WASHINGTON — Scoot over, Emma. Isabella is the new top baby name for girls.
Jacob is the most popular baby name for boys, continuing an 11-year run at the top, the Social Security Administration said Friday. Emma’s reign was much shorter, lasting just a year before slipping to No. 2.
Pop culture appeared to influence many of the most popular names in 2009. Barack still didn’t crack the top 1,000 for boys, but a version of the president’s daughter’s name, Malia, was the fastest riser for girls.
“Anything can influence baby names, from pop culture to literature, to music and celebrities,” said Jennifer Moss, author of “The One-in-a-Million Baby Name Book” and founder of Babynames.com.
Many of the top names — and the fastest risers — came straight from the popular “Twilight” series of books and movies, a collection of stories about teen romance and vampires. If that sounds hokey, don’t bother naming your son Cullen.
Edward Cullen is one of the lead characters in the “Twilight” books and movies. Edward moved up only 11 spots, to No. 137 on the list. But Cullen was the biggest riser among boys’ names, moving up 297 spots, to No. 485.
Edward Cullen is, of course, a vampire. His girlfriend? Bella, a common nickname for Isabella.
Jacob is another character in the stories, but Jacob’s reign at the top started well before the first “Twilight” book was published in 2005. Isabella has been in the top 10 since 2004.
“People seem to be a little bit more creative, inventive and flexible with their daughters’ names,” said Social Security Commissioner Michael Astrue. “With boys, I think we tend to be a little bit more consistent. The names don’t change quite as much.”
Astrue said he named his daughter, Caitlin, after the wife of writer Dylan Thomas. He said he named his son, James, after his late father.