Remember when Edna, Chester, and Pearl were popular names? Seems like a hundred years ago…because it was!
A lot has happened since 1901 — The Great Depression, two world wars, a cure for polio, the invention of the microwave, the Internet, the iPhone — and names are no different. We’ve combed through Social Security’s archives and have discovered quite a few shifts in popular baby names. For instance, there was the demise of the once popular Ethel, the rise and fall of a lovely name like Linda, Biblical Jacob’s slow, late-19th century ascent to the top, and the modern-day resurgence of forgotten gems like Hazel, Felix, and Ava.
Yet, one thing all names seem to have in common is that they define their generation. You’d have an awfully hard time finding a 30-year-old today named Mildred, but in 1930, ole Milly was your neighbor, teacher, even your telephone operator!
We’ve compiled the most popular boys and girls name for every generation — from The Greatest to the Boomlets — and the results are fascinating…
The Greatest Generation: Born 1901–1924
Boys: John, William, James, George, and Charles.
Girls: Mary, Helen, Dorothy, Margaret, and Ruth.
The Silent Generation: Born 1925–1942
Boys: James, Robert, Richard, John, and William.
Girls: Mary, Barbara, Patricia, Judith, and Betty.
Baby Boomers: Born 1943–1964
Boys: Michael, David, James, John, and Robert.
Girls: Mary, Susan, Linda, Karen, and Donna.
Generation X: Born 1965–1980
Boys: Michael, Jason, Christopher, David, and James.
Girls: Jennifer, Amy, Melissa, Heather, and Angela.
Generation Y/Millennials: Born 1981–2000
Boys: Michael, Jacob, Matthew, Joshua, and Christopher.
Girls: Emily, Hannah, Samantha, Ashley, and Sarah.
Generation Z/Boomlets: 2001–Beyond
Boys: Jacob, Mason, William, Jayden, and Noah.
Girl: Sophia, Isabella, Emma, Olivia, and Ava.
Please SHARE this fascinating post with everyone you know, because if more people re-discover a nice name like Ruth or Susan, it might help to bring those names back to their former glory!
