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Second-most popular girl's name of the 2020s, after Olivia - NYT The Mini Clue
Across
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The clue "Part of a fleet" refers to a group of ships. A single vessel within a fleet is called a "SHIP," making it the correct answer. Fleets are typically composed of multiple ships, so a SHIP is indeed a part of a fleet.
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TIME is the solution because it metaphorically "devours" all living and non-living things — birds, beasts, trees, and flowers — through the process of aging, decay, or erosion. Gollum’s riddle describes TIME's inescapable, all-encompassing power to consume everything, aligning perfectly with this answer.
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The clue "See ya!" is enclosed in quotes, indicating it's a casual, spoken phrase. "LATER" is a common informal way to say goodbye or "see you later," matching the tone and intent of the clue. It fits perfectly as an equivalent expression.
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EMMA is the correct answer because it consistently ranks just behind Olivia in lists of the most popular baby girl names in the U.S. during the 2020s, as recorded by organizations tracking naming trends like the Social Security Administration. The clue directly references this statistical fact.
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The clue "Not keeping secrets" suggests transparency or revealing information. The word OPEN aligns perfectly, as it describes being honest, exposed, or accessible—attributes inherently opposite to secrecy. Hence, "OPEN" fits as the solution, denoting a state of openness or sharing rather than concealing.
Down
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The clue "Sticker on an envelope" refers to something that is physically adhered to an envelope. A postage stamp is a small adhesive label that serves as proof of payment for sending mail. Since a stamp literally "sticks" to an envelope, the answer is STAMP.
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In blackjack, when a player requests another card, they say "Hit me," signaling the dealer to deal them another card. The phrase in quotes directly reflects this spoken request, making "HITME" the perfect match for the clue.
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The clue "Uhh, that is to say ..." mimics conversational speech, signaling a phrase often used to clarify or rephrase. "I mean" (IMEAN) is a common verbal filler that serves this purpose, aligning perfectly with the informal tone and structure of the clue provided.
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The abbreviation "m.p.h." stands for "miles per hour." The "p" in this context represents "per," which links miles to hours in expressing speed. Hence, the answer "PER" fits the clue perfectly.
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This refers to the very recent papal election. Leo is the name the new pope chose. It’s a classic papal name, used 13 times before. Even if you missed the news, knowing Leo is a common name for popes could lead you to the right answer.
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Solving today’s NYT Mini Puzzle and stuck on the 4-letter answer to the Second-most popular girl's name of the 2020s, after Olivia clue? Don’t worry—Lady Puzzle Pro has you covered! Whether you want the answer right away, revealed letter by letter, or this wordplay seems too puzzling, keep reading for the explanation.
Second-most popular girl's name of the 2020s, after Olivia Answer Explained
The answer is EMMA.
This one’s rooted in real-world data. When the clue says “second-most popular,” I know it’s pointing to official rankings, specifically the U.S. baby name data from the Social Security Administration. I actually looked it up to be sure: according to the SSA’s 2021 press release, EMMA ranked #2 for girls’ names in the 2020s, right behind Olivia. That fits the clue perfectly. I thought about other strong contenders—Ava, Sophia, Isabella—since they’ve all been chart-toppers too. But EMMA has that timeless, gentle sound and broad popularity that keeps it near the top. So yes, it’s not just a guess—it’s backed by stats.
Now that you've cracked the 7A Second-most popular girl's name of the 2020s, after Olivia clue, you're one step closer to completing today’s Mini Puzzle! If you're still stuck on other clues, don't worry—we've got you covered. Explore more NYT Mini crossword answers right here, or check out our tools for solving the NYT Crossword, Connections, or Strands.
Today’s NYT Mini Highlights
Today's Thursday Mini by Joel Fagliano is on the gentler side, nothing too tricky, but still fun to work through. The puzzle touches on topics from Tolkien lore to blackjack tables, with a dash of baby name stats and a classic postal item. A nice mix of pop culture, language, and everyday things!
Here’s what caught our attention today:
- Answer to Gollum's riddle in "The Hobbit," which starts "This thing all things devours — birds, beasts, trees, flowers"
- Not keeping secrets
- "I'd like another card," in blackjack
- "Uhh, that is to say ..."
- Name taken by the new pope
About NYT The Mini
NYT The Mini Crossword is a compact version of the New York Times Crossword puzzle. Usually 5 x 5, with larger grids on Saturdays, it offers mid-week equivalent difficulty clues with no progression over the week. It is accessible to anyone with or without a New York Times account. You can play it on nytimes.com/crosswords, The New York Times Games app (iOS and Android), and the Play tab of the New York Times News app. Games and All Access Subscribers can solve past Mini Crossword puzzles in the archive.
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How to Play - Features and Tips
Fill white squares with letters to form intersecting words or phrases by solving clues in Across and Down columns. Read our guide to NYT Mini Mastery to learn how to read the different types of clues. Successfully completed puzzle triggers music and a congratulatory message.
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The answers you get using help are marked with a red triangle in the upper right-hand corner of the box while those confirmed with check become blue.
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