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When it comes to naming a baby, choice is only a word.
Parents are widely influenced by popular culture, television and film, and celebrities.

Added to the mix are biblical names and fictional characters from the literary world. Today, surnames are being registered as given names. And everything old is suddenly new once again.

Top 10 Names for girls.

EMILY
Emily is an old classic. Today it ranks as the number one name for baby girls. The name has consistently been in the top 10 and remains a popular favorite since the 1990's.

Emily is the feminine of Emil. The etymology of Emily, which is derived from Latin, means 'rival'.

Famous bearers of the name Emily include Emily Dickinson, Emily Bronte, and Emily Post.

AVA
Everyone seems to be in love with Ava. It is currently the dream name for baby girls and is new to the top 10. Ava's origin is Latin, meaning like a bird.

Actress Ava Gardner popularized the name in 1940's. Ava was rarely used afterwards but has been revitalized in the last 10 years. Heather Lockyear and
Reece Witherspoon have daughters named Ava.

MADISON
Prior to 1984, Madison was a common surname. It has since become a trendy place-name for girls.

Credit for Madison's sudden surge was given to Splash, a movie starring Daryl Hannah and Tom Hanks. Daryl Hannah's mermaid character named herself Madison' after seeing a Madison Avenue street sign.

EMMA
Emma has tremendous staying power and has again become en vogue. Emma is derived from the Old German ermin, meaning universal. Adopted by the Normans, Emma became one of the most popular names in Great Britain.

Parents were drawn to Emma during the 1960's British series, the Avengers, starring fictional spy Emma Peel. American parents caught on to the name Emma a decade later.

Notable Emma's from the literary world include Emma Woodhouse, Jane Austen's charming and beloved character. Emma was also depicted in Gustave Flaubert's novel, Madame Bovary.

HANNAH
Perhaps the most famous Hannah today is Disney's favorite teen character 'Hannah Montana', played by Miley Cyrus.

As a girls name, Hannah gained popularity during the 1990's. Since then, it has suffered periodic rises and falls.

Hannah's origin is biblical and means 'gracious and giving'.

Celebrities with daughters named Hannah include Tom Seleck and Mel Gibson.

ISABELLA
Isabella is the Spanish and Portuguese version of Elizabeth. Isabella was the preferred name in many European royal families.

Isabella also appeared in two of Shakespeare's plays (Measure for Measure and Henry

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