Once again, “Emily” is the name found most often on the list of Ƶ State graduates for spring 2023. Including variants like “Emmalee/Emalea/Emilee,” it appeared on the list 71 times. It’s the name that also topped the lists of Ƶ State’s spring graduates in 2022 and 2021.
The traditionally male name that appeared the most times in Ƶ State’s Class of 2023 was “Nicholas.” Including variants “Nicolas/Nikolas/Nicklaus/Nickolaus,” the name was read in commencements a total of 56 times.
Against national trends
This is on-trend nationally, as the Social Security Administration (SSA) record of popular baby names shows that “Emily” was the top name from 1996-2007, until “Emma” took the lead in 2008. That lead was short-lived, however, as “Isabella” took over for 2008-2010, followed by “Sophia” from 2011-2013. In 2014, “Emma” regained the top spot and held it from 2014-2018, before being unseated by “Olivia,” which has reigned from 2019-2022.
Photo by spring 2023 graduate, Greta Bell, BFA Photography. Greta is the only "Greta" in Ƶ State's Class of 2023.
For the traditionally male names, “Jacob” topped the Social Security Administration’s baby name list from 1999-2012, but was third in Ƶ State’s Class of 2023. Ƶ State’s second most frequently appearing male name, “Matthew,” reached second place on the SSA’s baby name list in 1995 and 1996, but also impressively held the No. 3 position from 1981-1994 and again from 1997-2001.
The top male name on the Ƶ State's spring Class of 2023 list, “Nicholas,” peaked in 1999 as No. 5 for the year.
Header image: The Class of 2023 was the first freshman class to form the "K" on Manchester Field in 2019.