Most Popular Baby Names

What's in a name? A lot these days, says baby-name expert Laura Wattenberg. She's the author of "The Baby Name Wizard: A Magical Method for Finding the Perfect Name for Your Baby." According to Wattenberg, "The name you choose for your baby today matters more than ever before." That's because, in recent years, parents have done away with the "baby-naming rule book." Instead of just naming their baby John or Mary, parents are taking more time to decide their children's given names — especially since it's considered a reflection of themselves as well. The names included here are from the Social Security Administration and are the top 10 names for each sex.

"Today [naming your baby] is kind of an arms race," said Wattenberg. "Everyone wants to be unusual." And yet, today's "unusual" names are often actually classic names with long and rich histories. Sophia, for example, which made a comeback in the 2000s as the most popular female baby name, was quite common with continental European royalty throughout the Middle Ages. Sophia is a Greek name that means "wisdom." Jacob, another long-established name, has also surged in popularity recently, and some speculate that the international bestseller "Twilight" is to thank for that. Jacob is a biblical, Hebrew name that means "holder of the heel." In the photo: Actor Jacob Hopkins.

Isabella has roots in Hebrew, Italian and Spanish. It's a variation of the name "Elizabeth" and means "pledged to God." It's found in literature, including Shakespeare and the "Twilight" series. Mason is a French name that means "stone worker." Kourtney Kardashian named her first child Mason.

RELATED: Stars Who Became Famous After Kids

Emma is a German name and it means "complete, whole, universal." Emma was the name of one of Jane Austen's heroines and has remained in the list of top baby names for several years. William is also German and means "resolute" or "brilliant." It derives from the two words "will" and "helmet" and is a common name in British royalty. In the photo: Actress Emma Watson.

Olivia and Jayden are also among today's fashionable names. Wattenberg mentioned that, in the past, "names weren't a matter of fashion at all. Taking the time to carefully pick out your baby's name is more of a modern convention." Modern parents giving their daughter the name Olivia will likely know that in Latin, the name means "olive tree." It's considered a variation of the male name "Oliver" and may have originated in Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night." Jayden is a variation of the spelling "Jadon," which is a Hebrew name that means "thankful" and "God will judge." In the photo: Actor and singer Jayden Smith.

Whether you're a first timer or the greatest, grandest mother of them all, there's one thing moms have agreed on for over 80 years—Dreft makes your baby’s fabrics as clean and gentle as can be. Specially formulated to be gentle on baby's skin and tough on stains, washing baby clothes in Dreft is as gentle as washing in water. And just when you thought footsie pjs couldn't get any cozier.

Mom-trusted. Pediatrician approved. Dreft is specially formulated to be gentle on baby’s skin and tough on stains, bringing cuddle time to a whole new level of warm and fuzzy.

Ava has two, separate meanings: In Hebrew it means "like a bird," while in Persian it means "voice." One of the most famous women named Ava was Hollywood stunner Ava Gardner. Noah is a biblical, Hebrew name that means "to comfort." Noah's story of the ark is found in the Old Testament. In the photo: Reese Witherspoon with her daughter Ava.

RELATED: The Highest-Paid Celebrity Moms

Emily is another Latin name. It means "industrious" and "striving." In addition to being very common in the United States, Emily is also popular in England. Michael is a Hebrew name that means "Who is like God?" It is also biblical and refers to one of the seven archangels in the book of Revelation. In the photo: Actress Emily VanCamp.

Abigail has Hebrew roots and means "gives joy." Though considered by some to be a traditional, old-fashioned name, Abigail has made a comeback in recent years. Ethan is also a Hebrew name that originated in the Bible. It means "strong" and "firm." In the photo: Actress Abigail Breslin.

The name Madison is given to both males and females, but is especially popular for baby girls. It has an English origination and means "son of Maud." While Madison is a newer and somewhat trendy name, Alexander is much older. It has Greek origination and means "defender of the people." Famous Alexanders include Alexander the Great and Alexander Graham Bell. In the photo: Actress Madison Moellers.

RELATED: Celebs Who Hate Being Pregnant

Mia has three language roots and three separate meanings. In Hebrew it means "bitter"; in Italian it means "mine"; and in Scandinavian, it's short for Maria, which means "beloved." Aidan (a unisex name, though more popular for boys) is Irish and means "little" or "fiery." It was especially common in medieval Ireland. In the photo: Actor Aidan Sussman.

The name Chloe has a Greek origination and means "a young green shoot." It's considered another name for Demeter, goddess of harvest and fertility. Daniel is a biblical, Hebrew name that means "God is my judge." In the Bible, Daniel was a teenager taken to Babylon who survived the lion's den. In the photo: Actress Chloe Grace Moretz.