For the 1st time, there will be no baby name list this year
The Social Security Administration will not publish its popular baby names list this year -- at least not on its usual date.
Pamela Redmond, founder of the popular baby name site Nameberry said it's the first time in the list's 23-year history the list won't announced at 8 a.m. ET on the Friday before Mother’s Day.
"We certainly agree that coronavirus economic impact payments are more important than baby names," she wrote in an email to "Good Morning America." "We can appreciate how difficult it must be to run a giant government agency via laptop and Zoom with the kids screaming in the background."
Still, she said, not getting the list is hard on her company.
"The list announcement is Nameberry’s top news story of the year, and we spend weeks analyzing the ups and downs of baby name popularity to help parents make statistically-informed decisions about their name choices," she said.
The SSA wrote on its web site, "Out of respect and honor for all people and families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the announcement of the 2019 most popular baby names is being rescheduled to a to-be-determined date. The agency sends its gratitude and heartfelt thanks to everybody fighting the pandemic and providing vital services throughout the country during these difficult times."
Redmond said the list is very helpful to parents in deciding what not to name their kids.
"Benjamin vaulted into the Top 10? Cross that off the list. Kylo has gone from quirky Star Wars fan name to hottest name of the year? Better keep looking," she said.
It's unclear when the 2019 top baby names list will be announced, but Redmond has a bit of advice: "Until then? If you definitely don’t want to give your baby the No. 1 name, you might want to stay away from Olivia."
