Northern Minnesota’s healthcare systems released the top names of babies born in their respective hospitals in 2024.
Sioux Falls-based Sanford Health said that system-wide, Oliver topped the list for baby boy names for the fourth year in a row. Lainey was the most popular name for baby girls.
Rounding out the top five baby boy names at Sanford hospitals were Henry, Liam, Theodore and Brooks. Amelia, Evelyn and Olivia were in the top five for baby girls, with the names Aurora, Charlotte and Nora tied for fourth place.
Approximately 9,000 babies were born across Sanford hospitals last year, with the highest number of births in July.
Essentia Health said 2,780 babies entered the world at its Minnesota hospitals, including 476 at Essentia Health St. Mary’s in Detroit Lakes, 390 at St. Joseph’s in Brainerd and 165 at Essentia Health-Virginia.
The organization shared the number of babies born with the top names by facility.
| Detroit Lakes Boy Maverick — 5 Leo, Oliver — 4 Benjamin, David, George, Holden, Theo, Tucker, Walter — 3 Atlas, Atticus, Beau, Charles, Chase, Dawson, Hayden, Henry, John, Jordan, Liam, Michael, Nico, Noah, Sawyer, Silas, Theodore, Thomas, Wesley, Zion — 2 | Brainerd Boy Hudson, Milo, Thomas, Myles or Miles — 3 Banks, Declan, Harrison, Henry, Jonathan, Kaden, Leo, Liam, Lucas, Malcolm, Silas, Theodore, Wade, Waylon, Wesley, Weston, William — 2 |
| Girl Elle or Ellie, Willow — 4 Aurora, Charlotte, Everlee or Everley or Everly, Hazel, Josie, Lilly or Lily, Violet, Wrenlee or Wrenleigh or Wrenley — 3 Adeline, Aria or Ariyah, Elliana, Emersyn, Emery, Evelyn, Georgia, Kinsely, Lainey, Lucile or Lucille, Lydia, Madelyn, Nova, Olivia — 2 | Girl Everly or Everlee or Everleigh — 5 Emery or Emmery — 3 Adaline, Adilynn, Aurora, Camille, Charlotte, Elizabeth, Grace, Greta, Harper, Lainey, Lilly, Mavis, Miley, Quinn, Raelyn, Sylvie, Wrenley, Zoey — 2 |
Virginia Boy Arthur, Bjorn, Mason, Theodore — 2 Jaelyn or Jaylen — 2 | Moose Lake Boy Henry, Mason, Waylon — 2 |
Girl Autumn — 2 Eliana or Ellianna, Everlee or Everly — 2 | Girl Riley — 2 Sophia or Sophie — 2 |
-
Megan Buffington/KAXEIron Rangers are concerned about the future of the facility because U.S. Steel estimated an $814 million cost to comply with the state's wild rice sulfate standard. -
Recent findings showed those who carry out school shootings are often in a noticeable crisis, meaning students, staff and parents should be trained to recognize concerning behavior. -
Contributed/Tony Webster, FlickrOn Aug. 28, 2025, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call of a shooting incident in the Prescott Housing area in Wilkinson Township, south of Cass Lake. -
Contributed/Lorie Shaull via FlickrA recent statewide survey from the University of Minnesota asked residents about their concerns for lakes and rivers, views on conservation and support for science solutions.
