Choosing a name for a baby is one of the most personal decisions parents ever make. It can take months of lists, debates and late-night discussions. And yet, when you look at the names chosen by millions of families over the decades, surprising patterns appear. Names rise and fall like fashion trends, follow movies and television, reflect social changes and, very often, come back after a few generations.
In this article, we look at the most popular baby names of the last 100 years, decade by decade, and explore what these names reveal about the times in which they were chosen. Most of the data comes from the United States Social Security Administration, which has been publishing baby name statistics based on birth registrations for well over a century, making it one of the richest sources of naming history in the world.
The Most Popular Names of the Century
If you add up all the babies born in the United States over the last hundred years, from 1926 to 2025, a few names stand out above all others. According to the Social Security Administration's list of top names over the last 100 years, the most common boys' name of the century is James, given to around 4.5 million babies. It is followed closely by Michael, John, Robert and David.
For girls, the undisputed champion is Mary, with more than 2.8 million babies, far ahead of the next names on the list: Patricia, Jennifer, Linda and Elizabeth.
What is striking is how traditional these names are. Most of them are biblical or classic English names that have been used for centuries. Their dominance reflects a long period during which parents tended to choose from a relatively small pool of familiar, established names. As we will see, that has changed dramatically.
The Number One Names, Decade by Decade
Looking at the most popular name of each decade gives a fascinating snapshot of changing tastes:
| Decade | #1 Girls' Name | #1 Boys' Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1920s | Mary | Robert |
| 1930s | Mary | Robert |
| 1940s | Mary | James |
| 1950s | Mary | James |
| 1960s | Lisa | Michael |
| 1970s | Jennifer | Michael |
| 1980s | Jessica | Michael |
| 1990s | Jessica | Michael |
| 2000s | Emily | Jacob |
| 2010s | Emma | Noah |
| 2020s (so far) | Olivia | Liam |
Behind each of these names lies a story.
The age of Mary, Robert and James
For the first half of the 20th century, Mary reigned almost without competition. It had been the most popular girls' name in the United States since records began in the 1880s, and it remained at the top for most years until the early 1960s. Mary was more than a name: it carried religious meaning and a sense of tradition shared across many communities.
On the boys' side, John dominated the early years before giving way to Robert in the 1920s and 1930s, then to James in the 1940s and 1950s. These were solid, timeless names, the names of fathers, grandfathers and kings, and they fitted a period marked by economic hardship, war and then the stability of the postwar years.
The Michael era
If one name defines the second half of the 20th century, it is Michael. It became the top boys' name in the 1960s and held that position almost continuously until the end of the 1990s, an extraordinary run of nearly four decades. Many people born in those years remember classrooms with three or four Michaels, often distinguished by their last initials.
From Lisa to Jennifer to Jessica
Girls' names, by contrast, began to change much faster from the 1960s onward. Lisa took the crown in the 1960s, followed by Jennifer, the defining name of the 1970s, then Jessica in the 1980s and 1990s. These names felt modern and fresh at the time, marking a break with the more traditional names of previous generations. Today, they are strongly associated with the generations born in those decades, which is exactly what makes names such powerful markers of time.
The 2000s and 2010s: Emily, Emma, Jacob and Noah
At the turn of the millennium, Emily and Jacob took the lead. In the 2010s, Emma and Noah became the defining names of the decade. Both reflect a growing taste for softer, shorter names, often with a vintage or biblical feel but a modern sound.
Olivia and Liam: Today's Favorites
In the 2020s, two names have clearly dominated: Olivia and Liam. According to the latest data released in May 2026, covering babies born in 2025, they were the most popular names in the United States for the seventh year in a row.
Behind them, the boys' top four remained unchanged, with Noah, Oliver and Theodore following Liam. For girls, Charlotte rose to second place, ending Emma's long run in that spot, while Eliana entered the top ten for the first time. Among the fastest-rising names of the year were Kasai, a boys' name meaning "fire", and Klarity, a modern spelling of "clarity", part of a broader trend toward names evoking light, fire and brightness.
Olivia's success is particularly interesting. The name has literary roots, appearing in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, but it sounds both elegant and gentle, a combination many modern parents love. It is no surprise that the name appears everywhere, from classrooms to storybooks, and even on lifelike dolls such as Olivia, whose makers often choose names that feel familiar and contemporary.
The Great Comeback of Vintage Names
One of the most fascinating patterns in naming is what some experts call the "100-year rule". Names often follow a cycle: they are popular for one generation, then start to sound old-fashioned when that generation becomes parents and grandparents. After two or three generations, once the name is no longer associated with anyone's parents, it starts to sound charming and fresh again.
This is exactly what is happening today with many vintage baby names. Names that were common around the 1910s and 1920s, then almost disappeared, are now back in fashion. Theodore is the perfect example: once considered a grandfather's name, it is now one of the most popular boys' names in the United States, ranking fourth in 2025. Its friendly nicknames, Theo and Teddy, have certainly helped. Doll artists have noticed the trend too, and you will find little Theodores alongside Hazels, Violets and Ivys in many collections.
Many other old-fashioned names have followed the same path. Girls' names such as Hazel, Violet, Eleanor, Evelyn and Ivy, and boys' names like Henry, Jack and Leo have climbed the charts in recent years. Flower names, which were very popular in the early 20th century, have also made a strong return. For parents, these names offer a sense of history and warmth, without feeling overused.
How Pop Culture Shapes Baby Names
Few things influence baby names as strongly as movies, television, music and celebrities. This is not a new phenomenon. In the 1930s, the enormous popularity of child star Shirley Temple sent the name Shirley soaring. Later, film stars, singers and television characters regularly gave names a sudden boost.
The effect can be dramatic. After Disney's Frozen was released in 2013, the name Elsa jumped in popularity. The success of the television series Game of Thrones led to a rise in names like Arya, and even to babies being named Khaleesi, a title from the show. Royal babies, famous athletes and celebrity children regularly inspire new trends too.
Sometimes the influence works in reverse. Names associated with a negative event, a controversial person or an unlucky character can suddenly drop in popularity. Parents, it seems, are very sensitive to the associations a name carries.
Why Names Are More Diverse Than Ever
One of the biggest changes of the last century is the diversity of baby names. In the middle of the 20th century, a large share of babies received one of a relatively small number of popular names. If you were born in the 1950s, there was a good chance several children in your class shared your name.
Today, the situation is very different. Even the most popular names are given to a much smaller proportion of babies than in the past. Parents increasingly look for names that feel unique, draw inspiration from many languages and cultures, invent new spellings or revive forgotten classics. The result is a much richer and more varied landscape of names, which also reflects the growing cultural diversity of modern societies.
The internet has played a role too. Parents can now explore thousands of names, check their meanings and origins, see how popular they are and even make sure they are not too common, all in a few clicks.
What Our Names Say About Us
Researchers who study names have found that they can reveal a lot about social trends. Names reflect religious traditions, immigration, regional cultures, social class and changing ideas about gender. In recent decades, for instance, more names have become gender-neutral, such as Avery, Riley, Parker or Quinn, reflecting a broader shift in how parents think about identity.
Names are also a powerful link between generations. Many parents choose to honor a grandparent, a beloved family member or their cultural heritage through the name they give their child. In this way, a single name can carry the memory of an entire family history.
And perhaps that is why names fascinate us so much. They are among the very first gifts we give a child, and among the few things that will accompany them for their entire life.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most popular baby name of all time in the US?
Over the last 100 years, the most popular boys' name in the United States is James, and the most popular girls' name is Mary, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are the most popular baby names right now?
For babies born in 2025, Olivia and Liam were the most popular names in the United States, for the seventh year in a row. Noah, Oliver and Theodore followed Liam for boys, and Charlotte ranked second for girls.
Why do old-fashioned names come back?
Names often follow a generational cycle. Once a name is no longer associated with parents or grandparents, it starts to sound fresh again, which is why names popular around a century ago, such as Theodore, Hazel or Violet, are back in fashion.
How do movies and TV influence baby names?
Popular films, series and celebrities often cause sudden rises in certain names. Shirley in the 1930s, Elsa after Frozen and Arya after Game of Thrones are well-known examples.
Conclusion: A Century in a Handful of Names
From Mary and Robert to Jennifer and Michael, from Emma and Noah to Olivia and Liam, the most popular baby names of the last 100 years tell a story of changing tastes, cultural shifts and enduring traditions. Some names dominate for decades, others shine brightly for a few years, and many quietly wait for their turn to come back.
So if you are wondering which names will be popular in the decades to come, look at the names of your great-grandparents. History suggests that some of them may soon be heard again in playgrounds and nurseries around the world.