Lots of Isabellas, Alexanders in class of 2027

Isabella was the most popular baby name for a girl born in Washington last year, while Isabel was the least popular (at least, among the 100 names listed), according to the state Department of Health. For boys, Alexander topped the list and Lincoln came in 100th. Isabella supplanted Olivia, the top girls’ name in 2008; Alexander bested Ethan, which was the top boys’ name that year. The Department of Health lists popular baby names going back to 1980 on its website. That year, the top two names were Jennifer and Michael. The full lists of 2009 popular baby names are posted with this story; to see popular baby names going back to 1980, visit www.doh.wa.gov/ehsphl/chs/chs-data/birth/bir_100.htm