Sanford shares its most popular baby names for 2022

Babies socializing at Baby Boost Storytime (1).jpeg — Research has shown that when mothers frequently talked to their babies, those children learned almost 300 more words by age 2 than peers whose mothers rarely spoke to them.

By Forum staff

December 19, 2022 01:57 PM

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — A rundown of the most popular names given to our region's newborns this year reads a little like the character list from a 19th-century novel.

Oliver and Olivia were the most popular names for babies born in the Sanford Health system, the health provider said in a statement Monday, Dec. 19.

This was the second year in a row that Oliver took the honor for the most popular boy name. Olivia moved up four places to take this year's honor as the most popular name for girls.

Other names that have remained popular from last year include Liam, which was the fourth most popular name for boys in 2021, and Evelyn, which was the fourth most popular name for girls last year.

Here's a list of the most popular baby names as provided by Sanford Health, a Sioux Falls-based health network with a footprint that includes Minnesota and the Dakotas:

Boys:

1. Oliver
2. Hudson
3. Liam
4. Theodore
5. William, Brooks (tie)

Girls:

1. Olivia
2. Ava
3. Evelyn
4. Harper, Emma, Amelia (tie)
7. Eleanor

Sanford shares its most popular baby names for 2022

This was the second year in a row with Oliver as the top name for newborn boys. Olivia moved up four spots after being the fifth most popular girl's name of 2021.