Liam and Olivia are the most popular baby names in the U.S. for 2024. They have been the top names for several years. Liam has been number one for boys for eight years. Olivia has been number one for girls for six years.

Some names are changing in popularity. Luna is no longer in the top 10 for girls. Sofia is now number 10 for girls. For boys, popular names include Noah, Oliver, and Theodore.

In 2024, 3.61 million babies were born in the U.S. This is a bit more than last year. Social media and TV shows influence baby names. Ailany and Truce are names that are becoming more popular.

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: Students will act out different baby names (e.g., Liam, Olivia, Noah, etc.) without speaking, while the rest of the class guesses the name. This will help them practice vocabulary in a fun way.

– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Students will walk around the classroom and ask each other which baby name they like best from the article (Liam, Olivia, Noah, etc.). After gathering opinions, they will summarize the results as a class.

– HEADLINE CREATION
Instructions: In small groups, students will create catchy headlines based on the article. They should think about what makes a good headline and present their best one to the class.

– VOCABULARY PICTIONARY
Instructions: Students will draw pictures of key vocabulary words from the article (e.g., popular, names, babies) while their classmates try to guess the word. This will reinforce vocabulary understanding through visual learning.

– MIND MAP
Instructions: On the board, draw a mind map with “Popular Baby Names” in the center. Students will take turns adding related ideas or names from the article, helping them to organize the information and practice speaking.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What are the most popular baby names in the U.S. for 2024?
2. How long has Liam been the number one name for boys?
3. Which name is now number 10 for girls?
4. Can you name two popular names for boys besides Liam?
5. How many babies were born in the U.S. in 2024?
6. What influences the names that parents choose for their babies?
7. What are two names that are becoming more popular?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

(1)______ and (2)______ are the most popular baby names in the U.S. for 2024. They have been the top names for (3)______ years. Liam has been number one for boys for eight years. Olivia has been number one for girls for six years.

Some (4)______ are (5)______ in popularity. (6)______ is no longer in the top 10 for girls. Sofia is now (7)______ 10 for girls. For (8)______, (9)______ names include Noah, Oliver, and Theodore.

In 2024, 3.61 million babies were born in the U.S. This is a bit (10)______ than (11)______ year. Social media and TV shows influence baby names. Ailany and (12)______ are names that are becoming more popular.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is your favorite baby name? Why do you like it?
2. How would you feel if your name was very popular?
3. Do you think names can change in popularity? Why or why not?
4. What is a name you think is very unique?
5. How do you think social media can change baby names?
6. Do you like the name Liam? Why or why not?
7. What is a name you would give to a pet? Why?
8. How would you feel if your name was the same as a famous person?
9. Do you think it is important to have a popular name? Why or why not?
10. What is a name you think is old-fashioned?
11. Do you like the name Olivia? Why or why not?
12. How do you feel about names that are hard to pronounce?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. popular
2. influence
3. changing
4. million
5. include
6. number
7. media
8. top
9. longer
10. becoming
11. born
12. names

Meanings:
(A) To have an effect on something
(B) The highest or best part
(C) Becoming different
(D) A position in a list
(E) Starting to be
(F) Liked by many people
(G) Words used to call or identify people
(H) When a baby comes into the world
(I) Not anymore
(J) To have as part of a group
(K) Ways to communicate, like TV or the internet
(L) A big number, 1,000,000
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What are the most popular baby names in the U.S. for 2024?
(a) Noah and Sofia
(b) Oliver and Luna
(c) Theodore and Ailany
(d) Liam and Olivia

2. How long has Liam been the number one name for boys?
(a) Six years
(b) Eight years
(c) Five years
(d) Three years

3. Which name is now number 10 for girls?
(a) Sofia
(b) Luna
(c) Olivia
(d) Ailany

4. How many babies were born in the U.S. in 2024?
(a) 2 million
(b) 4 million
(c) 3.61 million
(d) 5 million

5. What is one reason baby names change in popularity?
(a) Weather changes
(b) Social media and TV shows
(c) School names
(d) Animal names

6. Which name is no longer in the top 10 for girls?
(a) Olivia
(b) Sofia
(c) Luna
(d) Ailany

7. What are some popular names for boys mentioned in the article?
(a) Noah, Oliver, and Theodore
(b) Liam, Sofia, and Luna
(c) Ailany, Truce, and Olivia
(d) Liam, Noah, and Ailany

8. How many years has Olivia been the number one name for girls?
(a) Eight years
(b) Five years
(c) Four years
(d) Six years

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Olivia has not been the top girl name for six years.
2. Liam has been the top boy name for eight years.
3. Ailany and Truce are names that are not becoming more popular.
4. Luna is no longer one of the top 10 names for girls.
5. Liam is not a popular name for boys in the U.S. in 2024.
6. Sofia is not the 10th most popular name for girls.
7. Olivia is the most popular name for girls in the U.S. in 2024.
8. Some popular boy names are Noah, Oliver, and Theodore.
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 U.S. for 2024?
2. How long has Liam been the number one name for boys?
3. Which name is now number 10 for girls?
4. How many babies were born in the U.S. in 2024?
5. What are some names that are becoming more popular because of social media and TV shows?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What are the most popular baby names in the U.S. for 2024?
Liam for boys and Olivia for girls.

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

3. Which name is now number 10 for girls?
Sofia is now number 10 for girls.

4. Can you name two popular names for boys besides Liam?
Noah and Oliver are two popular names for boys.

5. How many babies were born in the U.S. in 2024?
3.61 million babies were born in the U.S. in 2024.

6. What influences the names that parents choose for their babies?
Social media and TV shows influence the names.

7. What are two names that are becoming more popular?
Ailany and Truce are becoming more popular.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Liam
(2) Olivia
(3) several
(4) names
(5) changing
(6) Luna
(7) number
(8) boys
(9) popular
(10) more
(11) last
(12) Truce
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. popular
Answer: (F) Liked by many people

2. influence
Answer: (A) To have an effect on something

3. changing
Answer: (C) Becoming different

4. million
Answer: (L) A big number, 1,000,000

5. include
Answer: (J) To have as part of a group

6. number
Answer: (D) A position in a list

7. media
Answer: (K) Ways to communicate, like TV or the internet

8. top
Answer: (B) The highest or best part

9. longer
Answer: (I) Not anymore

10. becoming
Answer: (E) Starting to be

11. born
Answer: (H) When a baby comes into the world

12. names
Answer: (G) Words used to call or identify people
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What are the most popular baby names in the U.S. for 2024?
Answer: (d) Liam and Olivia

2. How long has Liam been the number one name for boys?
Answer: (b) Eight years

3. Which name is now number 10 for girls?
Answer: (a) Sofia

4. How many babies were born in the U.S. in 2024?
Answer: (c) 3.61 million

5. What is one reason baby names change in popularity?
Answer: (b) Social media and TV shows

6. Which name is no longer in the top 10 for girls?
Answer: (c) Luna

7. What are some popular names for boys mentioned in the article?
Answer: (a) Noah, Oliver, and Theodore

8. How many years has Olivia been the number one name for girls?
Answer: (d) Six years
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Olivia has not been the top girl name for six years. (Answer: False)
2. Liam has been the top boy name for eight years. (Answer: True)
3. Ailany and Truce are names that are not becoming more popular. (Answer: False)
4. Luna is no longer one of the top 10 names for girls. (Answer: True)
5. Liam is not a popular name for boys in the U.S. in 2024. (Answer: False)
6. Sofia is not the 10th most popular name for girls. (Answer: False)
7. Olivia is the most popular name for girls in the U.S. in 2024. (Answer: True)
8. Some popular boy names are Noah, Oliver, and Theodore. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧