The Social Security Administration released its annual list of the most popular baby names, and there appears to be no end to the American reign of King Jacob (most popular boy's name since 1999) and Queen Emily (most popular girl's name since 1996).

As has become tradition, commissioner of social security Michael J. Astrue announced the most popular names (and released a list of the top 1,000) on Mother's Day. Parade magazine is co-sponsor of SSA's Mother's Day 2008 campaign, a drive designed to "inform people with limited income about the extra help available with their Medicare prescription drug costs."

Among the names cited by Astrue, together with their placement on the list (ranking for names in 2006 in parentheses), included the following:

Girls
1 (1). Emily
2 (4). Isabella
3 (2). Emma
4 (5). Ava
5 (3). Madison
6 (9). Sophia
7 (7). Olivia
8 (6). Abigail
9 (8). Hannah
10 (11). Elizabeth
31 (43). Nevaeh
41. Destiny
72. Trinity
126. Serenity
226. Maddox
263 (253). Heaven
278 (n/a). Miley
307 (352). Danica
315. Harmony
461. Miracle
673. Charity
692. Journey (here's to hoping this isn't a mass tribute to the '80s pop band)
804 (n/a). Shiloh
891 (992). Neveah
914. Destini
930. Essence
971. Armani

Boys:
1 (1). Jacob
2 (2). Michael
3 (4). Ethan
4 (3). Joshua
5 (6). Daniel
6 (7). Christopher
7 (9). Anthony
8 (10). William
9 (5). Matthew
10 (8). Andrew
18 (49). Jayden
45 (46). Jordan
622. Sincere
676 (761). Elvis
723. Messiah
743 (914). JaMarcus

Additionally, Astrue spent some time detailing what may someday be called the "Maiden Phenomenon of the 2000s":

For reasons likely to puzzle baby name experts around the world, American parents have become infatuated by names, particularly for their sons, that rhyme with the word "maiden." These names for boys include: Jayden (No. 18); Aiden (No. 27); Aidan (No. 54); Jaden (No. 76); Caden (No. 92); Kaden (No. 98); Ayden (No.102); Braden (No.156); Cayden (No.175); Jaiden (No.191); Kaiden (No. 220); Aden (No. 264); Caiden (No. 286); Braeden (No. 325); Braydon (No. 361); Jaydon (No. 415); Jadon (No. 423); Braiden (No. 529); Zayden (No. 588); Jaeden (No. 593); Aydan (No. 598); Bradyn (No. 629); Kadin (No. 657); Jadyn (No. 696); Kaeden (No. 701); Jaydin (No. 757); Braedon (No. 805); Aidyn (No. 818); Haiden (No. 820); Jaidyn (No. 841); Kadyn (No. 878); Jaydan (No. 887); Raiden (No. 931); and Adin (No. 983). This startling trend was present, but less pronounced, with girls names: Jayden (No. 172); Jadyn (No. 319); Jaden (No. 335); Jaiden (No. 429); Kayden (No. 507); and Jaidyn (No. 561).

Social Security spokesman Mark Lassiter indicated that the agency would resist any legislative efforts to standardize the spelling of these names.

For an MPR-recommended time-waster on the subject, check out the SSA website, which includes a database of the most popular American names dating back to 1880.