At infant baptisms, priests see wide variety of names

Published: 2003-12-01

PITTSBURGH (CNS) -- Father Joseph Kleppner baptized 35 infants between January and September at St. Frances Cabrini in Center Township. Among the newborns were Audra, Nicholas, Brianna, Morgan, Mia, Grace, Mitchell, Matthew and Madison. They came with names as varied as those in the wider society, reflecting family tradition and parental favorites. In recent years he baptized quite a few Codys, Travises, Brookes, Kaylies, Kylies and Cassidys. The name procession has changed a lot during his 30 years in the priesthood, reflecting successive waves of name popularity. "Madison is big," said St. Frances Cabrini's pastor. "So are Ashley, Nicole, Allison and Brandon." But boys' names are less subject to passing popularity, he noted. The U.S. Social Security Administration, which compiles lists of baby names, reports that the top names in the United States in 2002 were Jacob and Emily.

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