Baby Names Through the Years
Explore 145 years of baby naming trends. See how names rise and fall in popularity, and discover the cultural forces that shaped each generation's choices.
Browse by Decade
1880s
1880-18892,408,094 registered births
1890s
1890-18993,362,511 registered births
1900s
1900-19094,285,124 registered births
1910s
1910-191914,831,454 registered births
1920s
1920-192922,972,059 registered births
1930s
1930-193921,229,394 registered births
1940s
1940-194929,371,399 registered births
1950s
1950-195939,451,610 registered births
1960s
1960-196937,527,030 registered births
1970s
1970-197931,969,807 registered births
1980s
1980-198935,635,229 registered births
1990s
1990-199937,484,121 registered births
2000s
2000-200938,434,384 registered births
2010s
2010-201936,295,576 registered births
2020s
2020-202416,751,358 registered births
Jump to a Specific Year
Select any year from 1880 to 2024 to see the most popular baby names, trends, and cultural context.
How Baby Name Trends Have Changed Over 145 Years
From Mary and John in the 1880s to Olivia and Liam today, baby naming trends tell the story of American culture. Wars, movies, music, and social movements have all left their mark on what parents name their children.
In the early 1900s, a small number of traditional names dominated. By the 1970s and 1980s, parents began seeking more unique names, and the diversity of choices exploded. Today, the top names claim a smaller share of births than ever before, reflecting a culture that celebrates individuality.
Our year-by-year data comes from the U.S. Social Security Administration, covering every name given to five or more babies in each year since 1880. Explore any year or decade to discover the names that defined a generation.