Olivia, Liam top Alberta baby names
She captured the most votes in 2015, toppling a 44-year Conservative dynasty to become Alberta’s 17th premier. When it comes to her given name, though, Rachel Notley is more accustomed to being an also ran — and doesn’t mind one bit.
“I’ve always been a big fan of it,” says the premier about being named Rachel, not a regular on any top 10 lists of baby names.
“I’m one of those few people who really likes their name.”
I, too, have always appreciated my mother’s choice of Valerie, along with the fact that when it comes to the most popular baby names, it’s never cracked the top 10, let alone the top 50, my entire life.
Still, like many people, I’m fascinated with the choices parents make about what to call their new bundle of joy and always enjoy the province’s annual unveiling of the top baby names from the previous year.
On Friday morning, it’s clear Notley and her all-female government entourage are having fun announcing this year’s favourites at Babes in Arms, a baby boutique in the Bridgeland neighbourhood that’s been around for more than a decade.
Before the big drum roll, though, the premier announces another baby in the Alberta legislature: Kathleen Ganley, minister of justice and the province’s solicitor general, is expecting her first child later this year.
“Kathleen will be the first sitting attorney general in Alberta’s and Canada’s history to give birth,” says Notley, her eyes misting over the happy news.
“It’s really important for us in cabinet to have a new baby every year, just to keep the dynamic entertaining and fun.”
While I notice more than one male reporters’ eyes rolling rather than tearing up, I think it’s more than appropriate for the setting and topic, a brief but welcome respite for a premier who’s spent the past two years presid- ing over a province and government reeling from the plunge in oil prices.
On with the baby name show, then.
In 2016, the top baby name for boys was Liam, while for girls it was Olivia. Liam has been baby boy numero uno for more than five years running, while Olivia has also held onto the top spot since 2012.
It’s a bit unusual for the premier to announce the annual name list compiled by Service Alberta (for the full list, go to servicealberta.ca); then again, these aren’t typical times.
Along with Ganley set to make political baby history later this year, minister of Service Alberta Stephanie McLean, also on hand for the news conference, last year became the first Alberta MLA to give birth while in office.
McLean also created a stir last spring when she stood up in the provincial legislature to answer a question with baby Patrick in her arms.
The rest of the top 10 pack for the province’s 55,594 babies born in 2016 are hardly surprising: for boys, Noah, Benjamin and Lucas continue to be the most popular, while for girls, Sophie and Ella join perennial favourite Emma.
To keep things interesting each year, there are always a few parents who go overboard in their quest to make sure when they call out their kid’s name at the playground, 10 little Liams don’t toddle over crying for a juice pack.
Riversong — a reference to a character on the popular sci-fi TV series Dr. Who — Timber, Heavenly and Xoey (as though Zoey is now too mainstream) made the list for girls, while on the boys’ side, the Class of 2035 will sport an Awesome, a Blayde, a Righteousness and a ZyronThunder.
I’m guessing the parents of Righteousness are confident enough not to mind Premier Notley’s jab at that little guy’s new moniker: “I just imagine yelling at Righteousness as they’ve got their hand in the wrong place,” she says with a laugh.
“I don’t know what parent thought that was a good way to go for the next 10 years.”