities Will Smith and Britney Spears both used variations of the name for their sons, "which may have helped give the name some star power."

For boys born in 2012, Aiden, Jackson and Ethan topped the top 100 list, while Sophia, Emma and Olivia charted for girls.