MOST POPULAR BABY NAMES FOR 2007

If one believes the nursery rhyme, boys are made of snips and snails and puppy dog tails. Girls on the other hand, are made of sugar and spice and everything nice.

But regardless of gender, when it comes to names, almost anything goes—at least it did for parents of the 1,261 babies born in 2007 in the Birth Center of Saint Joseph's Children's Hospital.

As in past years, however, some names were favored more than others. Last year, the top name for girls was Hannah, with 13, and for boys, Wyatt, with 10. This compares with the 2006 winners of Samantha and a tie among Ethan, Logan, Mason and Matthew. Only two boys were named Wyatt that year.

Other popular female names were Ava, 11; Hailey, 10 (with two others spelled Haley and one spelled Haylee); Emma 10; Grace, 8 (with two Gracies); and Madison, 8 (with one other spelled Madisyn). Additional favorite male names were Ryan, Evan and Jack, 9 each (with an additional three named Jackson).

Think there's only one way to spell a name? Think again. Some examples included Addison, Addisyn, Addysen, Adyson and Addasyn (not to mention Addy); Madaline, Madalyn, Madalyne, Madeleine and Madelynn, and Caiden, Caidyn, Caden, Kaden, Kadin and Kayden.

Names from the Bible, and of saints continued to be popular in 2007. They included Aaron, Cain, Elijah, Daniel, David, Isaac, Jacob, Jeremiah, Noah, Joshua and Raphael, as well as Matthew, Luke, John (no Mark though), Peter and Thomas for boys. For girls, there were Elizabeth, Miriam, Rachel, Rebecca, Ruth and Theresa. Christmas-themed babies were Holly, Gabriel, Emmanuel, Jesus, Joseph and Nicholas. And, don't forget Faith, Grace, Hope, Trinity, Destiny, Harmony and Serenity.

And of course, there were masculine and feminine versions of several names, such as Andrew and Andrea, Christopher and Christina, Daniel and Danielle, Gabriel and Gabriella, Heath and Heather, Jade and Jaden, Jesse and Jessica, Joseph and Josephine, Miles and Mylee, Michael and Michelle, Kyle and Kylee, Oliver and Olivia, Ryan and Ryann and Sam and Samantha.

Flower children were Daisy, Lily, Poppy and Rose, joined by other nature kids Ridge, Clay, Brooke, Meadow, Savannah, Heather, Reed, Jasmine and Autumn. And don't forget the jewels, Jade, Ruby and Pearl.

Planning a "Tripp?" One can really put on the "Miles" in a "Mercedes" or "Lincoln," heading out to "Brooklyn," "Trenton," "Catalina." "Cheyanne," "Jordan," "Dallas," "Nevada," a "Dakota," "Sydney," or "Daytona," not to mention closer locales such as
"Colby," "Hudson," or "Madison."

And just for fun, one wonders whether "Cash" will be a banker; "Alexander" will be great; "Chase" will be a bounty hunter; "Jett," will fly an airplane; "Mason" will build houses; "Maxwell" will grow coffee beans; "Marshall" will arrest criminals; "Diesel" will fix trucks; "Samson" will be a weight-lifter; "Gauge" will rotate tires; and "Dennis" (naturally) will be a Menace.

Finally, some of the more unique and/or ethnic names chosen for their offspring included for girls: Chenpieng, Ithzel, Kanadi, Mathilde, Navaya, Noor, Suner Neeya, Thumbolina, Verity, Yajaira and Yaneth. And, for boys, Albaraa, , Ammon, Aneesh, Anig, Avaneesh, Jacinto, Kal-El, Mose, Pranav and Trygve.