Hush, Little Genesis

Jennifer ruled the girls in the 1970s, Michael was tops for the boys for 50 years. Move over. America's 1,000 most popular baby names of 2005--released earlier this month by the Social Security Administration--show that while biblical names still dominate the boys' list, nontraditional, spiritual-sounding names are rising fast among the girls. Destiny is No. 32, Nevaeh--heaven backwards, which didn't make the list before 2001--ranks 70th, and the U.S. welcomed 2,195 girls named Genesis (No. 155) last year. Such names "are a post-9/11 trend," says Pamela Redmond Satran, co-author of eight baby-name books. "They come from a dual drive for meaning and individuality." And occasionally from movie worship. Satran says the inspiration for Trinity (No. 48 for girls) may be less about Father, Son and Holy Spirit than the butt-kicking heroine of The Matrix.