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Most Popular Baby Names in the U.S.
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Most Popular Baby Names in the U.S.

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Written by
Sam Biggs
Sam Biggs is a JR Media Intern at Encyclopaedia Britannica.
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Amy Tikkanen
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What were the most popular baby names during the decade you were born? If it was the 1980s or ’90s, Jessica and Michael were number one. Are you named Jacob or Emily? Those names were the winners in the 2000s. What about the most popular names of the last century? Since 1924, Mary has taken the crown for girl’s names, topping the list 32 times. For boys, Michael has been the most popular name, placing first for 44 years. To learn more, check out the interactive and lists below.

Most popular female names by year, from 1924

year most popular runner-up second runner-up
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration website.
1924 Mary Dorothy Helen
1925 Mary Dorothy Betty
1926 Mary Dorothy Betty
1927 Mary Dorothy Betty
1928 Mary Betty Dorothy
1929 Mary Betty Dorothy
1930 Mary Betty Dorothy
1931 Mary Betty Dorothy
1932 Mary Betty Barbara
1933 Mary Betty Barbara
1934 Mary Betty Barbara
1935 Mary Shirley Barbara
1936 Mary Shirley Barbara
1937 Mary Barbara Patricia
1938 Mary Barbara Patricia
1939 Mary Barbara Patricia
1940 Mary Barbara Patricia
1941 Mary Barbara Patricia
1942 Mary Barbara Patricia
1943 Mary Barbara Patricia
1944 Mary Barbara Linda
1945 Mary Linda Barbara
1946 Mary Linda Patricia
1947 Linda Mary Patricia
1948 Linda Mary Barbara
1949 Linda Mary Patricia
1950 Linda Mary Patricia
1951 Linda Mary Patricia
1952 Linda Mary Patricia
1953 Mary Linda Deborah
1954 Mary Linda Deborah
1955 Mary Deborah Linda
1956 Mary Debra Linda
1957 Mary Susan Linda
1958 Mary Susan Linda
1959 Mary Susan Linda
1960 Mary Susan Linda
1961 Mary Lisa Susan
1962 Lisa Mary Susan
1963 Lisa Mary Susan
1964 Lisa Mary Susan
1965 Lisa Mary Karen
1966 Lisa Kimberly Mary
1967 Lisa Kimberly Michelle
1968 Lisa Michelle Kimberly
1969 Lisa Michelle Jennifer
1970 Jennifer Lisa Kimberly
1971 Jennifer Michelle Lisa
1972 Jennifer Michelle Lisa
1973 Jennifer Amy Michelle
1974 Jennifer Amy Michelle
1975 Jennifer Amy Heather
1976 Jennifer Amy Melissa
1977 Jennifer Melissa Amy
1978 Jennifer Melissa Jessica
1979 Jennifer Melissa Amanda
1980 Jennifer Amanda Jessica
1981 Jennifer Jessica Amanda
1982 Jennifer Jessica Amanda
1983 Jennifer Jessica Amanda
1984 Jennifer Jessica Ashley
1985 Jessica Ashley Jennifer
1986 Jessica Ashley Amanda
1987 Jessica Ashley Amanda
1988 Jessica Ashley Amanda
1989 Jessica Ashley Brittany
1990 Jessica Ashley Brittany
1991 Ashley Jessica Brittany
1992 Ashley Jessica Amanda
1993 Jessica Ashley Sarah
1994 Jessica Ashley Emily
1995 Jessica Ashley Emily
1996 Emily Jessica Ashley
1997 Emily Jessica Ashley
1998 Emily Hannah Samantha
1999 Emily Hannah Alexis
2000 Emily Hannah Madison
2001 Emily Madison Hannah
2002 Emily Madison Hannah
2003 Emily Emma Madison
2004 Emily Emma Madison
2005 Emily Emma Madison
2006 Emily Emma Madison
2007 Emily Isabella Emma
2008 Emma Isabella Emily
2009 Isabella Emma Olivia
2010 Isabella Sophia Emma
2011 Sophia Isabella Emma
2012 Sophia Emma Isabella
2013 Sophia Emma Olivia
2014 Emma Olivia Sophia
2015 Emma Olivia Sophia
2016 Emma Olivia Ava
2017 Emma Olivia Ava
2018 Emma Olivia Ava
2019 Olivia Emma Ava
2020 Olivia Emma Ava
2021 Olivia Emma Charlotte
2022 Olivia Emma Charlotte
2023 Olivia Emma Charlotte

Most popular male names by year, from 1924

year most popular runner-up second runner-up
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration website.
1924 Robert John William
1925 Robert John William
1926 Robert John James
1927 Robert John James
1928 Robert John James
1929 Robert James John
1930 Robert James John
1931 Robert James John
1932 Robert James John
1933 Robert James John
1934 Robert James John
1935 Robert James John
1936 Robert James John
1937 Robert James John
1938 Robert James John
1939 Robert James John
1940 James Robert John
1941 James Robert John
1942 James Robert John
1943 James Robert John
1944 James Robert John
1945 James Robert John
1946 James Robert John
1947 James Robert John
1948 James Robert John
1949 James Robert John
1950 James Robert John
1951 James Robert John
1952 James Robert John
1953 Robert James Michael
1954 Michael Robert James
1955 Michael David James
1956 Michael James Robert
1957 Michael James David
1958 Michael David James
1959 Michael David James
1960 David Michael James
1961 Michael David John
1962 Michael David John
1963 Michael John David
1964 Michael John David
1965 Michael John David
1966 Michael David James
1967 Michael David James
1968 Michael David John
1969 Michael David James
1970 Michael James David
1971 Michael James David
1972 Michael Christopher James
1973 Michael Christopher Jason
1974 Michael Jason Christopher
1975 Michael Jason Christopher
1976 Michael Jason Christopher
1977 Michael Jason Christopher
1978 Michael Jason Christopher
1979 Michael Christopher Jason
1980 Michael Christopher Jason
1981 Michael Christopher Matthew
1982 Michael Christopher Matthew
1983 Michael Christopher Matthew
1984 Michael Christopher Matthew
1985 Michael Christopher Matthew
1986 Michael Christopher Matthew
1987 Michael Christopher Matthew
1988 Michael Christopher Matthew
1989 Michael Christopher Matthew
1990 Michael Christopher Matthew
1991 Michael Christopher Matthew
1992 Michael Christopher Matthew
1993 Michael Christopher Matthew
1994 Michael Christopher Matthew
1995 Michael Matthew Christopher
1996 Michael Matthew Jacob
1997 Michael Jacob Matthew
1998 Michael Jacob Matthew
1999 Jacob Michael Matthew
2000 Jacob Michael Matthew
2001 Jacob Michael Matthew
2002 Jacob Michael Joshua
2003 Jacob Michael Joshua
2004 Jacob Michael Joshua
2005 Jacob Michael Joshua
2006 Jacob Michael Joshua
2007 Jacob Michael Ethan
2008 Jacob Michael Ethan
2009 Jacob Ethan Michael
2010 Jacob Ethan Michael
2011 Jacob Mason William
2012 Jacob Mason Ethan
2013 Noah Jacob Liam
2014 Noah Liam Mason
2015 Noah Liam Mason
2016 Noah Liam William
2017 Liam Noah William
2018 Liam Noah William
2019 Liam Noah Oliver
2020 Liam Noah Oliver
2021 Liam Noah Oliver
2022 Liam Noah Oliver
2023 Liam Noah Oliver
Sam Biggs Amy Tikkanen