Some names just seem to appear out of nowhere, although in reality they have been rapidly leaping up the ranks throughout the preceding decade. Isla, for example, was known-but-not-often-heard when it ranked #297 in 2000; but by 2006 it had rocketed all the way to #93 and still continues to rise. It now sits at #22.
Here are eight names that have had a large upward curve over the last decade and are now sitting just under the top 100, ready to make a breakthrough.
Elijah - An old Biblical name that would fit easily alongside Top 100 hits like Noah, Isaac, Reuben and Gabriel. In 2001 Elijah ranked #279 with 98 births. By 2005 it had risen to #155 with 300 births. It is still on an upward curve and in 2010 it ranked #120 with 523 births.
Frankie - Riding on the back of the wave of diminutive names, Frankie is on the rise. Back in 2001 it ranked #222 with 137 births; 314 boys were given the name in 2005 when it ranked #150, and as of 2010 it reached #108 at 598 births, having increased by 110 births from 2009.
Jackson - Jack was the number one name for over a decade, and now sits proudly at #2. Jackson is an obvious variation on the popular name, and it is growing steadily. In 2001 it ranked #227 with 134 births. By 2006 it reached #192 and 229 births. In 2010 it increased by 162 births from the previous year to a count of 434, ranking #139.
Seth - Another biblical name that has the swiftness of Sam and Zack. Back in 2001 Seth ranked #241 with 119 births. In 2005 242 boys were given the name (rank #181), and as of 2010 it has risen all the way up to #114 with 551 births.
Beatrice - With Florence, Eliza, Matilda and Martha all having moved into the top 100 in the last five years, Beatrice has a smooth route through into the top ranks. In 2001 it ranked #271 with 143 births. It kept climbing swiftly up to #185 in 2005 (272 births), and has continued its curve up to #116 in 2010 when 492 girls were given the name.
Bella - This name may have been popularised by Twilight, but Bella already has a lot of precedence as a popular name. Similar sounding Ella has been in the Top 30 for well over a decade; and relatives Isabelle, Isabella and Annabelle can all also boast popular status. In 2001, Bella ranked way down at #710 with only 35 births. In 2006, when the books were beginning to get some fame, 108 girls were registered with the name, giving a rank of #388. As of 2010 she sits just below the top 100 at #104, with a birth count of 575.
Elsie - She's antique like Ruby and sounds like a cross between Ellie and Kelsey, all of which give Elsie a familiar edge. In 2000 Elsie ranked #627 with 41 births. The count had almost tripled by 2005 when 110 girls were registered with the name, ranking #361. As of 2010, Elsie now sits at #108 with a grand count of 535.
Violet - Of all the names listed, Violet has come the furthest, rising from near obscurity, to sitting just below the top 100. In 2000, Violet was all the way down at #764 when 30 girls were given the name. By 2005 it had made huge leaps to #273 and a count of 161. It's now at #123 as of 2010 with 466 births.
