The most popular baby name for newborn boys is no ordinary Joe, or John or Michael. As for baby girls, Mary might have been the name of choice more than 100 years ago, but not any longer.

Noah was the most popular name for newborn boys in 2016 for the fourth straight year. There were 19,015 Noahs born that year. Also for the fourth year in a row, the name Liam was the runner-up. Among newborn girls, Emma was the most popular name in 2016 for the third year in a row. That year, 19,414 Emmas entered the world as Emma outdistanced Olivia for the third straight year.

To find the most popular baby boy and girl names for the past 100 years, 24/7 Wall St reviewed data from the U.S. Social Security Administration about the most popular girl and boy names.

Click here to see most popular baby names for boys and girls.
Click here to see our detailed findings and methodology.

> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: John
> Female runners up: Helen, Dorothy, Margaret
> Male runners up: William, James, Robert
> Babies born in 1917: 2,944,000

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> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: John
> Female runners up: Helen, Dorothy, Margaret
> Male runners up: William, James, Robert
> Babies born in 1918: 2,948,000

> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: John
> Female runners up: Helen, Dorothy, Margaret
> Male runners up: William, James, Robert
> Babies born in 1919: 2,740,000

> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: John
> Female runners up: Dorothy, Helen, Margaret
> Male runners up: William, Robert, James
> Babies born in 1920: 2,950,000

> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: John
> Female runners up: Dorothy, Helen, Margaret
> Male runners up: Robert, William, James
> Babies born in 1921: 3,055,000

> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: John
> Female runners up: Dorothy, Helen, Margaret
> Male runners up: Robert, William, James
> Babies born in 1922: 2,882,000

> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: John
> Female runners up: Dorothy, Helen, Margaret
> Male runners up: Robert, William, James
> Babies born in 1923: 2,910,000

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> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Robert
> Female runners up: Dorothy, Helen, Betty
> Male runners up: John, William, James
> Babies born in 1924: 2,979,000

> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Robert
> Female runners up: Dorothy, Betty, Helen
> Male runners up: John, William, James
> Babies born in 1925: 2,909,000

> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Robert
> Female runners up: Dorothy, Betty, Helen
> Male runners up: John, James, William
> Babies born in 1926: 2,839,000

> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Robert
> Female runners up: Dorothy, Betty, Helen
> Male runners up: John, James, William
> Babies born in 1927: 2,802,000

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> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Robert
> Female runners up: Betty, Dorothy, Helen
> Male runners up: John, James, William
> Babies born in 1928: 2,674,000

> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Robert
> Female runners up: Betty, Dorothy, Helen
> Male runners up: James, John, William
> Babies born in 1929: 2,582,000

> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Robert
> Female runners up: Betty, Dorothy, Helen
> Male runners up: James, John, William
> Babies born in 1930: 2,618,000

> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Robert
> Female runners up: Betty, Dorothy, Barbara
> Male runners up: James, John, William
> Babies born in 1931: 2,506,000

> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Robert
> Female runners up: Betty, Barbara, Dorothy
> Male runners up: James, John, William
> Babies born in 1932: 2,440,000

> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Robert
> Female runners up: Betty, Barbara, Dorothy
> Male runners up: James, John, William
> Babies born in 1933: 2,307,000

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> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Robert
> Female runners up: Betty, Barbara, Shirley
> Male runners up: James, John, William
> Babies born in 1934: 2,396,000

> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Robert
> Female runners up: Shirley, Barbara, Betty
> Male runners up: James, John, William
> Babies born in 1935: 2,377,000

> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Robert
> Female runners up: Shirley, Barbara, Betty
> Male runners up: James, John, William
> Babies born in 1936: 2,355,000

> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Robert
> Female runners up: Barbara, Patricia, Shirley
> Male runners up: James, John, William
> Babies born in 1937: 2,413,000

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> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Robert
> Female runners up: Barbara, Patricia, Betty
> Male runners up: James, John, William
> Babies born in 1938: 2,496,000

> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Robert
> Female runners up: Barbara, Patricia, Betty
> Male runners up: James, John, William
> Babies born in 1939: 2,466,000

> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: James
> Female runners up: Barbara, Patricia, Judith
> Male runners up: Robert, John, William
> Babies born in 1940: 2,559,000

> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: James
> Female runners up: Barbara, Patricia, Carol
> Male runners up: Robert, John, William
> Babies born in 1941: 2,703,000

> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: James
> Female runners up: Barbara, Patricia, Linda
> Male runners up: Robert, John, William
> Babies born in 1942: 2,989,000

> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: James
> Female runners up: Barbara, Patricia, Linda
> Male runners up: Robert, John, William
> Babies born in 1943: 3,104,000

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> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: James
> Female runners up: Barbara, Linda, Patricia
> Male runners up: Robert, John, William
> Babies born in 1944: 2,939,000

> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: James
> Female runners up: Linda, Barbara, Patricia
> Male runners up: Robert, John, William
> Babies born in 1945: 2,858,000

> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: James
> Female runners up: Linda, Patricia, Barbara
> Male runners up: Robert, John, William
> Babies born in 1946: 3,411,000

> Most popular female baby name: Linda
> Most popular male baby name: James
> Female runners up: Mary, Patricia, Barbara
> Male runners up: Robert, John, William
> Babies born in 1947: 3,817,000

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> Most popular female baby name: Linda
> Most popular male baby name: James
> Female runners up: Mary, Barbara, Patricia
> Male runners up: Robert, John, William
> Babies born in 1948: 3,637,000

> Most popular female baby name: Linda
> Most popular male baby name: James
> Female runners up: Mary, Patricia, Barbara
> Male runners up: Robert, John, William
> Babies born in 1949: 3,649,000

> Most popular female baby name: Linda
> Most popular male baby name: James
> Female runners up: Mary, Patricia, Barbara
> Male runners up: Robert, John, Michael
> Babies born in 1950: 3,632,000

> Most popular female baby name: Linda
> Most popular male baby name: James
> Female runners up: Mary, Patricia, Deborah
> Male runners up: Robert, John, Michael
> Babies born in 1951: 3,820,000

> Most popular female baby name: Linda
> Most popular male baby name: James
> Female runners up: Mary, Patricia, Deborah
> Male runners up: Robert, John, Michael
> Babies born in 1952: 3,909,000

> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Robert
> Female runners up: Linda, Deborah, Patricia
> Male runners up: James, Michael, John
> Babies born in 1953: 3,959,000

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> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Linda, Deborah, Patricia
> Male runners up: James, Robert, John
> Babies born in 1954: 4,071,000

> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Deborah, Linda, Debra
> Male runners up: David, James, Robert
> Babies born in 1955: 4,097,000

> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Debra, Linda, Deborah
> Male runners up: James, Robert, David
> Babies born in 1956: 4,210,000

> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Susan, Linda, Debra
> Male runners up: James, David, Robert
> Babies born in 1957: 4,300,000

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> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Susan, Linda, Karen
> Male runners up: David, James, Robert
> Babies born in 1958: 4,246,000

> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Susan, Linda, Karen
> Male runners up: David, James, John
> Babies born in 1959: 4,286,000

> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: David
> Female runners up: Susan, Linda, Karen
> Male runners up: Michael, James, John
> Babies born in 1960: 4,257,850

> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Lisa, Susan, Linda
> Male runners up: David, John, James
> Babies born in 1961: 4,268,326

> Most popular female baby name: Lisa
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Mary, Susan, Karen
> Male runners up: David, John, James
> Babies born in 1962: 4,167,362

> Most popular female baby name: Lisa
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Mary, Susan, Karen
> Male runners up: John, David, James
> Babies born in 1963: 4,098,020

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> Most popular female baby name: Lisa
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Mary, Susan, Karen
> Male runners up: John, David, James
> Babies born in 1964: 4,027,490

> Most popular female baby name: Lisa
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Mary, Karen, Kimberly
> Male runners up: John, David, James
> Babies born in 1965: 3,760,358

> Most popular female baby name: Lisa
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Kimberly, Mary, Michelle
> Male runners up: David, James, John
> Babies born in 1966: 3,606,274

> Most popular female baby name: Lisa
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Kimberly, Michelle, Mary
> Male runners up: David, James, John
> Babies born in 1967: 3,520,959

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> Most popular female baby name: Lisa
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Michelle, Kimberly, Jennifer
> Male runners up: David, John, James
> Babies born in 1968: 3,501,564

> Most popular female baby name: Lisa
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Michelle, Jennifer, Kimberly
> Male runners up: David, James, John
> Babies born in 1969: 3,600,206

> Most popular female baby name: Jennifer
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Lisa, Kimberly, Michelle
> Male runners up: James, David, John
> Babies born in 1970: 3,731,386

> Most popular female baby name: Jennifer
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Michelle, Lisa, Kimberly
> Male runners up: James, David, John
> Babies born in 1971: 3,555,970

> Most popular female baby name: Jennifer
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Michelle, Lisa, Kimberly
> Male runners up: Christopher, James, David
> Babies born in 1972: 3,258,411

> Most popular female baby name: Jennifer
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Amy, Michelle, Kimberly
> Male runners up: Christopher, Jason, James
> Babies born in 1973: 3,136,965

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> Most popular female baby name: Jennifer
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Amy, Michelle, Heather
> Male runners up: Jason, Christopher, David
> Babies born in 1974: 3,159,958

> Most popular female baby name: Jennifer
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Amy, Heather, Melissa
> Male runners up: Jason, Christopher, James
> Babies born in 1975: 3,144,198

> Most popular female baby name: Jennifer
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Amy, Melissa, Heather
> Male runners up: Jason, Christopher, David
> Babies born in 1976: 3,167,788

> Most popular female baby name: Jennifer
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Melissa, Amy, Jessica
> Male runners up: Jason, Christopher, David
> Babies born in 1977: 3,326,632

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> Most popular female baby name: Jennifer
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Melissa, Jessica, Amy
> Male runners up: Jason, Christopher, David
> Babies born in 1978: 3,333,279

> Most popular female baby name: Jennifer
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Melissa, Amanda, Jessica
> Male runners up: Christopher, Jason, David
> Babies born in 1979: 3,494,398

> Most popular female baby name: Jennifer
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Amanda, Jessica, Melissa
> Male runners up: Christopher, Jason, David
> Babies born in 1980: 3,612,258

> Most popular female baby name: Jennifer
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Jessica, Amanda, Sarah
> Male runners up: Christopher, Matthew, Jason
> Babies born in 1981: 3,629,238

> Most popular female baby name: Jennifer
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Jessica, Amanda, Sarah
> Male runners up: Christopher, Matthew, Jason
> Babies born in 1982: 3,680,537

> Most popular female baby name: Jennifer
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Jessica, Amanda, Ashley
> Male runners up: Christopher, Matthew, David
> Babies born in 1983: 3,638,933

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> Most popular female baby name: Jennifer
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Jessica, Ashley, Amanda
> Male runners up: Christopher, Matthew, Joshua
> Babies born in 1984: 3,669,141

> Most popular female baby name: Jessica
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Ashley, Jennifer, Amanda
> Male runners up: Christopher, Matthew, Joshua
> Babies born in 1985: 3,760,561

> Most popular female baby name: Jessica
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Ashley, Amanda, Jennifer
> Male runners up: Christopher, Matthew, Joshua
> Babies born in 1986: 3,756,547

> Most popular female baby name: Jessica
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Ashley, Amanda, Jennifer
> Male runners up: Christopher, Matthew, Joshua
> Babies born in 1987: 3,809,394

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> Most popular female baby name: Jessica
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Ashley, Amanda, Sarah
> Male runners up: Christopher, Matthew, Joshua
> Babies born in 1988: 3,909,510

> Most popular female baby name: Jessica
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Ashley, Brittany, Amanda
> Male runners up: Christopher, Matthew, Joshua
> Babies born in 1989: 4,040,958

> Most popular female baby name: Jessica
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Ashley, Brittany, Amanda
> Male runners up: Christopher, Matthew, Joshua
> Babies born in 1990: 4,158,212

> Most popular female baby name: Ashley
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Jessica, Brittany, Amanda
> Male runners up: Christopher, Matthew, Joshua
> Babies born in 1991: 4,110,907

> Most popular female baby name: Ashley
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Jessica, Amanda, Brittany
> Male runners up: Christopher, Matthew, Joshua
> Babies born in 1992: 4,065,014

> Most popular female baby name: Jessica
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Ashley, Sarah, Samantha
> Male runners up: Christopher, Matthew, Joshua
> Babies born in 1993: 4,000,240

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> Most popular female baby name: Jessica
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Ashley, Emily, Samantha
> Male runners up: Christopher, Matthew, Joshua
> Babies born in 1994: 3,952,767

> Most popular female baby name: Jessica
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Ashley, Emily, Samantha
> Male runners up: Matthew, Christopher, Jacob
> Babies born in 1995: 3,899,589

> Most popular female baby name: Emily
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Jessica, Ashley, Sarah
> Male runners up: Matthew, Jacob, Christopher
> Babies born in 1996: 3,891,494

> Most popular female baby name: Emily
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Jessica, Ashley, Sarah
> Male runners up: Jacob, Matthew, Christopher
> Babies born in 1997: 3,880,894

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> Most popular female baby name: Emily
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Hannah, Samantha, Ashley
> Male runners up: Jacob, Matthew, Joshua
> Babies born in 1998: 3,941,553

> Most popular female baby name: Emily
> Most popular male baby name: Jacob
> Female runners up: Hannah, Alexis, Sarah
> Male runners up: Michael, Matthew, Joshua
> Babies born in 1999: 3,959,417

> Most popular female baby name: Emily
> Most popular male baby name: Jacob
> Female runners up: Hannah, Madison, Ashley
> Male runners up: Michael, Matthew, Joshua
> Babies born in 2000: 4,058,814

> Most popular female baby name: Emily
> Most popular male baby name: Jacob
> Female runners up: Madison, Hannah, Ashley
> Male runners up: Michael, Matthew, Joshua
> Babies born in 2001: 4,025,933

> Most popular female baby name: Emily
> Most popular male baby name: Jacob
> Female runners up: Madison, Hannah, Emma
> Male runners up: Michael, Joshua, Matthew
> Babies born in 2002: 4,021,726

> Most popular female baby name: Emily
> Most popular male baby name: Jacob
> Female runners up: Emma, Madison, Hannah
> Male runners up: Michael, Joshua, Matthew
> Babies born in 2003: 4,089,950

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> Most popular female baby name: Emily
> Most popular male baby name: Jacob
> Female runners up: Emma, Madison, Olivia
> Male runners up: Michael, Joshua, Matthew
> Babies born in 2004: 4,112,052

> Most popular female baby name: Emily
> Most popular male baby name: Jacob
> Female runners up: Emma, Madison, Abigail
> Male runners up: Michael, Joshua, Matthew
> Babies born in 2005: 4,138,349

> Most popular female baby name: Emily
> Most popular male baby name: Jacob
> Female runners up: Emma, Madison, Isabella
> Male runners up: Michael, Joshua, Ethan
> Babies born in 2006: 4,265,555

> Most popular female baby name: Emily
> Most popular male baby name: Jacob
> Female runners up: Isabella, Emma, Ava
> Male runners up: Michael, Ethan, Joshua
> Babies born in 2007: 4,316,233

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> Most popular female baby name: Emma
> Most popular male baby name: Jacob
> Female runners up: Isabella, Emily, Olivia
> Male runners up: Michael, Ethan, Joshua
> Babies born in 2008: 4,247,694

> Most popular female baby name: Isabella
> Most popular male baby name: Jacob
> Female runners up: Emma, Olivia, Sophia
> Male runners up: Ethan, Michael, Alexander
> Babies born in 2009: 4,130,665

> Most popular female baby name: Isabella
> Most popular male baby name: Jacob
> Female runners up: Sophia, Emma, Olivia
> Male runners up: Ethan, Michael, Jayden
> Babies born in 2010: 3,999,386

> Most popular female baby name: Sophia
> Most popular male baby name: Jacob
> Female runners up: Isabella, Emma, Olivia
> Male runners up: Mason, William, Jayden
> Babies born in 2011: 3,953,590

> Most popular female baby name: Sophia
> Most popular male baby name: Jacob
> Female runners up: Emma, Isabella, Olivia
> Male runners up: Mason, Ethan, Noah
> Babies born in 2012: 3,952,841

> Most popular female baby name: Sophia
> Most popular male baby name: Noah
> Female runners up: Emma, Olivia, Isabella
> Male runners up: Liam, Jacob, Mason
> Babies born in 2013: 3,932,181

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> Most popular female baby name: Emma
> Most popular male baby name: Noah
> Female runners up: Olivia, Sophia, Isabella
> Male runners up: Liam, Mason, Jacob
> Babies born in 2014: 3,988,076

> Most popular female baby name: Emma
> Most popular male baby name: Noah
> Female runners up: Olivia, Sophia, Ava
> Male runners up: Liam, Mason, Jacob
> Babies born in 2015: 3,978,497

Most popular female baby name: Emma
> Most popular male baby name: Noah
> Female runners up: Olivia, Ava, Sophia
> Male runners up: Liam, William, Mason
> Babies born in 2016: 3,941,109

Detailed Findings & Methodology

The popularity of Noah and Emma in 2016 continues a trend of more than several years. But what were the popular trends before that? Which names were parents preferred most in the 1980s or the 1950s?

For the 100-year period ending in 2016, the two most popular names for babies in the United States have been Michael and Mary.

From 1954 through 1998, Michael was the most popular name for a boy every year except for 1960. Jacob wrested the name crown from Michael in 1999 and held it until 2013, when Noah became the preferred choice for newborn boys.

Mary was the girls name champion from 1917 to 1946, before relinquishing the crown to Linda in 1947. Mary regained the top spot in 1953 and held that distinction until 1962. The dominance of Mary 100 years ago was a holdover from the popularity of the name in the 19th century. Nearly 6% of all baby girls born during the 1880s and 1890s were named Mary, making it the most popular female name in the late 19th century.

For both Michael and Mary, there was broad consensus among parents on what to name their child. In the case of Michael, more than 92,000 babies were so named in 1957. As for Mary, the high-water mark year for that name was in 1921, when 73,983 baby girls received that name. When Linda unseated Mary in 1947, 99,685 girls were named Linda, the most of any baby regardless of sex ever in the United States.

Starting from the mid-1980s there has been a greater variety of names as parents have been seeking inspiration for their children’s names from sources such as the Bible, popular culture, sports, and Eastern religions.

To identify the most popular baby names for each year, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the U.S. Social Security Administration about the most popular girl and boy names in the U.S. annually. The names are separated by year and sex. The list was most recently updated with the most popular baby names for 2016. From 1916 to 1959, the number of total births were adjusted to account for under-registration of newborns.

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