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Is Your Name Still Popular? Or Is It Slowly Dying Out? Find Out Where You Rank



Everything evolves, whether it be fashion, food or technology. Back in the 80’s we were wearing shoulder pads, communicating on pagers and eating spam. Developments are a positive thing, although things can go to far. When you consider Kanye West and Kim Kardashian have kids called ‘North’ and ‘Saint’, you wonder whether it would be better if we went back to the good old days when everyone was called Jane and Andrew.


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Some names never seem to go out of fashion though. For boys Jack, Thomas and James are solid staples while for girls you can’t go far wrong with Sophie, Jessica and Emily. These have all stood the test of time and only very rarely go outside of the top ten.


However some names are plunging into obscurity. This interesting graphic from Statista shows which names have fallen furthest from the top 100 in the last nineteen years:


metro_20151208_death_of_names_by_gender metro 20151208 death of names by gender



 

Apologies to all the Rachel’s, Leanne’s , Calum’s and Sean’s of this world but your names are no longer fashionable and are quickly on their way to extinction. You’re in danger of becoming the next Ethel or Terrance in the decades to come.


The current UK trend table is looking like this


Girls Top 100


1 Amelia 5,327 (number) No change (change in rank since 2013)


2 Olivia 4,724 No change


3 Isla 4,012 Up 2


4 Emily 3,991 Down 1


5 Poppy 3,273 Up 2


6 Ava 3,171 Down 2


7 Isabella 3,022 Up 1


8 Jessica 2,995 Down 2


9 Lily 2,965 Up 3


10 Sophie 2,905 Down 1


11 Grace 2,785 Up 2


12 Sophia 2,752 Up 3


13 Mia 2,727 Down 3


14 Evie 2,664 No change


15 Ruby 2,595 Down 4


16 Ella 2,465 No change


17 Scarlett 2,359 No change


18 Isabelle 2,241 Up 1


19 Chloe 2,215 Down 1


20 Sienna 2,174 Up 2


21 Freya 2,164 Down 1


22 Phoebe 2,099 Up 2


23 Charlotte 2,018 Down 2


24 Daisy 1,957 Down 1


25 Alice 1,783 Up 2


26 Florence 1,781 Up 3


27 Eva 1,725 Down 1


28 Sofia 1,692 Up 2


29 Millie 1,685 Down 4


30 Lucy 1,664 Down 2


31 Evelyn 1,506 Up 14


32 Elsie 1,497 Up 15


33 Rosie 1,475 Up 5


34 Imogen 1,463 No change


35 Lola 1,441 Down 3


36 Matilda 1,440 No change


37 Elizabeth 1,398 Up 2


38 Layla 1,391 Down 7


39 Holly 1,362 Down 6


40 Lilly 1,352 Down 3


41 Molly 1,349 Down 6


42 Erin 1,343 Down 2


43 Ellie 1,308 No change


44 Maisie 1,221 Down 3


45 Maya 1,200 Up 6


46 Abigail 1,181 No change


47 Eliza 1,165 Up 12


48 Georgia 1,163 Up 12


49 Jasmine 1,155 Up 1


50 Esme 1,151 Up 8


51 Willow 1,142 Up 3


52 Bella 1,141 Up 4


53 Annabelle 1,108 Up 10


54 Ivy 1,103 Up 12


55 Amber 1,089 Up 10


56 Emilia 1,082 Up 8


57 Emma 1,071 Down 2


58 Summer 1,067 Down 10


59 Hannah 1,061 Down 15


60 Eleanor 1,049 Down 3


61 Harriet 1,016 No change


62 Rose 990 Up 6


63 Amelie 988 Down 11


64 Lexi 972 Down 22


65 Megan 879 Down 16


66 Gracie 871 Down 4


67 Zara 838 Up 3


68 Lacey 829 Down 15


69 Martha 807 Up 4


70 Anna 804 Down 1


71 Violet 754 Up 7


72 Darcey 727 Up 12


73 Maria 707 Up 10


74 Maryam 705 Up 6


75 Brooke 703 Down 8


76 Aisha 702 Up 18


77 Katie 701 Up 2


78 Leah 683 Down 7


79 Thea 678 Up 42 *new entry


80 Darcie 677 Up 23 *new entry


81 Hollie 673 Down 6


82 Amy 668 Down 6


83 Mollie 663 Down 12


84 Heidi 662 Up 15


85 Lottie 662 Up 20 *new entry


86 Bethany 648 Down 9


87 Francesca 646 Down 6


88 Faith 642 Down 14


89 Harper 623 Up 71 *new entry


90 Nancy 615 Up 21 *new entry


91 Beatrice 610 Up 4


92 Isabel 608 Down 7


93 Darcy 606 No change


94 Lydia 602 Up 6


95 Sarah 601 Up 1


96 Sara 596 Up 4


97 Julia 593 Down 15


98 Victoria 584 Down 10


99 Zoe 580 Down 2


100 Robyn 577 Up 19 *new entry



 

Boys Top 100


1 Oliver 6,649 No change


2 Jack 5,804 No change


3 Harry 5,379 No change


4 Jacob 5,050 No change


5 Charlie 4,642 No change


6 Thomas 4,405 No change


7 George 4,320 Up 3


8 Oscar 4,269 Down 1


9 James 4,167 No change


10 William 4,134 Down 2


11 Noah 4,085 Up 2


12 Alfie 3,868 Down 1


13 Joshua 3,812 Down 1


14 Muhammad 3,588 Up 1


15 Henry 3,572 Up 3


16 Leo 3,414 Up 1


17 Archie 3,099 Down 1


18 Ethan 3,061 Down 4


19 Joseph 3,041 No change


20 Freddie 3,023 Up 15


21 Samuel 3,021 Down 1


22 Alexander 2,978 Up 2


23 Logan 2,813 Up 5


24 Daniel 2,775 Down 2


25 Isaac 2,636 Up 4


26 Max 2,602 Down 1


27 Mohammed 2,536 Down 4


28 Benjamin 2,490 Up 2


29 Mason 2,470 Down 2


30 Lucas 2,445 Down 4


31 Edward 2,417 Up 2


32 Harrison 2,214 Up 4


33 Jake 2,207 Down 1


34 Dylan 2,188 Down 3


35 Riley 2,177 Down 14


36 Finley 2,115 Down 2


37 Theo 2,008 Up 4


38 Sebastian 1,965 No change


39 Adam 1,790 Up 1


40 Zachary 1,670 Down 1


41 Arthur 1,649 Up 2


42 Toby 1,352 Up 2


43 Jayden 1,334 Down 1


44 Luke 1,322 Up 1


45 Harley 1,303 Up 4


46 Lewis 1,236 No change


47 Tyler 1,235 Down 10


48 Harvey 1,228 No change


49 Matthew 1,216 Down 2


50 David 1,209 No change


51 Reuben 1,166 Up 3


52 Michael 1,139 Up 1


53 Elijah 1,125 Up 16


54 Kian 1,123 Up 41


55 Tommy 1,120 Down 3


56 Mohammad 1,116 Up 1


57 Blake 1,106 Down 1


58 Luca 1,101 Up 2


59 Theodore 1,090 Up 19


60 Stanley 1,059 Up 10


61 Jenson 1,058 Down 3


62 Nathan 1,055 Down 7


63 Charles 1,037 Down 2


64 Frankie 1,030 Down 2


65 Jude 1,018 Up 7


66 Teddy 1,017 Up 20


67 Louie 1,015 Up 4


68 Louis 999 Up 9


69 Ryan 989 Down 18


70 Hugo 956 Up 4


71 Bobby 922 Down 12


72 Elliott 914 Up 12


73 Dexter 908 Down 10


74 Ollie 906 Up 6


75 Alex 903 Down 10


76 Liam 902 Down 9


77 Kai 858 Down 13


78 Gabriel 842 Up 1


79 Connor 841 Down 13


80 Aaron 819 Up 1


81 Frederick 815 Up 1


82 Callum 803 Down 9


83 Elliot 780 Down 7


84 Albert 778 Up 15


85 Leon 765 Down 10


86 Ronnie 756 Up 4


87 Rory 755 Up 9


88 Jamie 749 Down 20


89 Austin 707 Up 5


90 Seth 694 Up 7


91 Ibrahim 669 Down 2


92 Owen 663 Down 7


93 Caleb 648 Down 5


94 Ellis 641 Up 9 *new entry


95 Sonny 640 Up 5


96 Robert 631 Up 2


97 Joey 627 Up 5 *new entry


98 Felix 614 Down 7


99 Finlay 611 Down 12


100 Jackson 602 Up 6 *new entry


Where did you rank? Or didn’t you even make the list!?


Feeling Like A Supervillain? Then This Unique House Might Be The One For You


Ae you in the market for a new house, but don’t want the same thing that everyone else is getting? Are you looking for something truly unique? Well, this home might be the one for you — especially if you’ve always fancied living like a Bond villain.


Looking at these pictures, you might think that this is a movie set, but it’s a very real home. And this villain-worthy headquarters is on the market right now.




The house perches atop a 150-foot cinder cone.




This formation is actually the geological corpse of an extinct volcano.





This dome-shaped home comes with an open floor plan and some impressive panoramic views.






And sunsets up here are absolutely phenomenal.





Located about 45 miles east of Barstow, California, the Volcano House used to belong to California’s Gold producer and host Huell Howser.


It sits on 60 acres of Mojave Desert land, and has some pretty stunning views of the arid landscape. It comes with two bedrooms and two baths, as well as a separate garage and upstairs apartment — the perfect lodging for your villainous minions!




The observation deck is great for taking in the view…




…and keeping an eye on approaching superheroes.





This view is a nice trade-off for the fact that the home is in the middle of nowhere.




And a remote location really is best for hatching plans for world domination.





Flash floods are common in these parts, so sometimes, you even have waterfront property!









(via Messy Nessy Chic, Redfin, Curbed)



Of course, a house like this won’t be cheap. The current asking price is $650,000. But if you’re a supervillain, you can always just hold the world hostage to get some funds together. While the house is still on the market and looking for a permanent owner, it’s also currently open to the public for vacation rentals, events, and photo shoots.


Even if you’re not a supervillain yet, you can at least pretend to be one for a little while.



8 Unknown Haunted Spots In The Los Angeles Area


We all remember that famous scene in Micahel Jackson’s Thriller where Jackson and his deceptively nimble army of zombies dance their way down a Los Angeles street. It all seems ridiculous in the video, but this could be closer to the truth than we once thought.


Here are some lesser-known spooky spots in the Los Angeles area. If you happen to be in town and want to join an undead dance crew, check out these paranormal hotspots.




Dominguez Ranco Adobe




This estate was home to the powerful Dominguez family, including Manuel Dominguez, who was elected mayor of Los Angeles in 1832. Visitors say that strange orbs and odors haunt the home, along with the spirits of this once-prominent family.





Avila Abode




Built by Fransisco Avila in 1818, this house is the oldest residence in the city. At night, you can see and hear Avila’s widow as she mourns the loss of her husband beyond the grave.





Variety Arts Center




This old theater is said to be haunted by an actor in Elizabethan garb, who can sometimes be seen bowing to an unknown costar. This is odd, since the theater was built about 320 years after the end of Queen Elizabeth’s reign.





The Oban Hotel




This old hotel, now closed, may not look like much, but it once boasted an impressive client list (think Orson Welles and Marilyn Monroe). It is said that a 1930s stuntman named Charlie Love committed suicide in one of the rooms, and his ghost lingers there to this day.





7708 Woodrow Wilson Drive




This place has housed many stars over the years, including Dan Aykroyd, who eventually used it as inspiration for Ghostbusters. It is said that the ghosts of former owners Mama Cass and Natalie Wood continue to wander the halls.





The Comedy Store




Although real-life comedy ghosts like Marc Maron and Dane Cook still haunt this legendary comedy club, there are some even older spirits that call this venue home. Once owned by ruthless mobsters, it seems like comedic careers aren’t the only things that have died here.





2320 Bowmont Drive




Iconic actress Katharine Hepburn claimed to have seen ghosts in the guest house on this property while she lived there. She also reported seeing spirits in the main home on occasion.




I guess it’s no surprise that a place with such a bizarre history is filled with ghosts. I just hope that these spirits haunt Hollywood with the desire to get down.



A Photographer Braves Nature's Rage To Capture Wild, Terrifying Beauty


California’s wildfires are not to be taken lightly. They sweep over the land, incinerate entire towns and forests, and leave destruction in their wake. Every day, firefighters battle to keep the flames away from homes and businesses, while residents are sometimes forced to evacuate.


It seems hellish, but Los Angeles-based photographer Stuart Palley sees another side to the fires, as well. In these blazes, he sees majestic beauty.




For the past few years, Palley has been taking long-exposure night shots of the fires in California.







These exposures allow him to capture glowing light, trails of embers, and all of the stars beyond.







The series is called Terra Flamma, andit comes after tireless years of work.











He also captures the entirety of the landscape, showing how fires relate to the land on a larger scale.







The blue and green lights on the left are artificial lights, and the orange light on the right is the blaze.





Images like this highlight the ways in which these devastating fires affect people, as well.





The large-scale shots really emphasize how massive California’s forest fires can become.





In case you’re wondering, that ring of light is from a helicopter, not a UFO.





























His work also pays homage to the brave men and women who battle these blazes.














(via Colossal, PetaPixel)



Palley is no fool when it comes to the power of California’s fires. Each time he goes out to shoot, he takes precautions to ensure both his safety and the safety of any firefighters who may be working close by. He’s also completed a U.S. Forestry Service course on wildfires. Safety first, everyone!


You can see the rest of Terra Flamma and more of Palley’s work on his website, as well as on Twitter and Instagram.




For a more objective view of what Palley’s facing on photoshoots, check out this coverage. Even President Obama is worried about what’s going on in the Golden State:






These 8 Celebrities Are Long Dead, But Their Spirits Still Haunt Their Old Homes


It’s no secret that most celebrities really enjoy being the the center of attention. Just because a celebrity dies doesn’t mean that their spirit is content to disappear from the public eye. In fact, there are more than a few famous celebrity ghosts who frequent their former Hollywood haunts.




1. Errol Flynn







Flynn was Hollywood’s original bad boy. In the 1940s, he was famous for the lavish, decadent parties he threw at his estate in the Hollywood Hills. In 1959, Flynn’s hard-partying ways caught up to him and he died. For a while there were no signs of paranormal activity in Flynn’s old home. But in 1980, things started to get weird. The new owner’s daughter reported all sorts of ghostly happenings. Could it have been Flynn still partying from beyond the grave?





2. George Reeves







Reeves’ claim to fame was playing Superman in the 1950s TV series Adventures of Superman. However, at age 45, Reeves’ career was failing and he took his own life. Not long after, the house was sold to new owners who reported hearing strange sounds coming from Reeves’ former bedroom. A documentary crew doing a film on Reeves’ life even claims to have seen his spirit walking around the house in his full Superman costume.





3. Al Capone







Many people don’t know that Al Capone, the most infamous prohibition-era gangster, was an avid banjo player. It’s said that Capone’s spirit still haunts his old cell at Alcatraz Prison. A guard at the prison reported that during his shifts, he would often hear banjo music coming from Capone’s former cell.





4. Lucille Ball







Lucille Ball is arguably one of the most influential female performers of the last 100 years. When she died at age 77 in 1989, she left more than just a great legacy. According to the new owners of her former home, intense paranormal activity is the norm. For example, they say there are often loud voices coming from the attic as if there’s a party going on up there.





5. Marilyn Monroe







Monroe’s ghost likes to get around Hollywood. Since her apparent suicide in 1962, Monroe’s ghost has been spotted at her former home, at her tomb at the Westwood Memorial Cemetery, and even in a full-length mirror at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.





6. Mary Pickford







Silent film actress Mary Pickford was a massive celebrity in the 1920s. She and her second husband moved into an allegedly haunted mansion where they lived until her death in 1979. Not long after, the hauntings at the house increased. Her husband believed the spirit he kept seeing was Pickford. The historic mansion has since been demolished.





7. Elvis Presley







While Elvis conspiracies abound, it’s very likely that the king of rock and roll is in fact dead. This fact is backed up by reports that Elvis’ spirit has taken up a new home in Nashville — the building where he recorded “Heartbreak Hotel.” These days the space is occupied by a TV production company. Allegedly, every time someone mentions the name “Elvis,” the paranormal activity begins.





8. Rudolph Valentino







Valentino was a Hollywood heartthrob. However, at the age of 31, Valentino passed away due to complications with his ulcer. It’s said that his ghost still haunts his old home. Visitors say they have spotted a ghostly face looking out from the second floor window. Others have even reported seeing his spirit hanging out at Studio Five at Paramount Studios.




(via: Movie Pilot)


Well, I think I know where I’m headed for my next vacation. A haunted celebrity tour of Hollywood actually seems pretty cool. (I say that now, but I’m pretty sure I’ll be thinking differently after I get the tar scared out of me by Marilyn Monroe’s ghost.)




Looking for most ghost stories? Then check out these articles…