The boys beat out the girls this year in Austin.

Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin delivered 418 babies in 2011, with 212 boys and 206 girls according to Nancy Hoversten, Women’s Special Care Unit nurse manager. Included in this total were the largest baby weighing 10 pounds, 11 ounces and the smallest baby weighing only 3 pounds, 5 ounces.

“We had a wonderful year in the Women’s Special Care Unit in 2011,” Hoversten said. “In February, we were the first facility in Minnesota to receive the Baby-Friendly designation from the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, a global program sponsored by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund.

“We pride ourselves in the quality of individual special care and attention we give to each and every one of our patients, and that now includes being baby-friendly, which includes 10 steps to successful breastfeeding and education provided by our lactation specialist. We also encourage 24-hour rooming in of all newborns with the mothers and family members to create and sustain a lasting bond. We certainly do everything possible to make each and every delivery a safe and memorable experience for our patients and their families.”

The most popular girls name at Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin in 2011 was Kaylee, and the top boys name was Carter.

“A few names were popular this year amongst both boys and girls, including Sawyer, Alex, Peyton, Jayden, Hayden and Jessie, and all had multiple variations of spelling,” adds Hoversten. “We also saw the return of some classic names such as Evelyn, Allen, Daniel, William and John.”