100 years of the most popular baby names

Choosing a baby name can be daunting. Travel back in time and draw some inspiration from the most popular selections of the past 100 years.

By Corinne Guirgis

Aug 20, 2018

Photo: iStockphoto

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Girls: Mary; meaning “bitter” Dorothy; meaning “got of God” Helen; meaning “light”

Boys: John; meaning “God is gracious” William; meaning “protector” Robert; meaning “bright fame”

Helen Mirren Photo: Ernesto Ruscio / Getty Images

Girls: Mary; meaning “bitter” Betty; meaning “God is my oath” Dorothy; meaning “Gift of God”

Boys: Robert; meaning “Bright fame’ James; meaning “supplanter” or “heeler” John; meaning “God is gracious”

Robert De Niro Photo: Kevin Mazur / Getty Images

Girls: Mary; meaning “bitter” Barbara; meaning “stranger” Patricia; meaning “of noble descent”

Boys: James; meaning “supplanter” or “heeler” Robert; meaning “bright fame” John; meaning “God is gracious”

John Legend Photo: Paras Griffin/VMN18 / Getty Images

Girls: Linda; meaning “pretty one” Mary; meaning “bitter” Patricia; meaning “of noble descent”

Boys: James; meaning “supplanter” or “heeler” Robert; meaning “bright fame” John; meaning “God is gracious”

Linda Evangelista Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images

Girls: Mary; meaning “bitter” Susan; meaning “lily” Linda; meaning “pretty one”

Boys: David; meaning “beloved” Michael; meaning “like God” James; meaning “supplanter” or “heeler”

Michael Jackson Photo: KMazur / Getty Images

Girls: Jennifer; meaning “bitter” Lisa; meaning “consecrated to God” Kimberly; meaning “ruler”

Boys: Michael; meaning “like God” James; meaning “supplanter” or “heeler” David; meaning “beloved”

James Corden Photo: CBS Photo Archive / Getty Images

Girls: Jennifer; meaning “white wave” Amanda; meaning “worthy of love” Jessica; meaning “God is watching”

Boys: Michael; meaning “like God” Christopher; meaning “Christ-bearer” Jason; meaning “healer”

Jennifer Anniston Photo: Jesse Grant / Getty Images

Girls: Jessica; meaning “God is watching” Ashley; meaning “from the ash tree” Brittany; meaning “from Britain”

Boys: Michael; meaning “like God” Christopher; meaning “Christ-bearer” Matthew; meaning “God’s gift”

Matthew McConaughey Photo: Eric McCandless / Getty Images

Girls: Emily; meaning “admiring” Hannah; meaning “grace of God” Ashley; meaning “from the ash tree”

Boys: Joshua; meaning “Jehova saves” Matthew; meaning “God’s gift” Jacob; meaning “supplanter”

Emily Blunt Photo: David M. Benett / Getty Images

Girls: Isabella; meaning “devoted to God” Sophia; meaning “wisdom” Emma; meaning “universal”

Boys: Jacob; meaning “supplanter” Ethan; meaning “firm/strong” Michael; meaning “like God”

Emma Watson Photo: Jason LaVeris / Getty Images

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