Dip in Number of Babies Born Here
• A Birth Here Every 2.64 Days on Average
The Provost hospital had slightly fewer newborns appear in 2009 than in 2008—but more than in 2007.

There were 138 births at the Provost Health Centre in 2009—on average one newborn every 2.64 days.

The number of babies born in the Provost hospital in 2008 was 144, up about 10 per cent from 131 in 2007.

There were no figures breaking down the numbers of male or female births.

Multiple births are not usually handled by the local hospital.

Meanwhile across Alberta delivery rooms were kept busy in 2009 as the province marked its third record-breaking year in a row for births.

Preliminary statistics show that 51,443 babies were born last year, topping the prior records of 50,543 in 2008 and 48,589 in 2007. The 2009 total is 1.8 per cent higher than in 2008, and 38 per cent higher compared to the beginning of the decade in 2000, when 37,155 babies were born.

In 2009, the Vital Statistics branch of Service Alberta recorded the births of 26,390 boys with 5,654 names and 25,053 girls with 6,977 different names.

Ethan was the most popular boys name for the ninth year straight, selected by 355 families. Olivia was the top choice for girls in 2009, at 245, while both Olivia and Ava were tied as the top names in 2008.

Parents appear to have been inspired by astrology, history, mythology and literature in choosing names such as Aragorn, Archimedes, Cyrano, Draco, Michelangelo, Neptune and Voltaire for boys; and Calliope, Cinderella, Gemini, Hermione, Pandora, Perseus, Phantasia and Virgo for girls.

Names associated with celebrities were also registered, including four boys named Presley, two named Viggo, two named Orlando, and one each of Costello, Ericlindross, Ledger, Obama and Sutherland. For girls, Grace-Kelly, Lennon and Sigourney were registered once each.

Geographic names were also represented in parents’ choices with Aztlan, Bronx, Cairo, Egypt, Nashville, Oakland, Reno, Rome and Venice for boys; and Alabama, Britain, Jerusalem, Maligne, Montana, Manhattan, Persia, Tennessee and Tijuana for girls.  

Families also chose such one-of-a-kind monikers as Argyll, Bison, Boss, Chaos, Cherubim, Dice, Helix, Kal-El, Lightning, Morpheous, Mystery, Thunder and Whip for boys; and Albertarose, Amazyn, Comfort, Epic, Fury, Fyre, Halleluya, Infiniti, Mischiefs, Mystique, Peanut, Twinkle, Victory and Whysper for girls.

Alberta parents showed their creativity with different spellings for names such as Phoenix, with variations including Feenix, Pheenix, Phoeniks and Phoenyx; and Lincoln, with Lincon, Linkon, Linkyn and Lynkyn.

Complete story in February 24 edition of The Provost News.
Want to Subscribe to The Provost News? Click here.