BARBARA
Popularity rank in the U.S.: #863
Meaning: Foreign
Today she's known by many as the subject of "Saturday Night Live" skits and "The View," so it's easy to forget that Barbara Walters was a serious trailblazer for female news anchors. This Greek name is a little old-fashioned, but if you want to name your baby after a strong female role model, consider it.
PETER
Popularity rank in the U.S.: #204
Meaning: Rock
It's appropriate that Peter Jennings' first name means "rock" in Greek; he was one of those quintessential anchors who Americans turned to during decades of turmoil, from the Vietnam War through 9/11.
KATIE
Popularity rank in the U.S.: #280
Katie Couric's persona and name are friendly and open, but she's an accomplished and serious figure in journalism – she was the first woman to anchor "CBS Evening News" alone. Give Katie as a given name or use it as a nickname for Katherine, which comes from Greek and has no definitive meaning.
TED
Popularity rank in the U.S.: Not ranked
Ted can be short for Theodore or Edward; in Ted Koppel's case, it's the latter. This journalist, who anchored "Nightline" for 25 years, sported a stoic demeanor and a killer head of hair.
CHRISTIANE
Popularity rank in the U.S.: Not ranked
Meaning: Christian
Though she has worked as an anchor, Christiane Amanpour is best known as a tough-as-nails correspondent who reported from the front lines of wars and conflict zones. This British journalist's name is the German and French female version of "Christian."
JON
Popularity rank in the U.S.: #675 (Jonathan: #44)
Meaning: God has given
No one could accuse Jon Stewart of being impartial, and he's be the first to say he's not a traditional anchor. But for a big part of the population, "The Daily Show" is the place to turn for the evening news. Jon is short for the Hebrew name Jonathan, or "God has given."
DIANE
Popularity rank in the U.S.: #901
Another trailblazer, Diane Sawyer is one news anchor who's done a little of everything: She's anchored a morning show, a nightly news show and a weekly news magazine show and has worked as a correspondent. Her name, which is the French form of Diana, is straightforward and feminine, just like Sawyer herself.
DOUGLAS
Popularity rank in the U.S.: #598
Meaning: Dark river
If you're more interested in television history than what the kids today are watching, look to Douglas Edwards, the anchor of the first American nightly news show. "Douglas Edwards and the News" became "CBS Evening News" when Edwards left the show. His Gaelic name is very serious but is much friendlier when shortened to Doug.
ROBIN
Popularity rank in the U.S.: #955
Meaning: Shining fame
Robin Roberts embodies the current news anchor. She can tackle both serious and light subjects and seamlessly blends her personal life — she's openly gay and a cancer survivor — with her professional face. Appropriately, this approachable English name means "shining fame."
DAN
Popularity rank in the U.S.: #937 (Daniel: #10)
Meaning: God is my judge
In a field of go-getters, it takes a lot to earn the title of "the hardest-working man in broadcast journalism." At one point, Dan Rather was simultaneously anchoring three CBS news shows. If you want to give your baby a name synonymous with a ferocious work ethic, look no further that this nickname for the Hebrew name Daniel.
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