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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 4 of 5)
7-07-2010 @ 1:10AM
Mussoc23 said...The majority of the names that are so popular are names used by the caucasion race. I like unique names.
Reply
7-07-2010 @ 1:26AM
pat said...my grand daughter is the only one in the world with this name GIOLYNA
Reply
7-07-2010 @ 1:34AM
janicebanyon said...Well my name did not appear in any of the years listed, but I think it is a swell name.
Janice
Reply
7-07-2010 @ 1:35AM
laurie said...I was born in '59 and my name isn't on there.I've known alot of girls with my name,but all were spelled Lori.My mom is Shirley,born in '35.She said she was named after Shirley Temple,and that name is on there for a few yrs.My neice is 21 and named Emily.I think that name is pretty.My son is Zachary.I thought I had picked a non popular name at the time.He was born in '94 and it isn't on the list at all.I was very surprised that he has so many kids with the same name in his classes each yr.
Reply
7-07-2010 @ 2:05AM
Emily said...im an emily! i swear everyone has my name! i cant stand it lol
Reply
7-07-2010 @ 2:05AM
ivy said...ive only met one "ivy" in my life...had to go through school being called poison ivy..and being a red head didnt help...but now im proud of my name.
Reply
7-07-2010 @ 2:26AM
HN said...I was named Harry which was odd for the child of Puerto Rican immigrants. Yet Harry Truman was President. It was either Harry or Carmelo Jr. Until basketball star Carmelo Anthony became well known my Dad's name was rare. Carmelo Anthony's mom is also Puerto Rican. For many years people would hear me say my name and ask if I said Larry, Barry, Terry etc. I would always counter "Harry, like Truman." Thus they would know. Presently few, if any, young people have heard of former President Harry Truman. Thus I reply "Harry.....like Potter."
Reply
7-07-2010 @ 2:31AM
Kate said...My name is Kate. I have only met one other person whos given birth name is Kate. It is orignal, unique, classy, sweet, cute, strong by itself, and just plain.....Kate.
For boys i love the name Kaden, Landen, Leland, Kolin (colin), Brody.
For girls i love the name Lorelei, Khloe, Kourtney, Chelsea, Angelina, and Lindsey.
Reply
7-07-2010 @ 2:41AM
Barbara (Barb) S said...Interesting that Barbara was common in the 30's through the 50's and I was born late 60's ... but ... I was named after my Mom's best friend. Guess that explains it. I just haven't run into many Barbara's anywhere near my age and none younger than myself, ever. ~*Barb*~
Reply
7-07-2010 @ 2:44AM
LuckeeK7 said...It's too bad that they only showed the top 5 names. Because what we didn't see here is how timeless the name Elizabeth is. It's the only name I can think off that has been near the top as long almost as long as history has been recorded.
I might use it if I have a daughter, but I plan to spelling it Elysabeth. And don't get bent out of shape about the spelling because we Americans changed the spelling of words like favourite to favorite.
Reply
7-07-2010 @ 3:01AM
heather said...i have a jacob and a lily and i chose them because i liked them not after relatives or off baby lists!!! my name was uncommon when i was born (1960's) never knew another one till i was in highschool!!!
Reply
7-11-2010 @ 10:14AM
TexasGal said...Funny - I have a nephew and neice and they are Jacob and Lily. I always think it is funny when you have a couple of kids (siblings) and someone else named their set of kids with the same combination of names!
7-07-2010 @ 6:52PM
Christine said...I find it surprising that all the names seem to be white people names.
Reply
7-07-2010 @ 4:20AM
tina said...Im glad I named my children names that are not popular i hate when people name their kids all the same cause when going to school there maybe 3 or 4 kids in their class with the same name
Reply
7-07-2010 @ 4:25AM
tina said...my daughter is named Tierney and have heard few with that name
Reply
7-07-2010 @ 4:28AM
KLS8800 said...There are some very lovely untraditional names (but are beginning to be overdone) such as Nevaeh (Heaven spelled backwards). However, just remember in being unique (and I did know someone actually NAMED Unique...and Nine--yes, really--) these kids are going to have to LIVE with these names, and kids can be cruel.
I named my kids traditional and family heir names. Thomas, Victoria and Amber. However, I did have a few not so traditional names in the wings:
Autumn Rose Deseret (for the baby we lost) amd Ayannah Autumn Grace (if Thomas had been a girl--in memory of our one that we lost)
When I was a kid I got into astronomy. Good thing I did not let the names I had for my dolls then get to my actual babies now...lol Andromeda Midnight....then someone told me about a movie called the Andromeda Strain...oops. I still like the name, though. Oh and the other one I had at the time...Cassieopia Starlight. Except I could never pronounce it. I was about nine at the time. I still like the way it sounds, though.
I think that before some people name their kids, they should be made to think it over for 24 hours, say it aloud. Mabye if Nine's mother had done so, she wouldn't have named her kid something different.
Reply
7-07-2010 @ 4:46AM
kerryon said...Lately names seem to be cutesy, Parents trying to be different. I have meet a boat load of Austins, Parkers, Brandon (and all the variations). I have meet so many Madisons of both sexes. I wonder what the next "original " names will be.
Remember the year of the original Hayley (Hayley's comet).
My son was the year of Mathew. In his class, there was Mathew C., Mathew D., Mathew E, and I have forgotten the fouth Mathew's initial and every other girl seemed to be Jennifer or Jessica.
Reply
7-07-2010 @ 9:04AM
daisy Dianne said...Well, how many people have the name Daisy and middle name Dianne spelled with 2 n's, I used to hate Daisy but now I love it, People say it is very unique
So I am Daisy Dianne and some call me dee dee
Reply
7-08-2010 @ 9:00AM
Katie said...Let me add these names
Girls: Kasey, Reba
Boys: Jase, Jaxon, Blake
Reply
7-08-2010 @ 10:09AM
Staci said...Kim you said @ 1:19AM
"I am soooo offended that even a name survey can be and IS racially bias!!!! I know at least a million Kayla's,Monique's,Monica's,Keisha's etc. etc. etc..... Where are they getting their information?!!!"
If you read the article, it says the info is coming from the Social Security Administration. It's not racially biased, it's just a fact that "black" names are not amongst the top five for any year. You should check out Freakonomics for more on this subject.
Reply