The U.S. Social Security Administration recently released data on the most popular baby names of 2006. Without looking anywhere else on this page, can you guess what the #1 names were?

If you're stumped, try thinking back to the 2005 list. Why? Because the top names--in fact, the top three names--stayed exactly the same. Here they are:

1. Emily
2. Emma
3. Madison

And the top 3 names stayed the same for the boys as well.

Emily, Emma and Madison retained the same rank from 2005 to 2006, but the number of babies who were given these names has gone down (...even as the total number of babies born in the U.S. has gone up). The names, therefore, have less of a choke-hold on the top spots than they did in 2005. Here are the differences:

Emily: 23,813 babies born in 2005 -> 21,118 babies born in 2006
Emma: 20,237 babies born in 2005 -> 18,838 babies born in 2006
Madison: 19,452 babies born in 2005 -> 18,395 babies born in 2006

The other names on the top ten list were jostled around a bit. Here's how they ranked for 2006, and (in parentheses) how far they've gone up or down in rank since 2005:

4. Isabella (+2)
5. Ava (+4)
6. Abigail (-2)
7. Olivia (-2)
8. Hannah (-1)
9. Sophia (+2)
10. Samantha (-2)

Ashley had been on the top ten list in 2005, but it was bumped down in 2006 to make way for Sophia.

The biggest jump was made by Ava, which went from #9 in 2005 to #5 in 2006 and may climb even higher for 2007.

What about other popular girl names? Here are #11 through #30:

11. Elizabeth (+1)
12. Ashley (-2)
13. Mia (+4)
14. Alexis (-1)
15. Sarah
16. Natalie (+2)
17. Grace (-3)
18. Chloe (+1)
19. Alyssa (-3)
20. Brianna
21. Ella (+2)
22. Taylor (+2)
23. Anna (-1)
24. Lauren (-3)
25. Hailey (+1)
26. Kayla (-1)
27. Victoria (+1)
28. Addison (+78)
29. Jasmine
30. Savannah (+5)

Savannah and Addison are new to the top 30. (Addison jumped nearly 80 spots to get there, in fact!) They bumped Jessica and Sydney down to 32nd and 34th, respectively.

10,000 Most Popular Baby Girl Names Want more than the top 100 or top 1,000 baby girl names? Here's a complete list of the 10,000 most popular baby girl names in the nation! Click to learn more.