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100 Years of the Most Popular Baby Names
Filed under: Baby Names
Baby Emma? Or Jacob? Credit: Dennis Wise, Getty Images
From 1909 to 1946, more girls were given that moniker than any other. Linda took over for a couple of years, but Mary was back on top from 1956 to 1962. Then, it was all about Lisa, Jennifer, Jessica and Ashley. And then, since 1996, Emily and Emma have completely taken over.
When it comes to boys' names, however, things stay pretty much the same. Michael, James, John, Robert and William were popular for decades, with Jacob, Joshua, Matthew and Daniel coming on strong in recent years.
Here are the top five names for girls and boys, in order, from 1909 to 2008, according to Social Security Online:
2008
Girls: Emma, Isabella, Emily, Madison, Ava
Boys: Jacob, Michael, Ethan, Joshua, Daniel
2007
Girls: Emily, Isabella, Emma, Ava, Madison
Boys: Jacob, Michael, Ethan, Joshua, Daniel
2006
Girls: Emily, Emma, Madison, Isabella, Ava
Boys: Jacob, Michael, Joshua, Ethan, Matthew
2005
Girls: Emily, Emma, Madison, Abigail, Olivia
Boys: Jacob, Michael, Joshua, Matthew, Ethan
2004
Girls: Emily, Emma, Madison, Olivia, Hannah
Boys: Jacob, Michael, Joshua, Matthew, Ethan
2003
Girls: Emily, Emma, Madison, Hannah, Olivia
Boys: Jacob, Michael, Joshua, Matthew, Andrew
2002
Girls: Emily, Madison, Hannah, Emma, Alexis
Boys: Jacob, Michael, Joshua, Matthew, Ethan
2001
Girls: Emily, Madison, Hannah, Ashley, Alexis
Boys: Jacob, Michael, Matthew, Joshua, Christopher
2000
Girls: Emily, Hannah, Madison, Ashley, Sarah
Boys: Jacob, Michael, Matthew, Joshua, Christopher
1999
Girls: Emily, Hannah, Alexis, Sarah, Samantha
Boys: Jacob, Michael, Matthew, Joshua, Christopher
1998
Girls: Emily, Hannah, Samantha, Ashley, Sarah
Boys: Michael, Jacob, Matthew, Joshua, Christopher
1997
Girls: Emily, Jessica, Ashley, Sarah, Hannah
Boys: Michael, Jacob, Matthew, Christopher, Joshua
1996
Girls: Emily, Jessica, Ashley, Sarah, Samantha
Boys: Michael, Matthew, Jacob, Christopher, Joshua
1995
Girls: Jessica, Ashley, Emily, Samantha, Sarah
Boys: Michael, Matthew,Christopher, Jacob, Joshua
1994
Girls: Jessica, Ashley, Emily, Samantha, Sarah
Boys: Michael, Christopher, Matthew, Joshua, Tyler
1993
Girls: Jessica, Ashley, Sarah, Samantha, Emily
Boys: Michael, Christopher, Matthew, Joshua, Tyler
1992
Girls: Ashley, Jessica, Amanda, Brittany, Sarah
Boys: Michael, Christopher, Matthew, Joshua, Andrew
1991
Girls: Ashley, Jessica, Brittany, Amanda, Samantha
Boys: Michael, Christopher, Matthew, Joshua, Andrew
1990
Girls: Jessica, Ashley, Brittany, Amanda, Samantha
Boys: Michael, Christopher, Matthew, Joshua, Daniel
1989
Girls: Jessica, Ashley, Brittany, Amanda, Sarah
Boys: Michael, Christopher, Matthew, Joshua, David
1988
Girls: Jessica, Ashley, Amanda, Sarah, Jennifer
Boys: Michael, Christopher, Matthew, Joshua, Andrew
1987
Girls: Jessica, Ashley, Amanda, Jennifer, Sarah
Boys: Michael, Christopher, Matthew, Joshua, David
1986
Girls: Jessica, Ashley, Amanda, Jennifer, Sarah
Boys: Michael, Christopher, Matthew, Joshua, David
1985
Girls: Jessica, Ashley, Jennifer, Amanda, Sarah
Boys: Michael, Christopher, Matthew, Joshua, Daniel
1984
Girls: Jennifer, Jessica, Ashley, Amanda, Sarah
Boys: Michael, Christopher, Matthew, Joshua, David
1983
Girls: Jennifer, Jessica, Amanda, Ashley, Sarah
Boys: Michael, Christopher, Matthew, David, Joshua
1982
Girls: Jennifer, Jessica, Amanda, Sarah, Melissa
Boys: Michael, Christopher, Matthew, Jason, David
1981
Girls: Jennifer, Jessica, Amanda, Sarah, Melissa
Boys: Michael, Christopher, Matthew, Jason, David
1980
Girls: Jennifer, Amanda, Jessica, Melissa, Sarah
Boys: Michael, Christopher, Jason, David, James
1979
Girls: Jennifer, Melissa, Amanda, Jessica, Amy
Boys: Michael, Christopher, Jason, David, James
1978
Girls: Jennifer, Melissa, Jessica, Amy, Heather
Boys: Michael, Jason, Christopher, David, James
1977
Girls: Jennifer, Melissa, Amy, Jessica, Heather
Boys: Michael, Jason, Christopher, David, James
1976
Girls: Jennifer, Amy, Melissa, Heather, Angela
Boys: Michael, Jason, Christopher, David, James
1975
Girls: Jennifer, Amy, Heather, Melissa, Angela
Boys: Michael, Jason, Christopher, James, David
1974
Girls: Jennifer, Amy, Michelle, Heather, Angela
Boys: Michael, Jason, Christopher, David, James
1973
Girls: Jennifer, Amy, Michelle, Kimberly, Lisa
Boys: Michael, Christopher, Jason, James, David
1972
Girls: Jennifer, Michelle, Lisa, Kimberly, Amy
Boys: Michael, Christopher, James, David, John
1971
Girls: Jennifer, Michelle, Lisa, Kimberly, Amy
Boys: Michael, James, David, John, Robert
1970
Girls: Jennifer, Lisa, Kimberly, Michelle, Amy
Boys: Michael, James, David, John, Robert
1969
Girls: Lisa, Michelle, Jennifer, Kimberly, Melissa
Boys: Michael, David, James, John, Robert
1968
Girls: Lisa, Michelle, Kimberly, Jennifer, Mary
Boys: Michael, David, John, James, Robert
1967
Girls: Lisa, Kimberly, Michelle, Mary, Susan
Boys: Michael, David, James, John, Robert
1966
Girls: Lisa, Kimberly, Mary, Michelle, Karen
Boys: Michael, David, James, John, Robert
1965
Girls: Lisa, Mary, Karen, Kimberly, Susan
Boys: Michael, John, David, James, Robert
1964
Girls: Lisa, Mary, Susan, Karen, Patricia
Boys: Michael, John, David, James, Robert
1963
Girls: Lisa, Mary, Susan, Karen, Linda
Boys: Michael, John, David, James, Robert
1962
Girls: Lisa, Mary, Susan, Karen, Linda
Boys: Michael, David, John, James, Robert
1961
Girls: Mary, Lisa, Susan, Linda, Karen
Boys: Michael, David, John, James, Robert
1960
Girls: Mary, Susan, Linda, Karen, Donna
Boys: David, Michael, James, John, Robert
1959
Girls: Mary, Susan, Linda, Karen, Donna
Boys: Michael, David, James, John, Robert
1958
Girls: Mary, Susan, Linda, Karen, Patricia
Boys: Michael, David, James, Robert, John
1957
Girls: Mary, Susan, Linda, Debra, Karen
Boys: Michael, James, David, Robert, John
1956
Girls: Mary, Debra, Linda, Deborah, Susan
Boys: Michael, James, Robert, David, John
1955
Girls: Mary, Deborah, Linda, Debra, Susan
Boys: Michael, David, James, Robert, John
1954
Girls: Mary, Linda, Deborah, Patricia, Susan
Boys: Michael, James, Robert, John, David
1953
Girls: Mary, Linda, Deborah, Patricia, Susan
Boys: Robert, James, Michael, John, David
1952
Girls: Linda, Mary, Patricia, Deborah, Susan
Boys: James, Robert, John, Michael, David
1951
Girls: Linda, Mary, Patricia, Deborah, Barbara
Boys: James, Robert, John, Michael, David
1950
Girls: Linda, Mary, Patricia, Barbara, Susan
Boys: James, Robert, John, Michael, David
1949
Girls: Linda, Mary, Patricia, Barbara, Susan
Boys: James, Robert, John, William, Michael
1948
Girls: Linda, Mary, Barbara, Patricia, Susan
Boys: James, Robert, John, William, David
1947
Girls: Linda, Mary, Patricia, Barbara, Sandra
Boys: James, Robert, John, William, Richard
1946
Girls: Mary, Linda, Patricia, Barbara, Carol
Boys: James, Robert, John, William, Richard
1945
Girls: Mary, Linda, Barbara, Patricia, Carol
Boys: James, Robert, John, William, Richard
1944
Girls: Mary, Barbara, Linda, Patricia, Carol
Boys: James, Robert, John, William, Richard
1943
Girls: Mary, Barbara, Patricia, Linda, Carol
Boys: James, Robert, John, William, Richard
1942
Girls: Mary, Barbara, Patricia, Linda, Carol
Boys: James, Robert, John, William, Richard
1941
Girls: Mary, Barbara, Patricia, Carol, Linda
Boys: James, Robert, John, William, Richard
1940
Girls: Mary, Barbara, Patricia, Judith, Betty
Boys: James, Robert, John, William, Richard
1939
Girls: Mary, Barbara, Patricia, Betty, Shirley
Boys: Robert, James, John, William, Richard
1938
Girls: Mary, Barbara, Patricia, Betty, Shirley
Boys: Robert, James, John, William, Richard
1937
Girls: Mary, Barbara, Patricia, Shirley, Betty
Boys: Robert, James, John, William, Richard
1936
Girls: Mary, Shirley, Barbara, Betty, Patricia
Boys: Robert, James, John, William, Richard
1935
Girls: Mary, Shirley, Barbara, Betty, Patricia
Boys: Robert, James, John, William, Richard
1934
Girls: Mary, Betty, Barbara, Shirley, Dorothy
Boys: Robert, James, John, William, Richard
1933
Girls: Mary, Betty, Barbara, Dorothy, Joan
Boys: Robert, James, John, William, Richard
1932
Girls: Mary, Betty, Barbara, Dorothy, Joan
Boys: Robert, James, John, William, Richard
1931
Girls: Mary, Betty, Dorothy, Barbara, Joan
Boys: Robert, James, John, William, Richard
1930
Girls: Mary, Betty, Dorothy, Helen, Margaret
Boys: Robert, James, John, William, Richard
1929
Girls: Mary, Betty, Dorothy, Helen, Margaret
Boys: Robert, James, John, William, Charles
1928
Girls: Mary, Betty, Dorothy, Helen, Margaret
Boys: Robert, John, James, William, Charles
1927
Girls: Mary, Betty, Dorothy, Helen, Margaret
Boys: Robert, John, James, William, Charles
1926
Girls: Mary, Betty, Dorothy, Helen, Margaret
Boys: Robert, John, James, William, Charles
1925
Girls: Mary, Betty, Dorothy, Helen, Margaret
Boys: Robert, John, William, James, Charles
1924
Girls: Mary, Dorothy, Helen, Betty, Margaret
Boys: Robert, John, William, James, Charles
1923
Girls: Mary, Dorothy, Helen, Margaret, Betty
Boys: John, Robert, William, James, Charles
1923
Girls: Mary, Dorothy, Helen, Margaret, Ruth
Boys: John, Robert, William, James, Charles
1922
Girls: Mary, Dorothy, Helen, Margaret, Ruth
Boys: John, Robert, William, James, Charles
1921
Girls: Mary, Dorothy, Helen, Margaret, Ruth
Boys: John, Robert, William, James, Charles
1920
Girls: Mary, Dorothy, Helen, Margaret, Ruth
Boys: John, William, Robert, James, Charles
1919
Girls: Mary, Helen, Dorothy, Margaret, Ruth
Boys: John, William, James, Robert, Charles
1918
Girls: Mary, Helen, Dorothy, Margaret, Ruth
Boys: John, William, James, Robert, Charles
1917
Girls: Mary, Helen, Dorothy, Margaret, Ruth
Boys: John, William, James, Robert, Joseph
1916
Girls: Mary, Helen, Dorothy, Margaret, Ruth
Boys: John, William, James, Robert, Joseph
1915
Girls: Mary, Helen, Dorothy, Margaret, Ruth
Boys: John, William, James, Robert, Joseph
1914
Girls: Mary, Helen, Dorothy, Margaret, Ruth
Boys: John, William, James, Robert, Joseph
1913
Girls: Mary, Helen, Dorothy, Margaret, Ruth
Boys: John, William, James, Robert, Joseph
1912
Girls: Mary, Helen, Dorothy, Margaret, Ruth
Boys: John, William, James, Robert, Joseph
1911
Girls: Mary, Helen, Margaret, Dorothy, Ruth
Boys: John, William, James, George, Robert
1910
Girls: Mary, Helen, Margaret, Dorothy, Ruth
Boys: John, James, William, Robert, George
1909
Girls: Mary, Helen, Margaret, Ruth, Dorothy
Boys: John, William, James, George, Robert
Related: Do We Need New Baby Name Etiquette?
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ReaderComments (Page 2 of 5)
7-08-2010 @ 8:50AM
Katie said...I work at a elementary school and one of the 3rd grade teacher is named Bille Jean. My Aunt is also named Billie and my uncle is also named Billy. I saw his wife's name ( Heather) on the list
7-06-2010 @ 9:51PM
Lindsey said...People will always find the weirdest thing to name their children after. States (Virginia-glad you like yours) Months (April,May, June) Seasons (Summer) Continents (I have know 2 Asias)
Oh and after Eminem named his daughter Haley Jade, so did everyone else. I am shocked Haley isn't on the list. I know of so many Haleys and most of them with the middle name Jade. Jade is overdone as a middle name too. I know it's hard to be original these days, but people can just try to pick something that isn't in the top 5. There are just too many Emilys these days. Even if you think it's cute. Will your daughter like it when there are 5 others in her class?
Lindsey never made a list, but there were 2 others in my class and I hated it.
Reply
7-06-2010 @ 10:23PM
nonya bizness said...Haley is a nice name (though I usually hate girl names with that ending: Brittney, Lindsey, Tiffany *bleh*). For boys names I usually like names with the ending similar to Aidan, or older names (Chris, Michael, Alex Jacob, Todd *^_^* Todd is such a cute name!)
7-06-2010 @ 10:00PM
Draconian said...I went to school with a guy who was named Richard Balls.Classmates used to call him Dick. I also knew a person whos parents named Bill cause He arrived at the end of the month.
Reply
7-06-2010 @ 10:09PM
OhMeOhMy said...I agree that most kids dont like having the same name as 5 other kids, they like to feel unique. However, i have a very common name, but spelled different and as much as I didnt like feeling like an individual when I was kid, i hated that i could never find anything with my name on it (keychains, signs, toys, etc).
Reply
7-07-2010 @ 12:43AM
Erron said...i agree.in grade school i had 3 other erin/aaron's in my class..and we only had 18 kids..and my name is unique spelling of erin and i love it, but hate never finding anything with my name on it.as u said before
7-06-2010 @ 10:12PM
Cindy said...My daughter was born in 1990. I always liked the name Amanda/ Mandy and used it as my name whenever I played school with my best friend. Amanda was also my great-grandmother's name. So when I was blessed with my daughter in 1990, she was named Amanda Faith.
Reply
7-06-2010 @ 10:22PM
Mary M. said...Thank you, Bree. Helen Claire, if I dare repeat it (haha), is an old name. Her family called her Shell.
Reply
7-06-2010 @ 10:14PM
peaceloveeandrea said...the only thing i like about the common names is that they're easy to pronounce. people just know how it's said because they've met a few people with the same name. & sometimes they're easier to remember. i glad my parents didn't go with the common names of my birth year because half my class has names from '93. mine is fairly simple (an-dree-uh), & somewhat common, but people think of the weirdest pronounciations for it.
& it's cool when parents change the spelling of a childs name to something less common so that they're classmates won't have the exact same name. (leslie-lesley or candace-kandice).
i named my son Joshua Bentley, this way it's a mix of common, but not usual.
Reply
7-09-2010 @ 4:26PM
Leslie said...less common so that they're classmates won't have the exact same name. (leslie-lesley or candace-kandice).
______________________________________________
I am surprised my name is not on any of the lists....Leslie....that started off as a men name and women took it over.....my mom named me after one of her favorite soap opera personalities back in the day. I have three relatives name Leslie (spelled differently, of course) and whenever, I go out somewhere publicly a waitress, grocery clerk, McDonald's Cashier, etc...someone is named Leslie...and in the 80's Jasmine was very popular ....weird.
7-06-2010 @ 10:19PM
Sarah said...I knew I grew up with a lot of girls with my name my dad must have grown up the same way
Reply
7-06-2010 @ 10:18PM
bchdnf said...I was named after my two grandmothers put together: one of them is 'Di', and the other is 'Ann' and they decided to add the 'a'
So here I am Diana!
And it's never been popular... hahaha
but we all want to be a one in a million right?
Reply
7-06-2010 @ 10:24PM
Jadiol said...Considering the girls' names that were popular in 1953--Mary, Linda, Deborah, Patricia, Susan--I am amazed and thankful my parents named me Jacqueline!
Reply
7-06-2010 @ 10:38PM
pam said...wish some people would use any of these names ..black folks are making names up that no one can say..A friend works in a hostipal and one black lady name her kid she-da or something but it spelled out as shithead...I am not kidding on this as it happen and not trying to be mean with black people but lord they are getting names crazyier and wreider every year
Reply
7-06-2010 @ 10:48PM
Aubrey said...As you can see from my name, its aubrey. thats is not common at all!!! I was born in 97 and people really never name there children Aubrey. Its nice to have a name that people really never have and its like a merical to meet someone with my name!!! I think that more people should name there kids it. Its a really good name!! love it so much!!! and its means ruler of the elves. sounds going but also elves were thought to be very WISE!!!
Reply
7-07-2010 @ 12:14AM
Jan said...Growing up in England I knew a man called Aubrey. He seemed very old to me at but was probably only in his 50's (same age as I am now lol). I also think of Emily, Rachel, Tom & Joe as old people's names because they were people I knew who were older than my parents or grandparents. Anyone older than Mum & Dad was really old lol
7-06-2010 @ 11:05PM
jimgolden said...james for 71 years it is a boring name but it had a long run
Reply
7-06-2010 @ 11:16PM
Molly said...My name is Molly, I really enjoy it. I'm glad it's not too popular. I plan on naming my daughter Maebea (pronounced maybe). She'll probably hate me for it, but it'll be uniqe.
Reply
7-07-2010 @ 2:33AM
Tammy said...Molly I agree your name is cute....but naming your daughter a name pronounced (maybe) ....is not going to be a very positive feeling when she hears it and when others hear it...I think people may even subconciously think that she is uncertain and unreliable just based on the fact that they are hearing the word (maybe) ...just a suggestion.
7-06-2010 @ 11:07PM
robin said...ok, my last name is banks. good thing I didn't opt for a career in law enforcement or the federal reserve.
go ahead and laugh. people have been laughing for 55 years at my name!
Reply