| The U.S. government makes available an | | | | fallen star is George, which was #4 in 1887 |
| amazing database of all U.S. baby names from | | | | but only 153rd most popular today. Charles |
| the 1880s to the present. Studying the top | | | | went from 5th to 60th; Robert from 11th to |
| baby names every decade reveals which baby | | | | 47th (but enjoyed a great run as #1 from 1924 |
| names are new and unique, and which are | | | | to 1939); Thomas from 9th to 51st; Richard |
| timeless favorites. | | | | from 25th to 99th (but had a strong |
| The World's Largest Baby Name FactoryThe | | | | mid-century surge peaking at #5 in |
| U.S. Federal government's Social Security | | | | 1940s).Girl names that have fallen out of |
| Administration (SSA) has kept careful records | | | | favor include Mary, which was the #1 baby |
| of all new baby names in the U.S. from the | | | | girl name in the 1880s but is only 55th in |
| 1880's to the present. This database is | | | | the 2000s. The most dramatic fall of any name |
| available online for free for anyone to look | | | | is Minnie (yes, of Minnie Mouse fame), which |
| at (you can find it at We've gone through | | | | was 6th most popular in the 1880s but has not |
| the records and studied them can now share | | | | even ranked anywhere in the top 1000 since |
| with you the fun and sometimes surprising | | | | 1971 when it was 951st. Apparently no one |
| results!I studied the data at the SSA site, | | | | wants to be named after a mouse!Nouveau Top |
| looking at the name popularity for the last | | | | NamesLastly there are the names that are all |
| 120 years: from 1887 through 2006. Most | | | | the rage today but that are unique and |
| Popular Names of All Time When you look at | | | | strange and new to our ear - because they |
| baby name popularity over time you see that | | | | were not at all common in the past. Heading |
| all names go through cycles, gradually | | | | the list is Jacob, today's #1 most popular |
| increasing and decreasing over time.To | | | | boy name but it was only 56th in 1887 and hit |
| determine the most popular of all time, I | | | | a real low spot of 367th in 1962.The name |
| decided that we should see which names have | | | | Michael has had real legs for over half a |
| consistently been in the top 20, decade after | | | | centruy now. It was 48th a 120 years ago but |
| decade. Which baby names were in the top 20 | | | | then climbed steadily and enjoyed an |
| for the entire time from 1887 to the | | | | unprecedented streak as the #1 boy name from |
| present?Among boys the most popular are John | | | | 1954 to 1998 (except for one year when it was |
| (1st in 1887 and 20th today); William (2nd to | | | | #2 in 1960). Think of that - 43 years as |
| 10th); James (3rd to 16th); and Joseph (7th | | | | the #1 boys name! Today Michael is #2.A |
| to 11th).There are fewer girls name that have | | | | couple more new top boys names are Joshua: |
| stayed consistently popular across the | | | | 247th to 3rd (but a low spot at 730th in |
| decades. The best candidate I could find was | | | | 1929!), and Matthew which has gone from 123rd |
| Elizabeth, which ranked 4th, 21st and 11th in | | | | to 5th.Emily from 98th to 1st with a |
| the 1880s, 1950s and 2000s. Its quite | | | | mid-century low of 272nd in 1962.Greatest |
| noticeable how girls names change more than | | | | Comeback AwardsNo name better demonstrates |
| boys names. Here are just some of the most | | | | the power of fashion cycles than the girls |
| popular baby girl names from the 1880s that | | | | name Emma - it was 4th most popular in 1887, |
| are no where to be seen today: Minnie, Ida, | | | | declined in popularity steadily until it was |
| Bertha, Clara, Florence, Bessie and Ethel. | | | | quite rare from the 1940s to the 1980s |
| Of these only Clara appears in the top 1000 | | | | (e.g., it was 463rd most popular in 1963), |
| these days (position 260), and I personally | | | | and gained rapidly starting in the late |
| think it a beautiful name deserving of more | | | | 1980s, moving from 211th in 1986 to 2nd in |
| use. I don't miss the other names much | | | | 2006. Emma deserves a close second as it |
| besides Florence, which has wonderful | | | | was 3rd in the 1880s and is 11th in the 200s |
| connotations. Fallen StarsThen there are the | | | | but descended to 213th in the 1950s.Most |
| names that were very popular in the past but | | | | Improved AwardThe girl baby name Madison gets |
| are used much less often today. These can be | | | | the prize for most improved ranking in the |
| a good source of unique names for your child | | | | shortest time. In 1985 it ranked a very low |
| today but where the unique name will have a | | | | 625th, and in 2006 it was the 2nd most |
| good dose of nostalgia. I call these the | | | | popular name - it moved up an impressive 623 |
| fallen stars. Among boy names the stand out | | | | positions in just 21 years. |