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Once again, “Emily” is the name found most often on the list of �鶹��ѡgraduates for spring 2023. Including variants like “Emmalee/Emalea/Emilee,” it appeared on the list 71 times. It’s the name that also topped the lists of Kent State’s spring graduates in 2022 and 2021.

The traditionally male name that appeared the most times in Kent State’s Class of 2023 was “Nicholas.” Including variants “Nicolas/Nikolas/Nicklaus/Nickolaus,” the name was read in commencements a total of 56 times.

Against national trends

This is on-trend nationally, as the Social Security Administration (SSA) record of popular baby names shows that “Emily” was the top name from 1996-2007, until “Emma” took the lead in 2008. That lead was short-lived, however, as “Isabella” took over for 2008-2010, followed by “Sophia” from 2011-2013. In 2014, “Emma” regained the top spot and held it from 2014-2018, before being unseated by “Olivia,” which has reigned from 2019-2022.

Photo by spring 2023 graduate, Greta Bell, BFA Photography. Greta is the only "Greta" in Kent State's Class of 2023.

For the traditionally male names, “Jacob” topped the Social Security Administration’s baby name list from 1999-2012, but was third in Kent State’s Class of 2023. Kent State’s second most frequently appearing male name, “Matthew,” reached second place on the SSA’s baby name list in 1995 and 1996, but also impressively held the No. 3 position from 1981-1994 and again from 1997-2001.

The top male name on the Kent State's spring Class of 2023 list, “Nicholas,” peaked in 1999 as No. 5 for the year.

Header image: The Class of 2023 was the first freshman class to form the "K" on Manchester Field in 2019.