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January 2018
What are the top baby names for 2017? It depends…
Most
years local news organizations across the state report on top baby names.
However, rather than simply report the names that were given most frequently,
OVR asked the Minnesota Center for Health Statistics to consider other factors.
They found few differences based on mother’s education, marital status, and
address. However, names differed significantly based on the mother’s race
and ethnicity. Parents
self-identify their race and ethnicity on their child’s birth record. The
mother’s race and ethnicity is used in statistics as a “proxy” for the child’s
race and ethnicity.
Last year there were 70,192 births to Minnesota residents and
70% of those births were to white women. For that reason it is no surprise that the top baby names overall
matched the most frequently used names for whites. Top names in other major
race/ethnic groups across Minnesota do not overlap much (see
list below). Evelyn was the top
girl’s name overall, as well as the most popular girl's name given by white
parents and the second most popular name given by Asian parents. Olivia was number two
overall, number three for white girls, and number one for Asian girls. Sofia/Sophia
made the top five for both Hispanic and Asian girls, as did Isabella. Isabelle was
number five for American Indian girls.
Oliver was the top boys baby name overall and for white boys,
while it was number two for Hispanic, non-Mexican boys and for Asian non-Hmong
boys. Jayden also made the top five for both Hispanic and Asian boys.
Births to Mexican women account for nearly 75% of
Hispanic births. Excluding births to Mexican women, the top baby names are
still nearly the same as for all Hispanic births. For Hispanic non-Mexican
girls, Valentina replaces Isabella in the top five. If Sofia and Sophia are combined,
Ashley makes the top five for births to all Hispanics and for non-Mexican
Hispanics. For Hispanic non-Mexican boys Oliver and David replace Gabriel and
Jayden in the top five.
Births to Somali women make up 30% of births to Black/African
women. Excluding births to Somali women, the top baby names are still nearly
the same as for all Black/African births. For African non-Somali girls, four of
the top five names are different. Similarly, for African non-Somali boys, four
of the top five names are different.
Births to Hmong women make
up nearly 59% and Indian women 17% of births to Asian women. Excluding births
to Hmong women, the top baby names are still nearly the same as for all Asian
births. For Asian girls, the top five includes two names that were tied for fifth
place. For Asian non-Hmong girls, the only difference is that Isabella and Luna
were replaced by Sophia and Zoey. For Asian non-Hmong boys, only Aiden and
Jayden remain in the top five.
On
a related note, Mohamed is among the most popular baby boy names in St. Cloud—a
reflection of growing diversity in the community. Read the story in the Star
Tribune.
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On January 4,
2018, the Office of Vital Records (OVR) released a new version of the Birth
Certificate Application for statewide public use.
In developing the newly released Birth Certificate Application, OVR incorporated feedback from County
Vital Records Offices (CVRO), customers and the public. The application uses
plain language to explain public and confidential birth records and, who has
the legal right to obtain each type of birth record. Branded with the new
Minnesota logo, the form is dated 12/2017 in the lower corner of the page.
Ideally, County
Vital Records Offices would use the new birth certificate application in its
entirety, but OVR recognizes that CVROs may not accept credit card payments or offer
rush processing or delivery.
To move Minnesota
closer to providing uniform service to customers who request birth certificates,
here are some options:
- Customize
the new form using the Word version of the Birth Certificate Application available
from kirsti.taipale@state.mn.us.
Already, 45 counties have requested the Word version.
- Use
page one of the MDH Birth Certificate Application and develop county-specific
instructions for fees and additional services.
- Update
your county-developed birth certificate application with the tangible interest
section from the MDH Birth Certificate Application.
CVROs need to take
action by January 31, 2018:
- Use
the new birth certificate tangible
interest section and customize the payment and services portion of the birth
certificate application your office uses at the counter and on your county
website.
- Inform OVR of the action your office took. Supply OVR with a copy or link to your form if you choose not to use the MDH Birth Certificate Application.
- Remove
and recycle old birth certificate applications from public use.
Note: The Word
version of the Birth Certificate Application available from OVR is not fillable.
CVROs may make the document fillable by following Microsoft Word instructions at
Create
a fillable form.
OVR knows that many requests for birth certificates come from
staff in county human and social services programs. The law allows some of
these programs to have data and certificates from confidential records. OVR is
revising the form that representatives of the Minnesota Department of Human
Services (DHS) which extends to county programs, use for DHS-related birth
certificate requests.
For additional details, see Statewide Birth Certificate Application Requires County Action .
The National Center for Health Statistics released a new data
brief which shows the wide variations in infant mortality rates by state and by
race and Hispanic origin of the mother.
Key
findings of the
report are:
• In
2013–2015, the infant mortality rate by state ranged from 4.28 per 1,000 live
births in Massachusetts to 9.08 in Mississippi.
• Among the 50
states and the District of Columbia (D.C.), the mortality rate for infants of
non-Hispanic white women ranged from 2.52 in D.C. to 7.04 in Arkansas.
• For infants
of non-Hispanic black women, the mortality rate ranged from 8.27 in Massachusetts
to 14.28 in Wisconsin.
• The mortality rate for infants of Hispanic women ranged from
3.94 in Iowa to 7.28 in Michigan.
See the full data brief at State Variations in Infant Mortality by Race and Hispanic Origin of Mother, 2013–2015.
OVR
invites all county and local vital records staff to participate in a training session the
afternoon of February 12 at the Hilton Doubletree Hotel in Bloomington. This
learning opportunity is a separate educational event offered in association
with the Minnesota
Association of County Officers (MACO) Winter Conference. There is no fee
for the training, but OVR requires registration. Send an email to ann.porwoll@state.mn.us and tell her
if you plan to attend. The agenda and speakers for the session are not quite finalized, so watch the Information for County Vital Records Offices webpage for updates.
OVR will also present Vital Records Operations:
Building Capacity and Strengthening our Framework at the
MACO Vitals Session, Tuesday, February 13 from 8:00-10:00 a.m. Register to
attend the MACO conference and join subject matter-experts for
a session that focuses on building capacity and knowledge in the vital records
workforce. Learn how to craft communications to deal with sensitive topics,
media requests, and difficult conversations. Get the legal perspective and gain
understanding on how to apply statutes and rules to every day operations and to
particularly complicated requests for data and documents. Gather information on
hot topics related to vital records and statewide service delivery and get
updates on legislative initiatives from the MACO Vitals Committee.
Presenters:
Michael Schommer, Communications Director, Minnesota Department
of Health
Arden Fritz, Legal Affairs Coordinator, Minnesota Department of
Health
Molly Crawford, State Registrar, Office of Vital Records,
Minnesota Department of Health
Becky McCann, Jackson County Recorder
Joan Boesen, Supervisor, Olmsted County Vital Records/Licensing
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