Delaware
Are unisex names more popular now? How many Delaware babies have gender-neutral names
Wilmington’s St. Anthony’s Italian Festival is the Big 5-0 this year.
St. Anthony’s Italian Festival started as a church carnival in the 1920s and has grown over the years to become a much beloved Delaware summer event.
Whether you prefer to keep the sex of your baby a surprise until they arrive, would rather stray away from gender stereotypes or want a fun name for your child, there are many reasons why people choose gender-neutral names over more traditional ones.
Names.org reports that although only 6% of names are considered unisex, a record 17% of babies in the United States were given gender-neutral names in 2023, which is more than double the amount used 50 years ago.
Among the surge in gender-neutral names, Delaware ranks No. 15 in the nation with 11.9% of babies given gender-neutral names over the last decade.
To be considered on Names.org’s list of top gender-neutral name predictions, “the name must be given less than 95% of the time to one gender, and the company’s annual predictions have been 95% accurate since 2018.”
Dylan is predicted to be the No. 1 used unisex name for the first time, after coming in at No. 2 last year, with an estimated 7,387 Dylan’s expected in 2024.
The rest of the top 10 gender-neutral names predicted to be used in 2024 are:
- Avery at No. 2, with 7,258 uses predicted
- Logan at No. 3, with 7,251 uses predicted
- Carter at No. 4, with 6,401 uses predicted
- Riley at No. 5, with 6,368 uses predicted
- Parker at No. 6, with 6,313 uses predicted
- Rowan at No. 7, with 6,081 uses predicted
- Cameron at No. 8, with 6,051 uses predicted
- Angel at No. 9, with 5,654 uses predicted
- Kai at No. 10, with 5,431 uses predicted
Most popular baby names in Delaware: These are the most popular baby names in Delaware
Gender-neutral names are most popular in the South, with nine of the top 10 states for gender-neutral name usage located in the region. Louisiana ranks No. 1 for gender-neutral names, followed by Mississippi at 17% and Georgia at 16.5%.
When it comes to which sex is receiving more gender-neutral names, Names.org found that about 60% of those babies are girls receiving names that were more commonly used for boys. The ratio of unisex name usage for girls to boys is 1.5:1, which has remained mostly the same since the early 1900s.
Got a tip or a story idea? Contact Krys’tal Griffin at kgriffin@delawareonline.com.
Delaware
All lanes open after I-69 closure in Delaware County
DELAWARE COUNTY, Ind. — All lanes closed on I-69 in the southbound direction in Delaware County on Friday morning.
Authorities with the Indiana State Police were dispatched to the 240.5 mile marker on a report of a crash involving a semi at approximately 8:08 a.m.
All lanes are now open.
Delaware
After devastating fire at historic Delaware church, a summer festival carries on
Delaware
From blueprint to breakthrough: Tackling affordable housing in Wilmington
Pennrose and JPMorganChase help neighborhoods – and residents – thrive.
Finding an affordable place to live continues to be a challenge for many as widespread housing shortages persist across the U.S. Rising home prices and high interest rates have made homeownership inaccessible for a large portion of the population. Meanwhile, as rental demand increases, the number of renters facing affordability challenges is also on the rise.
The State of the Nation’s Housing 2025 by Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies reveals that cost burdens for renters reached another record high in 2023. Similarly, the JPMorganChase Institute reports that renter affordability is declining and forcing people to devote more of their take-home pay to housing costs. There is a growing need for affordable housing across the U.S., and that rings true here in Wilmington.
To close that gap, it’s essential that all Wilmington residents share in its growth with housing options that accommodate a range of needs and budgets. For the Pennrose real estate firm, this meant delivering a concrete solution to the local community, resulting in housing for individuals and families who otherwise might not have been able to live in the area.
Reinvesting in Wilmington’s Riverside
In Wilmington, the Riverside redevelopment initiative is focused on neighborhood stability at a scale that can be felt across generations – bringing housing, education and community resources together so families can remain rooted and move forward. Imani Village, developed by Pennrose in partnership with the Wilmington Housing Authority and nonprofit community organization REACH Riverside and constructed with support from JPMorganChase, is part of this broader effort, which is expected to create more than 600 high-quality, mixed-income homes while also enhancing and expanding EastSide Charter School and Kingswood Community Center to help establish a “cradle to college/career readiness education pipeline.”
By tying new housing to strengthened local institutions, the redevelopment aims to reduce the pressure that forces families to relocate and instead keep children closer to school, neighbors closer to one another and residents connected to the services that help them thrive. In practical terms, Imani Village represents not just additional homes, but a commitment to building a neighborhood where opportunity is easier to access and easier to keep.
“We’re proud of the far-reaching impact this project will have. It reflects Pennrose’s mission to uplift our communities and expand the supply of high-quality, affordable homes,” said Brett Macleod, Community Development Banking, J.P. Morgan. “Every additional housing unit matters – and increasing the number that are affordable is critical.”
A broader commitment to Wilmington’s future
While Imani Village is foundational, the vibrancy of a community depends on much more. In Delaware, the firm provides banking services to 215,000 customers and works across sectors to expand economic opportunity. Over the last five years, JPMorganChase has invested more than $25 million in local nonprofit organizations, supported 25,000 small business clients and delivered financial health education to thousands of residents to broaden access to banking, financial health resources, homeownership and other wealth-building tools.
“As we work with local stakeholders to expand housing options, JPMorganChase’s goal is to create inclusive economic opportunity for all,” said Don Mell, Location Management, Americas East Region Lead and member of the Delaware & Philadelphia Market Leadership Team at JPMorganChase. “When our communities thrive, we all thrive.”
Learn more about affordable housing and community development at jpmorgan.com/commercial-real-estate.
Read more from Spotlight Delaware
-
Crypto50 seconds agoIreland Targets Crypto Assets in New Strategy to Disrupt Illicit Cash Flows
-
Finance5 minutes agoFinancial adviser warns, ‘stay away from the hype’ of an IPO
-
Fitness13 minutes agoThe Best Fitness Trackers for Your Lifestyle, Workouts, and Goals
-
Movie Reviews21 minutes ago‘Finnegan’s Foursome’ Review: Edward Burns’ Spiky-Quaint Sports Dramedy Is a Tale of Family Therapy Through Golf
-
World31 minutes ago‘X-Men’ Star Famke Janssen Says Marvel ‘Made a Mistake’ By Not Asking Her to Return as Jean Grey in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’
-
Lifestyle1 hour agoJames Burrows, director of classic shows ‘Cheers’ and ‘Friends,’ dies at 85
-
Technology1 hour agoNothing cancels this year’s CMF phone due to RAM prices
-
World1 hour agoTwo-train crash leaves at least 1 dead, 89 injured as emergency crews rush to chaotic scene