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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 3 of 5)
7-11-2010 @ 5:23AM
wendy said...i feel you on that, robin. My last name was Rainey, my mom's dad wanted me to have her middlle name, which was Ann.For years he called me by what he wanted my entire name to be: Wendy Ann Rainey...and u know how it sounds when u say it with a "southern accent": I would've sounded like the daily forecast of "windy and rainy" , but still....i'm the weather, and i get added forecasts depending on what mood im in, like Stormy, or Breezy,,, After 38 years though I like my name, even kept Rainey after i married!!
7-06-2010 @ 11:11PM
lucas said...I hate the name Madison!! People are such sheeps!
Reply
7-06-2010 @ 11:37PM
elizabeth said...I would of thought that Elizabeth would had came in one of the top three for at least some time between 1909 and now. I know so many people with the same name as me, I always get confused.
Reply
7-06-2010 @ 11:30PM
Virginia said...I'm a Virginia, too! It's awesome!
Reply
7-06-2010 @ 11:33PM
Mike said...After being a Michael my entire life and realizing it was the most common male name for the last several decades I vowed not let my kids have boring names like mine. We also didn't want to give them such gibberish that nobody can prounce them.
My 6 yr old boy is Gable Crosly
and my 3 yr old daughter is Anderson Rose.
I actually enjoy that we can never find them a souvenir mug or crap like that. They never have to share their name with anyone else this way, but people dont wonder what kind of drugs we were on when we named our kids. None for the record. ;-)
Reply
7-06-2010 @ 11:33PM
Ginny said...I'm not named after a state, either (Virginia)
Reply
7-06-2010 @ 11:39PM
gtordztekzas said...my name hasnt been popular ever
Reply
7-06-2010 @ 11:46PM
dee said...My name is never on any list, or cup, or pencil, or key chain and Linda NEVER said it through the romper room magic mirror, but I love it (it is not short for anything, it's my full name).
Reply
7-06-2010 @ 11:47PM
billj5775 said...I noticed Mary fell off of the list in 1969....The Age of Aquarius. Was replaced by Sarah good Bible name but this fell out of favor in 2001. I guess Bibical names for women went out of Style (the other female names after 2001 do have Biblical roots but I can almost guess that isn't where the namers got them. Forty more years and I'm outta here. Good luck with the pagan life style :-)
Reply
7-06-2010 @ 11:49PM
esq1128 said...I always said that I had a common name. James Robert and that is Y I named my 2 sons something completly different.
Reply
7-06-2010 @ 11:59PM
Haleig said...Haleigh was never put up there or Haley haha((:
Reply
7-07-2010 @ 12:01AM
Chelsea Michelle said...My name is Chelsea and my middle name is Michelle. My name was never popular but i love it. I also really love my middle name :D
Reply
7-07-2010 @ 2:48PM
Kitty said...I hate my name.....mary
Reply
7-07-2010 @ 12:05AM
ricky said...COOL, I WAS BORN IN 1965 AND I AM NAMED ROBERT AND IT WAS IN TOP 5 UNTIL 1971.
Reply
7-07-2010 @ 12:06AM
Cindy said...The picture of the baby is absolutely adorable!
Reply
7-07-2010 @ 12:08AM
Laura said...My name is Laura and i named my only daughter Trisha and there is alot of ways to spell the name trisha and i think that if you have a daughter you should name her whatever you want to name her and if people dont like it. thats just to bad.
Reply
7-07-2010 @ 4:05PM
Nancy said...I was named after my two grandmothers. Nancy I didn't expect to be on the list. Now I did expect Elizabeth to be there and wasn't. That surprised me.
Reply
7-07-2010 @ 12:28AM
Jessica said...Yeah really I know you are nothing more then a aid trying to make money but really kids in daycare are so much better then kids who stay home. We have a music teacher who volunteers her time at the daycare I work at once a week with our toddlers. She is amazed at the difference between our kids and the stay at home kids she teaches. If you find a good daycare for your kids we can do wonders.
Reply
7-07-2010 @ 12:33AM
cillar2009 said...My name is Priscilla, and for me, it seems very uncommon. I personally only know 2 other Priscilla's (no, one is not Presley).
I actually really like my name, it sounds kind of old school and you just don't hear it very often! :)
Reply
7-07-2010 @ 12:39AM
Erika said...Why in the world do people keep naming their children the most popular names? Do they want their child to be Emily #6 in school? Jacob #11? Ugh! Or why is it everyone seems to name their child a name that ends in an "n" sound ad nauseum? Let's see...there is Aiden, Brayden, Cayden, Jayden, Peyton, Jeron, Jordan, Gavin, Ethan, Madison, Addison, and the list goes on and on and on...yuck!
Reply