New Names Showdown 2017 Girls Final

The new names showdown 2017 girls final starts now!

If you missed last week’s semifinals, let’s rewind. We’re trying to choose The Name most likely to climb dramatically when the new baby name data comes out in May 2018. This is the girls’ contest; the boys’ final starts tomorrow.

Last year’s winner, Arden, has started slow this year. But on the boys’ side? Winning name Wilder has proven white hot.

Where did the competing names come from, you ask?

I went through the list of all 45 girls’ names new to the US Top 1000 this year, and picked eight. You voted those eight down to four, and now, here we are, with the final face-off between your two favorites!

New Names Showdown 2017 Girls Final: The Contest So Far

Both contests produced clear winners:

• Maren marched past Belle, 64% to 34%. Both names fit the tailored-but-feminine profile, and yet Maren might feel like the fresher choice. After all, we’ve been hearing Belle and -elle names for ages, but Maren reads like a successor to Lauren and Allison. The headline here? Maren barely squeaked into the semifinals at all, beating Poppy by a mere six votes in the opening round! Belle, on the other hand, made it to the semifinals with the biggest victory, taking a resounding 70% of the votes over Davina.
• Sylvie also advances, with a clear win over Calliope. Both names won their earlier matches handily, so it wasn’t clear which name had the advantage in this match-up. Sylvie, however, is a past March Madness champ. The final counts worked out to 69% for Sylvie, compared to just 31% for Calliope. While Calliope is a sister to powerfully popular names like Penelope and Chloe, Sylvie shares that stylish ‘v’ sound with Olivia and Ava. Factor in Sylvie as a substitute for Sophie and company, and this name’s appeal becomes clear.

And just like that, we have our contestants for the New Names Showdown 2017 Girls Final.

Ready, set, vote!

New Names Showdown 2017 Girls Final: Maren v. Sylvie

The toughest part of this match? I can imagine Maren and Sylvie on the same parents’ shortlists. Or maybe even as sisters.

Reasons to love international Maren abound, but that’s equally true for the sleek, French Sylvie.

Now it’s up to you – because there’s no possible way I can choose between these two names!

Thanks for voting! Check back next Saturday to see which of your favorite names won the New Names Showdown 2017 Girls Final!