American parents generally can choose any name they want for their children. They may choose a name because it honors a family member. Or they may choose a name just because they like it.

A Web site called Baby Center lists some unusual names given to American babies born last year. Some were named for characters in old stories, such as Hero, Thor and Ulysses. Other people named their babies after kinds of food, like actress Gwyneth Paltrow did in two thousand four. She named her daughter Apple. Other people named their babies Banana, Pumpkin and Cookie.

Still other babies born last year were named for places. These include Brazil, India and Rome. Some parents used names of famous people from history such as Newton and Hannibal. Other parents named their babies after flowers or the weather. These babies were named Buttercup, Iris, Sunshine and Thunder.

Recording artists and movie actors influence some parents' choices of names. Babies were named Beyonce, Charlize, Reba, Pierce, Shakira and Whitney. Movie actors themselves often give their babies unusual names. For example, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt recently named their baby daughter Shiloh. Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes named their little girl Suri.

Some American parents do not want unusual names. They want their baby’s name to honor their religious faith. Such names include Abraham for boys or Sarah for girls. And many people give their babies the same name as a family member or good friend.

The United States Social Security Administration published a list of the most popular names for American girls and boys born last year. Many of the top ten boys names are from the Jewish and Christian Bibles. They are Jacob, Michael, Joshua, Matthew and Ethan. Also Andrew, Daniel, Anthony, Christopher and Joseph. The top ten girls names are Emily, Emma, Madison, Abigail and Olivia. Also, Isabella, Hannah, Samantha, Ava and Ashley.