The good news is that the most popular children’s names last year were still the traditional ones: Luke, Elena and Matthew.
The bad news is that the public registry in 2013 still had its fair share of specially coined names which are hard to pronounce, like Zveyrone, Netsrik, Jaceyrhaer, Zarkareia and Chinenye.
The Sunday Times of Malta went through the whole list of registered babies’ names and one of the most unusual names given to babies in 2013 is Amporn. One assumes the baby was called after the Thai volleyball player Amporn Hyapha and not inspired by other activities.
Other contenders for the most unusual names of the year are: Enonima, Kobbun, Gundula, Limoni, Hunter, Loic and Coco (not Chanel).
In 2012 only three boys were called Joseph, last year the number went up to 31
Some baby names appear to point at romantic parents: Breeze, Summer, Diamond, Love, Freedom, Symphony, Dolce and Innocent. And of course this begs the question: at school will Innocent make friends with Amporn and will Hunter befriend Freedom?
Some parents wanted to stamp their pride on the birth certificate: one called their baby Unique, another one Quality.
Others, possibly inspired by the celebrities’ trend to name their babies after the place of conception came up with Reef, Asia and Paris.
International film and sports celebrities have clearly influenced newborn names. Last year there was a baby named Delson, after the Linkin Park guitarist; Diyas for the tennis player Zarina Diyas; Aizley, for the actress Carrie Aizley; Alaric after Alaric Saltzman from The Vampire Diaries; Mikaiel Cain and Aaron Flynn, whose parents are presumably fans of Errol Flynn, the swashbuckling actor.
One baby was named Massa, adopting the name of the Brazilian Formula One racing driver; Mirko, possibly named after the Juventus striker; Brianna – an original version of the name of singer Rhianna.
Local celebrities also left their imprint. Fourteen boys were called Gianluca last year, possibly inspired by the singing doctor’s success at the Eurovision song contest. Babies Tanishia and Telishia were probably inspired by the Maltese international DJ duo Tenisha. There were seven girls called Soleil – the name of one of the Prime Minister’s daughters. One was even given her exact second name Soleil Sophia. Politics was clearly on people’s minds in the election year. In 2012 only three boys were called Joseph, last year the number went up to 31. Five boys were named Simon last year when compared to one boy the year before.
Football, as is the case every year, also left its mark on babies’ names: Cruz, after David Beckham’s son; Robben, after Dutch star Arjen Robben; Didier Drogba, the Ivory Coast footballer; Denilson, a Brazilian retired footballer; Agger, after Daniel Agger the Danish Liverpool defender; a Diego Armando, for Maradona; and Kewell after Harry Kewell, the Liverpool midfielder. One baby has gone one step further: he’s been called Santos, possibly after the Brazilian football club.
Tongue twister names also made it to the registry: Caydel, Cayden, Chasielle, Chayanne, Chayell, Chaylee, Chazelle, Chazlea, Chelen, Chelsie, Chenille, Chesdon, Chinenye, Cyzien.
And here’s another set: Shadey, Shaiel, Shailey, Shaiya, Shaiyel, Shaizelle, Shanaisia-ann, Sharlice, Sharmake, Shaya, Shayana, Shayanne, Shayden, Shayelle, Shaylon, Shazalaya, Shaznie, Sheazanel, Sheidyl, Shelayza, Sheznielle, Shu, Shydler and Shyrone. The mouthful biscuit goes to the girl with two names Shezelayshia Chaznea.
Some names leave one wondering about the source of inspiration. Three children were called Aiken, for example. One baby was called Aewin – and a quick Google search reveals that a software technology company runs by the same name.
Some names have a very odd meaning, like Besan, a type of gluten free flower and Snabel, an elephant’s trunk. And others are outright original: Zadyel, Jaser, Setelela, Joviva, Vasilena, Julanar, Chariska and Zadelshia.
Perhaps the most telling of all in 2013 were the names which mixed the contemporary with the traditional: Zane Joseph, Zayne Joseph and Zaylen Nazju. Is this a taste of things to come next year?
The Sunday Times of Malta only had access to the list of first names. No other information – such as surnames – was made available by the Public Registry due to the Data Protection Act.