In 2024, the names Liam and Olivia are still the most popular choices for babies born in the United States. This is the sixth year in a row they have held these top spots. The Social Security Administration, which has been keeping track of baby names since 1880, shared its annual list just in time for Mother’s Day. This list shows what parents across the country are choosing for their newborns.

Liam has been the favorite name for boys for eight years now, while Olivia has been the top choice for girls for six years. After Liam and Olivia, Emma is the second most popular name for girls, and Noah is the second for boys. Interestingly, the name Luna has dropped out of the Top 10 for girls, making room for Sofia, which has made its debut at number 10.

The Social Security Administration’s data shows the most common names for boys after Liam are Noah, Oliver, Theodore, James, Henry, Mateo, Elijah, Lucas, and William. For girls, after Olivia, the popular names include Emma, Amelia, Charlotte, Mia, Sophia, Isabella, Evelyn, Ava, and Sofia. This list gives us a good idea of what names American parents are liking these days.

Sophie Kihm, the editor of Nameberry, a website about baby names, says that parents in the U.S. are choosing names that have meaning in different cultures. Many families come from various backgrounds, so they want names that are easy to understand around the world. Kihm’s name even appears in two forms on the list, showing how people are picking names that reflect their heritage. The Social Security Administration also reports that about 3.61 million babies were born in the U.S. in 2024, which is a small increase from last year. Social media and popular TV shows might be influencing these naming trends, as seen with the rise of the name Ailany, which means “chief” in Hawaiian, and the boys’ name Truce, meaning “peace,” which jumped over 11,000 spots in popularity.

Original news source: Liam and Olivia dominate — again — with top baby names for a sixth year in a row (AP News)

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

Fast

📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group will take turns acting out different baby names from the article without speaking, while the other groups guess the names. This will encourage students to think creatively and engage with the content.

– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Create a list of baby names mentioned in the article. Ask students to choose their favorite name and explain why they like it. Then, conduct a class poll to see which name is the most popular among students, allowing them to practice speaking and expressing opinions.

– HEADLINE CREATION
Instructions: Have students read the article and then work in pairs to come up with catchy headlines that summarize the main points. Each pair can present their headlines to the class, allowing them to practice concise writing and presentation skills.

– SPEED SUMMARIZING
Instructions: Give students a limited time (e.g., 2 minutes) to summarize the article’s main points in pairs. After the time is up, each pair will share their summaries with the class. This will help improve their summarization and speaking skills.

– MIND MAP
Instructions: Students will create a mind map on the whiteboard based on the article, starting with “Popular Baby Names in 2024” as the central idea. They will branch out with names, trends, and cultural influences mentioned in the article. This activity promotes collaborative learning and visual organization of information.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What names have been the most popular for babies in the United States in 2024?
2. How long has Liam been the favorite name for boys?
3. Which name has recently made its debut in the Top 10 for girls?
4. Can you name some of the popular names for boys after Liam?
5. According to Sophie Kihm, what influences parents when choosing names for their babies?
6. How many babies were born in the U.S. in 2024, and how does this compare to the previous year?
7. What does the rise of the name Ailany suggest about naming trends in the U.S.?
8. Why might parents be interested in choosing names that reflect their heritage?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In 2024, the names Liam and (1)______ are still the most popular choices for babies born in the United States. This is the sixth year in a row they have held these top spots. The (2)______ Security (3)______, which has been keeping track of baby names since 1880, shared its annual list just in time for Mother’s Day. This list shows what parents across the country are choosing for their newborns.

Liam has been the (4)______ name for boys for eight years now, while Olivia has been the top choice for girls for six years. After Liam and Olivia, Emma is the (5)______ most (6)______ name for girls, and Noah is the second for boys. Interestingly, the name Luna has dropped out of the Top 10 for girls, (7)______ room for Sofia, which has made its debut at number 10.

The Social Security Administration’s data shows the most (8)______ names for boys after Liam are Noah, Oliver, Theodore, James, Henry, Mateo, Elijah, Lucas, and William. For girls, after Olivia, the popular (9)______ include Emma, Amelia, Charlotte, Mia, Sophia, Isabella, Evelyn, Ava, and Sofia. This list gives us a good idea of what names American (10)______ are liking these days.

Sophie Kihm, the editor of (11)______, a website about baby names, says that parents in the U.S. are choosing names that have meaning in different cultures. Many families come from various backgrounds, so they want names that are easy to understand around the (12)______. Kihm’s name even appears in two forms on the list, showing how people are picking names that reflect their heritage. The Social Security Administration also reports that about 3.61 million babies were born in the U.S. in 2024, which is a (13)______ increase from last year. Social media and popular TV shows might be (14)______ these (15)______ trends, as seen with the rise of the name Ailany, which means “chief” in Hawaiian, and the boys’ name Truce, (16)______ “peace,” which jumped over 11,000 spots in popularity.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is a name that you really like? Why do you like it?
2. Do you think names can influence a person’s personality? Why or why not?
3. How would you feel if your parents named you something very unusual?
4. Do you like the idea of names that have cultural meanings? Why?
5. What is a name that you think is becoming popular in your country? Why do you think that is?
6. Do you think social media has a big impact on naming trends? Why or why not?
7. How would you feel if your name suddenly became very popular?
8. Do you think it’s important for names to be easy to pronounce? Why?
9. What is a name that you think is timeless and will never go out of style?
10. Do you believe that a person’s name can affect their opportunities in life? Why or why not?
11. How would you feel if you met someone with the same name as you?
12. Do you think parents should choose names based on trends, or should they pick names that have personal meaning? Why?
13. What is a name that you dislike, and why?
14. How do you think names reflect a person’s identity or background?
15. Do you think it’s okay for parents to name their children after celebrities? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. debut
2. heritage
3. influence
4. popularity
5. newborns
6. annual
7. trends
8. cultures
9. background
10. reflect
11. increase
12. editor
13. common
14. choices
15. various

Meanings:
(A) To show or express something
(B) The power to change or affect someone or something
(C) A person who prepares and revises content for publication
(D) Happening once every year
(E) The act of selecting or making a decision
(F) The first appearance of something
(G) Different kinds or types of something
(H) Occurring often or found in large numbers
(I) Traditions and history passed down from previous generations
(J) General directions in which something is developing or changing
(K) To become larger or greater in size, amount, or number
(L) Babies that have just been born
(M) A person’s history or past experiences
(N) The customs and beliefs of different groups of people
(O) Being liked or accepted by many people
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What are the most popular baby names in the United States in 2024?
(a) Liam and Olivia
(b) Noah and Emma
(c) Sophia and Elijah
(d) Mateo and Charlotte

2. How long have Liam and Olivia held the top spots for baby names?
(a) Eight years
(b) Four years
(c) Ten years
(d) Six years

3. Which name is the second most popular for girls after Olivia?
(a) Emma
(b) Amelia
(c) Mia
(d) Ava

4. What name has dropped out of the Top 10 for girls in 2024?
(a) Sophia
(b) Luna
(c) Charlotte
(d) Evelyn

5. According to the Social Security Administration, how many babies were born in the U.S. in 2024?
(a) About 4 million
(b) About 2.5 million
(c) About 3 million
(d) About 3.61 million

6. Who is Sophie Kihm?
(a) A baby name expert
(b) A social media influencer
(c) The editor of Nameberry
(d) A popular TV show host

7. What does the name Ailany mean?
(a) Peace
(b) Love
(c) Chief
(d) Joy

8. What trend is influencing the popularity of baby names according to the article?
(a) Celebrity names
(b) Social media and popular TV shows
(c) Historical names
(d) Traditional family names

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. In 2024, Liam and Olivia are not the most popular baby names in the U.S. for the sixth consecutive year.
2. Other factors, not social media and popular TV shows, may be influencing current naming trends, as seen with the rise of names like Ailany and Truce.
3. About 3.61 million babies were born in the U.S. in 2024, showing a slight increase from the previous year.
4. The Social Security Administration has not been tracking baby names since 1880.
5. Liam has been the favorite name for boys for eight years, while Olivia has been the top choice for girls for six years.
6. Emma is the second most popular name for girls, and Noah is the second most popular name for boys.
7. The name Luna has remained in the Top 10 for girls, with Sofia ranking at number 10.
8. Parents in the U.S. are increasingly choosing names that have cultural significance and are easy to understand globally.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Check your writing now with the best free AI for English writing!

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.
Check your answers with our free English writing assistant!

1. What are the two most popular baby names in the United States for 2024?
2. How long have Liam and Olivia been the top names for boys and girls, respectively?
3. What does the article say about the influence of culture on the names parents are choosing?
4. Can you name two boys’ names and two girls’ names that are popular after Liam and Olivia?
5. What is one reason mentioned in the article for the rise in popularity of certain names like Ailany and Truce?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What names have been the most popular for babies in the United States in 2024?
Liam and Olivia have been the most popular names for babies in the United States in 2024.

2. How long has Liam been the favorite name for boys?
Liam has been the favorite name for boys for eight years.

3. Which name has recently made its debut in the Top 10 for girls?
The name Sofia has recently made its debut in the Top 10 for girls.

4. Can you name some of the popular names for boys after Liam?
Some popular names for boys after Liam are Noah, Oliver, Theodore, James, Henry, Mateo, Elijah, Lucas, and William.

5. According to Sophie Kihm, what influences parents when choosing names for their babies?
Parents are influenced by names that have meaning in different cultures and that are easy to understand around the world.

6. How many babies were born in the U.S. in 2024, and how does this compare to the previous year?
About 3.61 million babies were born in the U.S. in 2024, which is a small increase from the previous year.

7. What does the rise of the name Ailany suggest about naming trends in the U.S.?
The rise of the name Ailany suggests that naming trends in the U.S. are influenced by social media and popular culture.

8. Why might parents be interested in choosing names that reflect their heritage?
Parents might be interested in choosing names that reflect their heritage to celebrate their cultural background and make their names meaningful.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Olivia
(2) Social
(3) Administration
(4) favorite
(5) second
(6) popular
(7) making
(8) common
(9) names
(10) parents
(11) Nameberry
(12) world
(13) small
(14) influencing
(15) naming
(16) meaning
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. debut
Answer: (F) The first appearance of something

2. heritage
Answer: (I) Traditions and history passed down from previous generations

3. influence
Answer: (B) The power to change or affect someone or something

4. popularity
Answer: (O) Being liked or accepted by many people

5. newborns
Answer: (L) Babies that have just been born

6. annual
Answer: (D) Happening once every year

7. trends
Answer: (J) General directions in which something is developing or changing

8. cultures
Answer: (N) The customs and beliefs of different groups of people

9. background
Answer: (M) A person’s history or past experiences

10. reflect
Answer: (A) To show or express something

11. increase
Answer: (K) To become larger or greater in size, amount, or number

12. editor
Answer: (C) A person who prepares and revises content for publication

13. common
Answer: (H) Occurring often or found in large numbers

14. choices
Answer: (E) The act of selecting or making a decision

15. various
Answer: (G) Different kinds or types of something
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What are the most popular baby names in the United States in 2024?
Answer: (a) Liam and Olivia

2. How long have Liam and Olivia held the top spots for baby names?
Answer: (d) Six years

3. Which name is the second most popular for girls after Olivia?
Answer: (a) Emma

4. What name has dropped out of the Top 10 for girls in 2024?
Answer: (b) Luna

5. According to the Social Security Administration, how many babies were born in the U.S. in 2024?
Answer: (d) About 3.61 million

6. Who is Sophie Kihm?
Answer: (c) The editor of Nameberry

7. What does the name Ailany mean?
Answer: (c) Chief

8. What trend is influencing the popularity of baby names according to the article?
Answer: (b) Social media and popular TV shows
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. In 2024, Liam and Olivia are not the most popular baby names in the U.S. for the sixth consecutive year. (Answer: False)
2. Other factors, not social media and popular TV shows, may be influencing current naming trends, as seen with the rise of names like Ailany and Truce. (Answer: False)
3. About 3.61 million babies were born in the U.S. in 2024, showing a slight increase from the previous year. (Answer: True)
4. The Social Security Administration has not been tracking baby names since 1880. (Answer: False)
5. Liam has been the favorite name for boys for eight years, while Olivia has been the top choice for girls for six years. (Answer: True)
6. Emma is the second most popular name for girls, and Noah is the second most popular name for boys. (Answer: True)
7. The name Luna has remained in the Top 10 for girls, with Sofia ranking at number 10. (Answer: False)
8. Parents in the U.S. are increasingly choosing names that have cultural significance and are easy to understand globally. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧