This Year's Most Popular Baby Names

With the news that Prince William and Duchess Catherine (Kate Middleton) are expecting their first royal baby, we have to wonder: What will they name it?

In 2012, the most popular names for girls here in the United States all ended in -a, according to parenting website BabyCenter.com. 

The popular girls' names in 2012: Sophia, Emma, Olivia, Isabella and Ava.

For boys: Aiden, Ethan, Liam, Mason and Jacob. 

"Names from two generations back are meaningful and retro and have a cool factor," BabyCenter.com's Linda Murray told USA Today recently.

BabyCenter.com released the list last week (and updates it frequently), just days before Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton announced they are expecting their first royal baby. 

According to BabyCenter.com, Catherine was not in the top 100 for girls' names in 2012, but William is no. 12 on the boys' list so far.

Another royal saw his name skyrocket in popularity: The name Harry is up "a whopping 57 percent" according to BabyCenter.com. Pippa is up 35 percent.

Virginia's own state list, based on Social Security data, is not yet available. But in 2011, the top five baby girl names in Virginia were Sophia, Emma, Olivia, Isabella and Abigail. The top five baby boy names in Virginia were William, Jacob, Mason, Noah and Ethan.

CNN reports that a bookie taking bets on the child's name says the most popular so far: Frances and John as the favorites for the baby's name, at 9-to-1, with Charles, Victoria and George at 10-to-1.

Thoughts on what the royal couple should name their baby? Have you heard any really unusual names this year? Let us know in the comments.

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