Here we go! The votes are in. Our sweet sixteen is narrowed down to just eight remaining contenders in our annual March Madness Baby Names tournament.
Let’s take a look at the results of our opening round, and then move on to the next round of play.
MARCH MADNESS BABY NAMES 2024: SWEET SIXTEEN RESULTS
BERNADETTE SWEEPS PAST JAMES
No surprises here. There’s a post on this site titled “James for a Girl.” It’s consistently the most-viewed post in the girls’ featured names category … and it never makes it past the opening round of March Madness Baby Names. It helps that Bernadette is an up-and-coming vintage gem, making it easy to see why it garnered nearly 76% of the vote.
TALLULAH DOMINATES ENOLA
Enola has attracted tons of attention in recent years, thanks to Millie Bobby Brown’s turn as Sherlock Holmes’ little sister in the Netflix movies. But here’s why matchups matter: after years of slowly gaining in use, Tallulah feels white hot right now. It easily gathered up almost 78% of the tally to send Enola back to the rarities column.
LILA CRUSHES OAKLEY
We love Lila. (And Lily and Layla.) If we could only agree on how to spell it, Lila could easily be a Top Twenty name in the US. Oakley, too, benefits from multiple spellings, but it’s newer on the scene. That gives this contest to lovely Lila, with a staggering 89% of the return.
NOA SLIPS PAST DULCIE
This one was close! Noa looks like a feminine form of Noah, and it sort of is … but also isn’t, since Noa has separate, feminine roots. Sweet Dulcie fits right in with names like love, like Sadie and Elsie. But with not quite 51% of the vote, it’s Noa that advances.
MAISIE BESTS WILLOW
Again: matchups matter. The final could easily have been Maisie versus Willow, both well-established favorites in 2024. But only one can advance, and with just over 51% of the tally, it’s Maisie that moves forward.
ELOWEN HANDLES RUE
Elowyn – with a Y – debuted in the US Top 1000 this year. But the more traditional spelling is Elowen, and that’s the way the post on the site has appeared for ages. While Elowen is having a moment, the name only mustered 62.5% of the total, reminding us that Rue, too, is trending.
BETTY BEATS VESPER
With over 67% of the votes, Betty advances. Retro, sparky, and boosted by Taylor Swift singing the name, it’s hard to believe Betty isn’t more popular. Vesper, too, is rich with potential, a night-sky name with a cool, edgy sound. But the stars aligned – this time – for Betty.
NAVY WINS OVER WEDNESDAY
This match went back and forth, but at the final buzzer, Navy was up with just under 51% of the count. Colorful and stylish in sound, Navy is an Ava/Avery/Ivy successor. But Netflix’s Wednesday will almost certainly keep Miss Addams’ name front and center for plenty of parents.
QUARTERFINAL MATCHUPS
BERNADETTE VERSUS NAVY
TALLULAH VERSUS BETTY
LILA VERSUS ELOWEN
NOA VERSUS MAISIE
THANKS FOR VOTING!
Polls will remain open until Friday, March 22nd. Check back on Saturday, March 23rd to see if your favorite names advance. And, of course, to vote in the semifinals.
