Cite

Popular Kids' Names

Updated February 21, 2017 | Factmonster Staff

The top boys' and girls' names, from 1900-2015

by Elaine Rho

Related Links

Other Content

If you had taken a random survey of names in a playground at the turn of the century, you might have counted a fair number of Johns and even an Ethel or two among the smiling faces. These days, you're more apt to run into a Jayden or an Isabella.

Here's a current list of the most popular given names as compiled by the Social Security Administration, and a look back at some of the most popular given names by year of birth from 1900–2015.

2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2000-2002 | 1980-1999 | 1940-1970 | 1900-1930

Top Names of 2015

Male

Female
  1. Noah
  2. Liam
  3. Mason
  4. Jacob
  5. William
  6. Ethan
  7. James
  8. Alexander
  9. Michael
  10. Benjamin
  1. Emma
  2. Olivia
  3. Sophia
  4. Ava
  5. Isabella
  6. Mia
  7. Abigail
  8. Emily
  9. Charlotte
  10. Harper

Top Names of 2014

Male

Female
  1. Noah
  2. Liam
  3. Mason
  4. Jacob
  5. William
  6. Ethan
  7. Michael
  8. Alexander
  9. James
  10. Daniel
  1. Emma
  2. Olivia
  3. Sophia
  4. Isabella
  5. Ava
  6. Mia
  7. Emily
  8. Abigail
  9. Madison
  10. Charlotte

Top Names of 2013

Male

Female
  1. Noah
  2. Liam
  3. Jacob
  4. Mason
  5. William
  6. Ethan
  7. Michael
  8. Alexander
  9. Jayden
  10. Daniel
  1. Sophia
  2. Emma
  3. Olivia
  4. Isabella
  5. Ava
  6. Mia
  7. Emily
  8. Abigail
  9. Madison
  10. Elizabeth

Top Names of 2012

Male

Female
  1. Jacob
  2. Mason
  3. Ethan
  4. Noah
  5. William
  6. Liam
  7. Jayden
  8. Michael
  9. Alexander
  10. Aiden
  1. Sophia
  2. Emma
  3. Isabella
  4. Olivia
  5. Ava
  6. Emily
  7. Abigail
  8. Mia
  9. Madison
  10. Elizabeth

Top Names of 2011

Male

Female

  1. Jacob
  2. Mason
  3. William
  4. Jayden
  5. Noah
  6. Michael
  7. Ethan
  8. Alexander
  9. Aiden
  10. Daniel
  1. Sophia
  2. Isabella
  3. Emma
  4. Olivia
  5. Ava
  6. Emily
  7. Abigail
  8. Madison
  9. Chloe
  10. Mia

Top Names of 2010

Male

Female
  1. Jacob
  2. Ethan
  3. Michael
  4. Jayden
  5. William
  6. Alexander
  7. Noah
  8. Daniel
  9. Aiden
  10. Anthony
  1. Isabella
  2. Sophia
  3. Emma
  4. Olivia
  5. Ava
  6. Emily
  7. Abigail
  8. Madison
  9. Chloe
  10. Mia

Top Names of 2009

Male

Female
  1. Jacob
  2. Ethan
  3. Michael
  4. Alexander
  5. William
  6. Joshua
  7. Daniel
  8. Jayden
  9. Noah
  10. Anthony
  1. Isabella
  2. Emma
  3. Olivia
  4. Sophia
  5. Ava
  6. Emily
  7. Madison
  8. Abigail
  9. Chloe
  10. Mia

Top Names of 2008

Male

Female
  1. Aiden
  2. Jayden
  3. Ethan
  4. Jacob
  5. Caden
  6. Jackson
  7. Noah
  8. Jack
  9. Logan
  10. Matthew
  1. Emma
  2. Sophia
  3. Madison
  4. Isabella
  5. Olivia
  6. Ava
  7. Madeline
  8. Addison
  9. Hailey
  10. Lily

Top Names of 2007

Male

Female
  1. Jacob
  2. Michael
  3. Ethan
  4. Joshua
  5. Daniel
  6. Christopher
  7. Anthony
  8. William
  9. Matthew
  10. Andrew
  1. Emily
  2. Isabella
  3. Emma
  4. Ava
  5. Madison
  6. Sophia
  7. Olivia
  8. Abigail
  9. Hannah
  10. Elizabeth

Top Names of 2006

Male

Female
  1. Jacob
  2. Michael
  3. Joshua
  4. Ethan
  5. Matthew
  6. Daniel
  7. Christopher
  8. Andrew
  9. Anthony
  10. William
  1. Emily
  2. Emma
  3. Madison
  4. Isabella
  5. Ava
  6. Abigail
  7. Olivia
  8. Hannah
  9. Sophia
  10. Samantha

Top Names of 2005

Male

Female
  1. Jacob
  2. Michael
  3. Joshua
  4. Matthew
  5. Ethan
  6. Andrew
  7. Daniel
  8. Anthony
  9. Christopher
  10. Joseph
  11. William
  12. Alexander
  13. Ryan
  14. David
  15. Nicholas
  1. Tyler
  2. James
  3. John
  4. Jonathan
  5. Nathan
  6. Samuel
  7. Christian
  8. Noah
  9. Dylan
  10. Benjamin
  11. Logan
  12. Brandon
  13. Gabriel
  14. Zachary
  15. Jose
  1. Emily
  2. Emma
  3. Madison
  4. Abigail
  5. Olivia
  6. Isabella
  7. Hannah
  8. Samantha
  9. Ava
  10. Ashley
  11. Sophia
  12. Elizabeth
  13. Alexis
  14. Grace
  15. Sarah
  1. Alyssa
  2. Mia
  3. Natalie
  4. Chloe
  5. Brianna
  6. Lauren
  7. Ella
  8. Anna
  9. Taylor
  10. Kayla
  11. Hailey
  12. Jessica
  13. Victoria
  14. Jasmine
  15. Sydney

Top Names of 2004

Male

Female
  1. Jacob
  2. Michael
  3. Joshua
  4. Matthew
  5. Ethan
  6. Andrew
  7. Daniel
  8. William
  9. Joseph
  10. Christopher
  11. Anthony
  12. Ryan
  13. Nicholas
  14. David
  15. Alexander
  1. Tyler
  2. James
  3. John
  4. Dylan
  5. Nathan
  6. Jonathan
  7. Brandon
  8. Samuel
  9. Christian
  10. Benjamin
  11. Zachary
  12. Logan
  13. Jose
  14. Noah
  15. Justin
  1. Emily
  2. Emma
  3. Madison
  4. Olivia
  5. Hannah
  6. Abigail
  7. Isabella
  8. Ashley
  9. Samantha
  10. Elizabeth
  11. Alexis
  12. Sarah
  13. Grace
  14. Alyssa
  15. Sophia
  1. Lauren
  2. Brianna
  3. Kayla
  4. Natalie
  5. Anna
  6. Jessica
  7. Taylor
  8. Chloe
  9. Hailey
  10. Ava
  11. Jasmine
  12. Sydney
  13. Victoria
  14. Ella
  15. Mia

Top Names of 2003

Male

Female
  1. Jacob
  2. Michael
  3. Joshua
  4. Matthew
  5. Andrew
  6. Joseph
  7. Ethan
  8. Daniel
  9. Christopher
  10. Anthony
  11. William
  12. Ryan
  13. Nicholas
  14. David
  15. Tyler
  1. Alexander
  2. John
  3. James
  4. Dylan
  5. Zachary
  6. Brandon
  7. Jonathan
  8. Samuel
  9. Christian
  10. Benjamin
  11. Justin
  12. Nathan
  13. Jose
  14. Logan
  15. Gabriel
  1. Emily
  2. Emma
  3. Madison
  4. Hannah
  5. Olivia
  6. Abigail
  7. Alexis
  8. Ashley
  9. Elizabeth
  10. Samantha
  11. Isabella
  12. Sarah
  13. Grace
  14. Alyssa
  15. Lauren
  1. Kayla
  2. Brianna
  3. Jessica
  4. Taylor
  5. Sophia
  6. Anna
  7. Victoria
  8. Natalie
  9. Chloe
  10. Sydney
  11. Hailey
  12. Jasmine
  13. Rachel
  14. Morgan
  15. Megan

Top Names of 2000-2002

Top Names of 2000

Male

Female
  1. Jacob
  2. Michael
  3. Matthew
  4. Joshua
  5. Christopher
  6. Nicholas
  7. Andrew
  8. Joseph
  9. Daniel
  10. Tyler
  1. Emily
  2. Hannah
  3. Madison
  4. Ashley
  5. Sarah
  6. Alexis
  7. Samantha
  8. Jessica
  9. Taylor
  10. Elizabeth

Top Names of 2001

Male

Female
  1. Jacob
  2. Michael
  3. Matthew
  4. Joshua
  5. Christopher
  6. Nicholas
  7. Andrew
  8. Joseph
  9. Daniel
  10. William
  1. Emily
  2. Madison
  3. Hannah
  4. Ashley
  5. Alexis
  6. Samantha
  7. Sarah
  8. Abigail
  9. Elizabeth
  10. Jessica

Top Names of 2002

Male

Female
  1. Jacob
  2. Michael
  3. Joshua
  4. Matthew
  5. Ethan
  6. Joseph
  7. Andrew
  8. Christopher
  9. Daniel
  10. Nicholas
  1. Emily
  2. Madison
  3. Hannah
  4. Emma
  5. Alexis
  6. Ashley
  7. Abigail
  8. Sarah
  9. Samantha
  10. Olivia

Top Names of 1980-1999

Top Names of 1980

Male

Female
  1. Michael
  2. Jason
  3. Christopher
  4. David
  5. James
  6. Matthew
  7. John
  8. Joshua
  9. Robert
  10. Daniel
  1. Jennifer
  2. Jessica
  3. Amanda
  4. Melissa
  5. Sarah
  6. Nicole
  7. Heather
  8. Amy
  9. Michelle
  10. Elizabeth

Top Names of 1990

Male

Female
  1. Michael
  2. Christopher
  3. Joshua
  4. Matthew
  5. David
  6. Daniel
  7. Andrew
  8. Joseph
  9. Justin
  10. James
  1. Jessica
  2. Ashley
  3. Brittany
  4. Amanda
  5. Stephanie
  6. Jennifer
  7. Samantha
  8. Sarah
  9. Megan
  10. Lauren

Top Names of 1998

Male

Female
  1. Michael
  2. Jacob
  3. Matthew
  4. Nicholas
  5. Joshua
  6. Christopher
  7. Brandon
  8. Austin
  9. Tyler
  10. Zachary
  1. Kaitlyn
  2. Emily
  3. Sarah
  4. Hannah
  5. Ashley
  6. Brianna
  7. Alexia
  8. Samantha
  9. Taylor
  10. Madison

Top Names of 1999

Male

Female
  1. Jacob
  2. Michael
  3. Matthew
  4. Joshua
  5. Christopher
  6. Nicholas
  7. Andrew
  8. Joseph
  9. Daniel
  10. Tyler
  1. Hannah
  2. Alexis
  3. Samantha
  4. Sarah
  5. Ashley
  6. Madison
  7. Taylor
  8. Jessica
  9. Elizabeth

Top Names of 1940-1970

Top Names of 1940

Male

Female
  1. James
  2. Robert
  3. John
  4. William
  5. Richard
  6. Charles
  7. David
  8. Thomas
  9. Donald
  10. Ronald
  1. Barbara
  2. Patricia
  3. Carol
  4. Judith
  5. Betty
  6. Nancy
  7. Maria
  8. Margaret
  9. Linda

Top Names of 1950

Male

Female
  1. John
  2. James
  3. Robert
  4. William
  5. Michael
  6. David
  7. Richard
  8. Thomas
  9. Charles
  10. Gary
  1. Linda
  2. Mary
  3. Patricia
  4. Barbara
  5. Susan
  6. Maria
  7. Sandra
  8. Nancy
  9. Deborah
  10. Kathleen

Top Names of 1960

Male

Female
  1. David
  2. Michael
  3. John
  4. James
  5. Robert
  6. Mark
  7. William
  8. Richard
  9. Thomas
  10. Steven
  1. Mary
  2. Susan
  3. Maria
  4. Karen
  5. Lisa
  6. Linda
  7. Donna
  8. Patricia
  9. Debra
  10. Deborah

Top Names of 1970

Male

Female
  1. Michael
  2. David
  3. John
  4. James
  5. Robert
  6. Christopher
  7. William
  8. Mark
  9. Richard
  10. Brian
  1. Jennifer
  2. Lisa
  3. Kimberly
  4. Michelle
  5. Angela
  6. Maria
  7. Amy
  8. Melissa
  9. Mary
  10. Tracy

Top Names of 1900-1930

Top Names of 1900

Male

Female
  1. John
  2. William
  3. James
  4. George
  5. Charles
  6. Joseph
  7. Frank
  8. Henry
  9. Robert
  10. Harry
  1. Mary
  2. Helen
  3. Anna
  4. Margaret
  5. Ruth
  6. Elizabeth
  7. Marie
  8. Rose
  9. Florence
  10. Bertha

Top Names of 1910

Male

Female
  1. John
  2. William
  3. James
  4. Robert
  5. Joseph
  6. Charles, George (tie)
  7. Charles, George (tie)
  8. Edward
  9. Frank
  10. Harry
  1. Mary
  2. Helen
  3. Margaret
  4. Dorothy, Ruth (tie)
  5. Dorothy, Ruth (tie)
  6. Anna
  7. Mildred
  8. Elizabeth
  9. Alice

Top Names of 1920

Male

Female
  1. John
  2. William
  3. James
  4. Robert
  5. Joseph
  6. Charles
  7. George
  8. Edward
  9. Thomas
  10. Frank
  1. Mary
  2. Dorothy
  3. Helen
  4. Margaret
  5. Ruth
  6. Virginia
  7. Elizabeth
  8. Anna
  9. Mildred
  10. Betty

Top Names of 1930

Male

Female
  1. Robert
  2. James
  3. John
  4. William
  5. Richard
  6. Charles
  7. Donald
  8. George
  9. Joseph
  10. Edward
  1. Mary
  2. Betty
  3. Dorothy
  4. Helen
  5. Barbara
  6. Margaret
  7. Maria
  8. Patricia
  9. Doris
  10. Joan, Ruth (tie)

Sources +
✖
 
sandbbox logo
©2022 Sandbox Networks Inc. All rights reserved. Sandbox Learning is part of Sandbox & Co., a digital learning company.