April 26, 2013
Did you ever wonder why your ancestors had the first names they did? Were they old names used over generations in the family, or does your family history have some names that seemingly were random with no obvious family connection?
It might be that your family chose a name because it was the name of a family friend, or maybe it was one of the popular names of their day.
Here is a list of the most popular baby names for girls and boys in the United States spanning nearly a century, from the early 1900s up to 2011. See where your family’s first names place on this list of the top baby names.
What is your favorite first name in your family tree? Share with us in the comments.
|
Top Five Names for Births in 1912-2011 |
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|
Females |
Males |
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|
Year |
Rank 1 |
Rank 2 |
Rank 3 |
Rank 4 |
Rank 5 |
Rank 1 |
Rank 2 |
Rank 3 |
Rank 4 |
Rank 5 |
|
2011 |
Sophia |
Isabella |
Emma |
Olivia |
Ava |
Jacob |
Mason |
William |
Jayden |
Noah |
|
2010 |
Isabella |
Sophia |
Emma |
Olivia |
Ava |
Jacob |
Ethan |
Michael |
Jayden |
William |
|
2009 |
Isabella |
Emma |
Olivia |
Sophia |
Ava |
Jacob |
Ethan |
Michael |
Alexander |
William |
|
2008 |
Emma |
Isabella |
Emily |
Olivia |
Ava |
Jacob |
Michael |
Ethan |
Joshua |
Daniel |
|
2007 |
Emily |
Isabella |
Emma |
Ava |
Madison |
Jacob |
Michael |
Ethan |
Joshua |
Daniel |
|
2006 |
Emily |
Emma |
Madison |
Isabella |
Ava |
Jacob |
Michael |
Joshua |
Ethan |
Matthew |
|
2005 |
Emily |
Emma |
Madison |
Abigail |
Olivia |
Jacob |
Michael |
Joshua |
Matthew |
Ethan |
|
2004 |
Emily |
Emma |
Madison |
Olivia |
Hannah |
Jacob |
Michael |
Joshua |
Matthew |
Ethan |
|
2003 |
Emily |
Emma |
Madison |
Hannah |
Olivia |
Jacob |
Michael |
Joshua |
Matthew |
Andrew |
|
2002 |
Emily |
Madison |
Hannah |
Emma |
Alexis |
Jacob |
Michael |
Joshua |
Matthew |
Ethan |
|
2001 |
Emily |
Madison |
Hannah |
Ashley |
Alexis |
Jacob |
Michael |
Matthew |
Joshua |
Christopher |
|
2000 |
Emily |
Hannah |
Madison |
Ashley |
Sarah |
Jacob |
Michael |
Matthew |
Joshua |
Christopher |
|
1999 |
Emily |
Hannah |
Alexis |
Sarah |
Samantha |
Jacob |
Michael |
Matthew |
Joshua |
Nicholas |
|
1998 |
Emily |
Hannah |
Samantha |
Ashley |
Sarah |
Michael |
Jacob |
Matthew |
Joshua |
Christopher |
|
1997 |
Emily |
Jessica |
Ashley |
Sarah |
Hannah |
Michael |
Jacob |
Matthew |
Christopher |
Joshua |
|
1996 |
Emily |
Jessica |
Ashley |
Sarah |
Samantha |
Michael |
Matthew |
Jacob |
Christopher |
Joshua |
|
1995 |
Jessica |
Ashley |
Emily |
Samantha |
Sarah |
Michael |
Matthew |
Christopher |
Jacob |
Joshua |
|
1994 |
Jessica |
Ashley |
Emily |
Samantha |
Sarah |
Michael |
Christopher |
Matthew |
Joshua |
Tyler |
|
1993 |
Jessica |
Ashley |
Sarah |
Samantha |
Emily |
Michael |
Christopher |
Matthew |
Joshua |
Tyler |
|
1992 |
Ashley |
Jessica |
Amanda |
Brittany |
Sarah |
Michael |
Christopher |
Matthew |
Joshua |
Andrew |
|
1991 |
Ashley |
Jessica |
Brittany |
Amanda |
Samantha |
Michael |
Christopher |
Matthew |
Joshua |
Andrew |
|
1990 |
Jessica |
Ashley |
Brittany |
Amanda |
Samantha |
Michael |
Christopher |
Matthew |
Joshua |
Daniel |
|
1989 |
Jessica |
Ashley |
Brittany |
Amanda |
Sarah |
Michael |
Christopher |
Matthew |
Joshua |
David |
|
1988 |
Jessica |
Ashley |
Amanda |
Sarah |
Jennifer |
Michael |
Christopher |
Matthew |
Joshua |
Andrew |
|
1987 |
Jessica |
Ashley |
Amanda |
Jennifer |
Sarah |
Michael |
Christopher |
Matthew |
Joshua |
David |
|
1986 |
Jessica |
Ashley |
Amanda |
Jennifer |
Sarah |
Michael |
Christopher |
Matthew |
Joshua |
David |
|
1985 |
Jessica |
Ashley |
Jennifer |
Amanda |
Sarah |
Michael |
Christopher |
Matthew |
Joshua |
Daniel |
|
1984 |
Jennifer |
Jessica |
Ashley |
Amanda |
Sarah |
Michael |
Christopher |
Matthew |
Joshua |
David |
|
1983 |
Jennifer |
Jessica |
Amanda |
Ashley |
Sarah |
Michael |
Christopher |
Matthew |
David |
Joshua |
|
1982 |
Jennifer |
Jessica |
Amanda |
Sarah |
Melissa |
Michael |
Christopher |
Matthew |
Jason |
David |
|
1981 |
Jennifer |
Jessica |
Amanda |
Sarah |
Melissa |
Michael |
Christopher |
Matthew |
Jason |
David |
|
1980 |
Jennifer |
Amanda |
Jessica |
Melissa |
Sarah |
Michael |
Christopher |
Jason |
David |
James |
|
1979 |
Jennifer |
Melissa |
Amanda |
Jessica |
Amy |
Michael |
Christopher |
Jason |
David |
James |
|
1978 |
Jennifer |
Melissa |
Jessica |
Amy |
Heather |
Michael |
Jason |
Christopher |
David |
James |
|
1977 |
Jennifer |
Melissa |
Amy |
Jessica |
Heather |
Michael |
Jason |
Christopher |
David |
James |
|
1976 |
Jennifer |
Amy |
Melissa |
Heather |
Angela |
Michael |
Jason |
Christopher |
David |
James |
|
1975 |
Jennifer |
Amy |
Heather |
Melissa |
Angela |
Michael |
Jason |
Christopher |
James |
David |
|
1974 |
Jennifer |
Amy |
Michelle |
Heather |
Angela |
Michael |
Jason |
Christopher |
David |
James |
|
1973 |
Jennifer |
Amy |
Michelle |
Kimberly |
Lisa |
Michael |
Christopher |
Jason |
James |
David |
|
1972 |
Jennifer |
Michelle |
Lisa |
Kimberly |
Amy |
Michael |
Christopher |
James |
David |
John |
|
1971 |
Jennifer |
Michelle |
Lisa |
Kimberly |
Amy |
Michael |
James |
David |
John |
Robert |
|
1970 |
Jennifer |
Lisa |
Kimberly |
Michelle |
Amy |
Michael |
James |
David |
John |
Robert |
|
1969 |
Lisa |
Michelle |
Jennifer |
Kimberly |
Melissa |
Michael |
David |
James |
John |
Robert |
|
1968 |
Lisa |
Michelle |
Kimberly |
Jennifer |
Melissa |
Michael |
David |
John |
James |
Robert |
|
1967 |
Lisa |
Kimberly |
Michelle |
Mary |
Susan |
Michael |
David |
James |
John |
Robert |
|
1966 |
Lisa |
Kimberly |
Mary |
Michelle |
Karen |
Michael |
David |
James |
John |
Robert |
|
1965 |
Lisa |
Mary |
Karen |
Kimberly |
Susan |
Michael |
John |
David |
James |
Robert |
|
1964 |
Lisa |
Mary |
Susan |
Karen |
Patricia |
Michael |
John |
David |
James |
Robert |
|
1963 |
Lisa |
Mary |
Susan |
Karen |
Linda |
Michael |
John |
David |
James |
Robert |
|
1962 |
Lisa |
Mary |
Susan |
Karen |
Linda |
Michael |
David |
John |
James |
Robert |
|
1961 |
Mary |
Lisa |
Susan |
Linda |
Karen |
Michael |
David |
John |
James |
Robert |
|
1960 |
Mary |
Susan |
Linda |
Karen |
Donna |
David |
Michael |
James |
John |
Robert |
|
1959 |
Mary |
Susan |
Linda |
Karen |
Donna |
Michael |
David |
James |
John |
Robert |
|
1958 |
Mary |
Susan |
Linda |
Karen |
Patricia |
Michael |
David |
James |
Robert |
John |
|
1957 |
Mary |
Susan |
Linda |
Debra |
Karen |
Michael |
James |
David |
Robert |
John |
|
1956 |
Mary |
Debra |
Linda |
Deborah |
Susan |
Michael |
James |
Robert |
David |
John |
|
1955 |
Mary |
Deborah |
Linda |
Debra |
Susan |
Michael |
David |
James |
Robert |
John |
|
1954 |
Mary |
Linda |
Deborah |
Patricia |
Susan |
Michael |
James |
Robert |
John |
David |
|
1953 |
Mary |
Linda |
Deborah |
Patricia |
Susan |
Robert |
James |
Michael |
John |
David |
|
1952 |
Linda |
Mary |
Patricia |
Deborah |
Susan |
James |
Robert |
John |
Michael |
David |
|
1951 |
Linda |
Mary |
Patricia |
Deborah |
Barbara |
James |
Robert |
John |
Michael |
David |
|
1950 |
Linda |
Mary |
Patricia |
Barbara |
Susan |
James |
Robert |
John |
Michael |
David |
|
1949 |
Linda |
Mary |
Patricia |
Barbara |
Susan |
James |
Robert |
John |
William |
Michael |
|
1948 |
Linda |
Mary |
Barbara |
Patricia |
Susan |
James |
Robert |
John |
William |
David |
|
1947 |
Linda |
Mary |
Patricia |
Barbara |
Sandra |
James |
Robert |
John |
William |
Richard |
|
1946 |
Mary |
Linda |
Patricia |
Barbara |
Carol |
James |
Robert |
John |
William |
Richard |
|
1945 |
Mary |
Linda |
Barbara |
Patricia |
Carol |
James |
Robert |
John |
William |
Richard |
|
1944 |
Mary |
Barbara |
Linda |
Patricia |
Carol |
James |
Robert |
John |
William |
Richard |
|
1943 |
Mary |
Barbara |
Patricia |
Linda |
Carol |
James |
Robert |
John |
William |
Richard |
|
1942 |
Mary |
Barbara |
Patricia |
Linda |
Carol |
James |
Robert |
John |
William |
Richard |
|
1941 |
Mary |
Barbara |
Patricia |
Carol |
Linda |
James |
Robert |
John |
William |
Richard |
|
1940 |
Mary |
Barbara |
Patricia |
Judith |
Betty |
James |
Robert |
John |
William |
Richard |
|
1939 |
Mary |
Barbara |
Patricia |
Betty |
Shirley |
Robert |
James |
John |
William |
Richard |
|
1938 |
Mary |
Barbara |
Patricia |
Betty |
Shirley |
Robert |
James |
John |
William |
Richard |
|
1937 |
Mary |
Barbara |
Patricia |
Shirley |
Betty |
Robert |
James |
John |
William |
Richard |
|
1936 |
Mary |
Shirley |
Barbara |
Betty |
Patricia |
Robert |
James |
John |
William |
Richard |
|
1935 |
Mary |
Shirley |
Barbara |
Betty |
Patricia |
Robert |
James |
John |
William |
Richard |
|
1934 |
Mary |
Betty |
Barbara |
Shirley |
Dorothy |
Robert |
James |
John |
William |
Richard |
|
1933 |
Mary |
Betty |
Barbara |
Dorothy |
Joan |
Robert |
James |
John |
William |
Richard |
|
1932 |
Mary |
Betty |
Barbara |
Dorothy |
Joan |
Robert |
James |
John |
William |
Richard |
|
1931 |
Mary |
Betty |
Dorothy |
Barbara |
Joan |
Robert |
James |
John |
William |
Richard |
|
1930 |
Mary |
Betty |
Dorothy |
Helen |
Margaret |
Robert |
James |
John |
William |
Richard |
|
1929 |
Mary |
Betty |
Dorothy |
Helen |
Margaret |
Robert |
James |
John |
William |
Charles |
|
1928 |
Mary |
Betty |
Dorothy |
Helen |
Margaret |
Robert |
John |
James |
William |
Charles |
|
1927 |
Mary |
Dorothy |
Betty |
Helen |
Margaret |
Robert |
John |
James |
William |
Charles |
|
1926 |
Mary |
Dorothy |
Betty |
Helen |
Margaret |
Robert |
John |
James |
William |
Charles |
|
1925 |
Mary |
Dorothy |
Betty |
Helen |
Margaret |
Robert |
John |
William |
James |
Charles |
|
1924 |
Mary |
Dorothy |
Helen |
Betty |
Margaret |
Robert |
John |
William |
James |
Charles |
|
1923 |
Mary |
Dorothy |
Helen |
Margaret |
Betty |
John |
Robert |
William |
James |
Charles |
|
1922 |
Mary |
Dorothy |
Helen |
Margaret |
Ruth |
John |
Robert |
William |
James |
Charles |
|
1921 |
Mary |
Dorothy |
Helen |
Margaret |
Ruth |
John |
Robert |
William |
James |
Charles |
|
1920 |
Mary |
Dorothy |
Helen |
Margaret |
Ruth |
John |
William |
Robert |
James |
Charles |
|
1919 |
Mary |
Helen |
Dorothy |
Margaret |
Ruth |
John |
William |
James |
Robert |
Charles |
|
1918 |
Mary |
Helen |
Dorothy |
Margaret |
Ruth |
John |
William |
James |
Robert |
Charles |
|
1917 |
Mary |
Helen |
Dorothy |
Margaret |
Ruth |
John |
William |
James |
Robert |
Joseph |
|
1916 |
Mary |
Helen |
Dorothy |
Margaret |
Ruth |
John |
William |
James |
Robert |
Joseph |
|
1915 |
Mary |
Helen |
Dorothy |
Margaret |
Ruth |
John |
William |
James |
Robert |
Joseph |
|
1914 |
Mary |
Helen |
Dorothy |
Margaret |
Ruth |
John |
William |
James |
Robert |
Joseph |
|
1913 |
Mary |
Helen |
Dorothy |
Margaret |
Ruth |
John |
William |
James |
Robert |
Joseph |
|
1912 |
Mary |
Helen |
Dorothy |
Margaret |
Ruth |
John |
William |
James |
Robert |
Joseph |
