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