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Most popular baby names of 2014: Emma, Noah are tops

WASHINGTON (AP) - Emma and Noah were the most popular baby names in 2014, according to the list released Friday by the Social Security Administration.

Noah was the top baby name for boys for the second year in a row. Emma was back on top for girls for the first time since 2008.

Pop culture and religion have long influenced baby names.

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Emma's popularity soared in 2002, the same year that Rachel, a character on the popular TV show "Friends,"named her baby Emma. Emma has been ranked among the top four baby names for girls since 2002, though it was just behind Sophia in 2013.

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"In this era when trends come and go faster than ever before, that's incredible staying power," said Laura Wattenberg, founder of BabynameWizard.com. "Emma seems to be the only name that America has been able to agree on in recent years."

James is also making a comeback, at No. 9. And Charlotte cracked the top 10 for the first time, at No. 10.

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Britain's Prince William and his wife, Kate, announced Monday that they were naming their baby daughter Charlotte. Chelsea Clinton, the daughter of Bill and Hillary Clinton, also named her daughter Charlotte.

Stephen Ohlemacher, Associated Press

The top 10s:

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GIRLS

1. Emma

Emma Watson
Emma Watson(Steven Senne / AP)

2. Olivia

Olivia Wilde
Olivia Wilde (JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP/Getty Images)

3. Sophia

Sofia Vergara
Sofia Vergara(ROBYN BECK / AFP/Getty Images)

4. Isabella

Isabella Rossellini
Isabella Rossellini (File 2008 / AP)

5. Ava

Ava Gardner in 1953
Ava Gardner in 1953
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6. Mia

7. Emily

 8. Abigail 

 9. Madison 

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 10. Charlotte

BOYS

1. Noah

Noah Wyle
Noah Wyle(Amy Sussman / Invision/AP)
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2. Liam

3. Mason

Brooklyn Nets center Mason Plumlee
Brooklyn Nets center Mason Plumlee (Brad Penner / USA TODAY Sports)
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4. Jacob

Jake Gyllenhaal
Jake Gyllenhaal(Andy Kropa / Invision/AP)

5. William 

William Shatner
William Shatner(Chris Pizzello / Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
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6. Ethan 

7. Michael 

8. Alexander 

9. James 

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10. Daniel