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
100 years of popular baby names
1920s
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”
1930s
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”
1940s
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”
1950s
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”
1960s
Girls: Mary; meaning “bitter” Susan; meaning “lily” Linda; meaning “pretty one”
Boys: David; meaning “beloved” Michael; meaning “like God” James; meaning “supplanter” or “heeler”
1970s
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”
1980s
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”
1990s
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”
2000s
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”
2010s
Girls: Isabella; meaning “devoted to God” Sophia; meaning “wisdom” Emma; meaning “universal”
Boys: Jacob; meaning “supplanter” Ethan; meaning “firm/strong” Michael; meaning “like God”
Read more: Can you guess which male baby names are now more popular with girls? 20 baby names that mean miracle Whoa! Parents invented over 1,000 new baby names in 2017
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