Special Report

The Most Popular Names in America Since 1880

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Have you ever wondered why your parents picked your name and why you are not, say, Lucifer?

Names that may have once been considered edgy or unusual have been dropping in popularity lately. For example, Riaan, Kulo and Kolby have fallen out of favor for boys, making room for Wells, Kairo and Caspian, which have seen the largest increases in popularity between 2016 and 2017.

Traditional names, such as Elizabeth and John, have also dropped in popularity, but remain in the top 20 of all time. On the other hand, some names that were popular for decades have not made a revival. Dorothy, for example, hasn’t been in the top 3 since 1934.

Deciding on a child’s name is usually a negotiation process, often ending in a compromise. Cultural influences clash with personal preferences and the results can range from familiar to funky.

The Social Security Administration has tracked since the turn of the 20th Century 67,046 different female and 40,927 different male names in the United States — each with its own meaning and history behind it.

To identify the most popular names in America, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the Social Security Administration (SSA) for the period from 1880 through March 2018. SSA tracks every name with at least five occurrences. All names are from Social Security card applications for births that occurred in the country after 1879. We calculated the share of each name for boys and girls born in each year since then. The popularity rank is based on the average frequency of each name over that time period. The total number of people given the name and the year of peak popularity also came from the SSA.

Click here to see the most popular boy names in America since 1880.
Click here to see the most popular girl names in America since 1880.

Most Popular Boy Names Since 1880

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25. Arthur
> Avg. share of babies named Arthur since 1880: 0.6%
> Most popular decade: 1880 (1.5%)
> Total no. of babies named Arthur since 1880: 527,281

It’s not clear where exactly the name comes from, but one theory is that it is a combination of the Celtic words for bear (“argos”), man (“viros”), and king (“rigos”). It may also be derived from the Roman family name Artorius.

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24. Harry
> Avg. share of babies named Harry since 1880: 0.6%
> Most popular decade: 1880 (2.1%)
> Total no. of babies named Harry since 1880: 420,908

Harry is the Medieval English form of Henry. Nowadays it is used as a diminutive form of both Henry and Harold.

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23. Kenneth
> Avg. share of babies named Kenneth since 1880: 0.6%
> Most popular decade: 1940 (1.3%)
> Total no. of babies named Kenneth since 1880: 1,272,659

Kenneth is the Anglicized form of the Gaelic words “cinaed” and “cionaed,” which mean born of fire and handsome. The name has been well-known in Scotland since the reign of the 9th century Scottish king Kenneth mac Alpin.

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22. Andrew
> Avg. share of babies named Andrew since 1880: 0.6%
> Most popular decade: 1980 (1.5%)
> Total no. of babies named Andrew since 1880: 1,283,910

Andrew is the English form of the Greek name Andreas, which comes from “andreios,” meaning manly, masculine. This name became very popular in the Middle Ages. Saint Andrew is regarded as the patron saint of Scotland, Russia, Greece and Romania.

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21. Matthew
> Avg. share of babies named Matthew since 1880: 0.6%
> Most popular decade: 1980 (2.5%)
> Total no. of babies named Matthew since 1880: 1,590,440

Matthew is the English form of Matthaios, the Greek form of the Hebrew name Mattityahu. It means “gift of Yahweh,” referring to the Hebrew God. The English have been using the name since the Middle Ages.

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20. Anthony
> Avg. share of babies named Anthony since 1880: 0.7%
> Most popular decade: 1980 (1.1%)
> Total no. of babies named Anthony since 1880: 1,432,718

This is the English version of the Roman last name Antonius, which has an Etruscan origin. The name gained popularity in the Christian world because of Saint Anthony the Great, who founded monasticism. Anthony has also been wrongly associated with the Greek word “anthos” for flower.

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19. Walter
> Avg. share of babies named Walter since 1880: 0.7%
> Most popular decade: 1890 (1.7%)
> Total no. of babies named Walter since 1880: 620,767

Walter comes from a Germanic name meaning “ruler of the army.” It is the combination of “wald” (rule) and “hari” (army). The Normans brought it to England, replacing Wealdhere.

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18. Henry
> Avg. share of babies named Henry since 1880: 0.8%
> Most popular decade: 1880 (2.2%)
> Total no. of babies named Henry since 1880: 679,050

Henry is the English name for the French Henri, which comes from the German Heinrich. The name is ultimately derived from the Old High German “haganrih,” meaning ruler of an enclosure. The name was introduced by the Normans in England.

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17. Donald
> Avg. share of babies named Donald since 1880: 0.8%
> Most popular decade: 1930 (2.7%)
> Total no. of babies named Donald since 1880: 1,410,998

Donald comes from the Gaelic name Domhnall, meaning “ruler of the world.” It is composed of the old Celtic elements “dumno” for world and “val” for rule. It was a very popular name in Scotland, before spreading to other nearby English-speaking countries.

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16. Christopher
> Avg. share of babies named Christopher since 1880: 0.8%
> Most popular decade: 1980 (3.0%)
> Total no. of babies named Christopher since 1880: 2,022,164

The name is derived from the Greek name Christophoros, which means “bearing Christ.” It is a combination of “Christos” and “phero,” meaning to bear or carry.

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15. Paul
> Avg. share of babies named Paul since 1880: 0.8%
> Most popular decade: 1960 (1.3%)
> Total no. of babies named Paul since 1880: 1,386,815

The name is derived from the Roman family name Paulus, which means small or humble in Latin.

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14. Daniel
> Avg. share of babies named Daniel since 1880: 0.9%
> Most popular decade: 1980 (1.9%)
> Total no. of babies named Daniel since 1880: 1,907,357

Daniel is a form of the Hebrew “dāni’ēl,” which means “God is my judge.”

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13. Frank
> Avg. share of babies named Frank since 1880: 1.0%
> Most popular decade: 1880 (2.8%)
> Total no. of babies named Frank since 1880: 910,332

Frank comes from the Old French Franc and the Germanic Frank, referring to a person of the Germanic tribes that founded the Frankish Empire, which included what is now France, Germany, and Italy. Frank is used as a version of Francis, meaning a Frenchman, a freeman, and Franklin, meaning a freeman.

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12. Edward
> Avg. share of babies named Edward since 1880: 1.1%
> Most popular decade: 1880 (2.1%)
> Total no. of babies named Edward since 1880: 1,288,725

Edward means “rich guard.” The name comes from the Old English elements “ead” for wealth or fortune and “weard” for guard. Edward is one of the few Old English names used throughout Europe, even though the spelling varies.

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11. Richard
> Avg. share of babies named Richard since 1880: 1.4%
> Most popular decade: 1940 (3.2%)
> Total no. of babies named Richard since 1880: 2,563,082

Richard means “brave power.” The names comes from the Germanic elements “ric” (power, rule) and “hard” (brave, hardy). It was introduced in England by the Normans. Richard is the name of three English monarchs.

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10. Thomas
> Avg. share of babies named Thomas since 1880: 1.5%
> Most popular decade: 1940 (2.4%)
> Total no. of babies named Thomas since 1880: 2,304,948

Thomas is the Greek form of the Aramaic name Ta’oma’, meaning twin.

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9. George
> Avg. share of babies named George since 1880: 1.6%
> Most popular decade: 1880 (4.4%)
> Total no. of babies named George since 1880: 1,464,186

George is the English version of the Greek name Georgios which originates from the Greek word “georgos,” meaning farmer.

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8. David
> Avg. share of babies named David since 1880: 1.7%
> Most popular decade: 1960 (3.8%)
> Total no. of babies named David since 1880: 3,611,329

David is a version of the Hebrew name Dawid, which comes from “dod,” meaning beloved or uncle.

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7. Joseph
> Avg. share of babies named Joseph since 1880: 1.8%
> Most popular decade: 1910 (2.7%)
> Total no. of babies named Joseph since 1880: 2,603,445

Joseph comes from the Hebrew “yōsēf,” meaning “may He add” or “God shall add.”

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6. Michael
> Avg. share of babies named Michael since 1880: 1.8%
> Most popular decade: 1960 (4.3%)
> Total no. of babies named Michael since 1880: 4,350,824

Michael comes from the Hebrew name Mikha’el, which mean “who is like God?,” implying that no one is like God.

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5. Charles
> Avg. share of babies named Charles since 1880: 1.9%
> Most popular decade: 1880 (4.3%)
> Total no. of babies named Charles since 1880: 2,386,048

Charles is the English version of the Germanic name Karl, which comes from a word meaning man. Another possible origin is that Charles is derived from the common Germanic name element “hari,” which means army or warrior.

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4. Robert
> Avg. share of babies named Robert since 1880: 2.9%
> Most popular decade: 1930 (5.6%)
> Total no. of babies named Robert since 1880: 4,814,815

Robert is a version of the Germanic name Hrodebert, meaning “bright fame.” It comes from “hrod” (fame) and “beraht” (bright). In Britain, Robert replaced the Old English name of Hreodbeorht.

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3. William
> Avg. share of babies named William since 1880: 3.4%
> Most popular decade: 1880 (7.7%)
> Total no. of babies named William since 1880: 4,102,604

This is a version of the Germanic name Willahelm, which combines “wil” (will, desire) and “helm” (helmet, protection).

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2. James
> Avg. share of babies named James since 1880: 3.5%
> Most popular decade: 1940 (5.3%)
> Total no. of babies named James since 1880: 5,150,472

James is derived from the Latin name Iacomus which comes from Iakobos, which is the New Testament Greek form of the Hebrew name Ya’aqov (or Jacob). The name was most common in Scotland until the 17th century, when the Scottish king James VI inherited the English throne, popularizing the name even more.

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1. John
> Avg. share of babies named John since 1880: 4.1%
> Most popular decade: 1880 (8.2%)
> Total no. of babies named John since 1880: 5,115,466

John is derived from the Latin Johannes, which comes from the Greek Iōannes, which itself is derived from the Hebrew Yehanan, a short version of Yehohanan, meaning “Yahweh is gracious.” The name originally owes its popularity to two characters from the Bible — John the Baptist and the apostle John.

The Most Popular Girl Names in America Since 1880

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25. Rose
> Avg. share of babies named Rose since 1880: 0.4%
> Most popular decade: 1900 (1.0%)
> Total no. of babies named Rose since 1880: 481,286

Rose is a variation of a Germanic name, which was the combination of “hrod,” which means fame, and “heid,” which means kind, sort, type. The Normans introduced Rose to England as Roese and Rohese. However, when the name became popular in the 19th century, people were probably thinking of the flower.

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24. Grace
> Avg. share of babies named Grace since 1880: 0.5%
> Most popular decade: 1880 (1.2%)
> Total no. of babies named Grace since 1880: 490,185

The name comes from the English pronunciation of the Latin “gratia,” which means favor or thanks. Grace was one of the virtue names favored by the Puritans in the 17th century.

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23. Florence
> Avg. share of babies named Florence since 1880: 0.5%
> Most popular decade: 1890 (1.5%)
> Total no. of babies named Florence since 1880: 335,187

Florence comes from the Latin name Florentius for a man or Florentia for a woman. The names were originally derived from the word “florens,” which means prosperous or flourishing. Florence can also, of course, be a reference to the famous city in Italy.

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22. Catherine
> Avg. share of babies named Catherine since 1880: 0.5%
> Most popular decade: 1910 (0.8%)
> Total no. of babies named Catherine since 1880: 658,856

This is the English version of the of the Greek name Aikaterinē, which is derived from “katharos,” meaning pure, and unsullied.

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21. Martha
> Avg. share of babies named Martha since 1880: 0.5%
> Most popular decade: 1880 (1.1%)
> Total no. of babies named Martha since 1880: 548,387

Martha is derived from the Aramaic “mārthā,” meaning lady or mistress. Martha is also the feminine form of “mar” meaning master.

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20. Marie
> Avg. share of babies named Marie since 1880: 0.5%
> Most popular decade: 1900 (1.3%)
> Total no. of babies named Marie since 1880: 536,143

Marie is the French version of Mary. It comes from the Hebrew Miryām, the meaning of which is unclear. Some say it is “sea of bitterness or sorrow,” while others believe it means “rebellion,” “wished-for child,” and “mistress or lady of the sea.”

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19. Susan
> Avg. share of babies named Susan since 1880: 0.5%
> Most popular decade: 1950 (2.3%)
> Total no. of babies named Susan since 1880: 1,121,440

Susan is the English form of Susannah. It is derived from the Hebrew Soshana, a version of “shōshannāh,” meaning a lily or a rose.

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18. Frances
> Avg. share of babies named Frances since 1880: 0.5%
> Most popular decade: 1910 (1.3%)
> Total no. of babies named Frances since 1880: 589,342

Frances if the female name for Francis. There was no difference until the 17th century. Frances can also be a form of Franceis, the name for a frank, or someone from the Frankish Empire.

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17. Laura
> Avg. share of babies named Laura since 1880: 0.5%
> Most popular decade: 1880 (1.0%)
> Total no. of babies named Laura since 1880: 794,653

Laura comes from the Latin “laurus,” an evergreen shrub or tree whose leaves were woven into wreaths by the ancient Greeks to crown winners of competitions.

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16. Nancy
> Avg. share of babies named Nancy since 1880: 0.5%
> Most popular decade: 1940 (1.7%)
> Total no. of babies named Nancy since 1880: 1,002,010

The origins of Nancy can be traced to a pet form of Nan, which was originally a version of Ann, meaning gracious or full of grace.

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15. Alice
> Avg. share of babies named Alice since 1880: 0.6%
> Most popular decade: 1880 (1.3%)
> Total no. of babies named Alice since 1880: 560,070

Alice comes from the Old French name Aalis, a short form of Adelais, which itself is short for the Germanic name Adalheidis. Alice became popular in France and England in the 12th century.

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14. Emma
> Avg. share of babies named Emma since 1880: 0.6%
> Most popular decade: 1880 (1.9%)
> Total no. of babies named Emma since 1880: 654,013

Emma is a short form of the Germanic names that began with “ermen,” meaning whole or universal. It was introduced to England by Emma of Normandy, and became a popular name in England after the Norman conquest.

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13. Betty
> Avg. share of babies named Betty since 1880: 0.6%
> Most popular decade: 1930 (2.8%)
> Total no. of babies named Betty since 1880: 999,474

Betty is a nickname or short form of Elizabeth, which means “God is my oath.”

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12. Linda
> Avg. share of babies named Linda since 1880: 0.6%
> Most popular decade: 1940 (3.7%)
> Total no. of babies named Linda since 1880: 1,452,249

Linda comes from the Spanish “linda,” which means beautiful and pretty. It is also a short form of Germanic complex names that start with “lind,” meaning tender, soft, or weak.

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11. Jennifer
> Avg. share of babies named Jennifer since 1880: 0.6%
> Most popular decade: 1970 (3.8%)
> Total no. of babies named Jennifer since 1880: 1,466,281

Jennifer is a derivation of Guinevere, which is from the Welsh “gwenhwyfar,” meaning “fair lady.” Until the 20th century, Jennifer was largely a regional name. It is now among the most popular names in the English-speaking world.

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10. Sarah
> Avg. share of babies named Sarah since 1880: 0.7%
> Most popular decade: 1980 (1.6%)
> Total no. of babies named Sarah since 1880: 1,073,895

Sarah comes from the Hebrew “sārāh,” which mean princess, lady, or noblewoman. In England, the name became more popular in the 16th century.

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9. Ruth
> Avg. share of babies named Ruth since 1880: 0.7%
> Most popular decade: 1910 (2.1%)
> Total no. of babies named Ruth since 1880: 823,577

The origin of Ruth is not clear. The most popular theory is that the name was derived from the Hebrew “rÅ«th,” a possible shorter version of “rē’Å«th,” meaning companion and friend.

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8. Patricia
> Avg. share of babies named Patricia since 1880: 0.8%
> Most popular decade: 1940 (2.8%)
> Total no. of babies named Patricia since 1880: 1,571,692

This is the female version of Patricius or Patrick. The word appears in Latin documents in medieval England, but it probably wasn’t used as an actual name until the 18th century in Scotland.

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7. Barbara
> Avg. share of babies named Barbara since 1880: 0.8%
> Most popular decade: 1940 (2.9%)
> Total no. of babies named Barbara since 1880: 1,434,060

Barbara is the English form of the Greek word “barbaros,” which means foreign. The name became popular during the Middle Ages, but significantly dropped in popularity in England during the Protestant Reformation. It was revived in the 19th century.

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6. Dorothy
> Avg. share of babies named Dorothy since 1880: 0.8%
> Most popular decade: 1920 (3.1%)
> Total no. of babies named Dorothy since 1880: 1,107,096

Dorothy is a form of the Greek Dōrothea, which itself is a combination of “dōron,” meaning gift, and “theos,” meaning God. So Dorothy means “gift of God.”

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5. Anna
> Avg. share of babies named Anna since 1880: 0.9%
> Most popular decade: 1880 (2.9%)
> Total no. of babies named Anna since 1880: 888,505

Anna is a Latinate form of the French Anne, which is similar of the Hebrew Hannah, meaning gracious or full of grace.

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4. Helen
> Avg. share of babies named Helen since 1880: 0.9%
> Most popular decade: 1910 (3.0%)
> Total no. of babies named Helen since 1880: 1,018,290

Helen is the English form of the Greek “helene,” meaning torch. The name may also be related to the Greek word “selene,” meaning moon.

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3. Margaret
> Avg. share of babies named Margaret since 1880: 1.0%
> Most popular decade: 1910 (2.3%)
> Total no. of babies named Margaret since 1880: 1,246,649

Margaret comes from the Greek MargarÄ«tēs, which itself is derived from “maragon,” meaning a pearl.

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2. Elizabeth
> Avg. share of babies named Elizabeth since 1880: 1.1%
> Most popular decade: 1880 (1.9%)
> Total no. of babies named Elizabeth since 1880: 1,629,679

Elizabeth is originally from the Hebrew “elÄ«sheba’,” meaning “God is my oath.” The name was a lot more popular in Eastern Europe than the rest of the world until the reign of Queen Elizabeth I in the 16th century.

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1. Mary
> Avg. share of babies named Mary since 1880: 3.4%
> Most popular decade: 1880 (7.0%)
> Total no. of babies named Mary since 1880: 4,123,200

Mary is the English from of Maria, which is the Latin name of the Greek Mariam and Maria, both of which are derived from the Hebrew Miryam. What the name means exactly is unclear. One theory is “sea of bitterness,” “rebelliousness,” and “wished for child.” According to another theory, Mary has an Egyptian origin, derived from “mry” (beloved) or “mr” (love).

 

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