Have you ever wondered how popular your name is today versus when you were born? Or are you trying to think of the perfect baby name for your future child and want to avoid choosing any common names?
Either way, the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) has you covered.
In fact, the SSA has been monitoring baby name usage for more than 145 years – not only documenting, but analyzing every single name that has appeared on a Social Security card application since 1879.
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Let’s use Taylor Swift (who was born in 1989) as an example. Using the SSA’s database, we can go back to the year 1989 and see that Taylor was the 75th most popular female name that year with 4,069 births.
To be fair, there were also 4,857 male babies named Taylor that year, as well.
But then you can compare that data with today’s data, and you’ll be surprised to learn that Taylor has fallen even further down the list of most common names – ranking 261st in 2023 (1,185 recorded births).
Whether you like the familiarity of common names or want to try and avoid them when naming your child, don’t worry – we’ve got a list of the 50 most common names for boys and girls over the past 100 years.
What Are the Most Common Names to Give Your Little Boy?
If you’re looking for common names for your future son, perhaps no boy’s name is more common right now than Liam – which has ranked No. 1 in the United States for seven consecutive years (since 2017).
It has also ranked inside the top-three every year since 2013.
Noah is another name to keep an eye out for. It was the No. 1 ranked boy’s name for four consecutive years between 2013 and 2016, and has ranked No. 2 in the United States (behind Liam) every year since.
But things look a little different when you pan out over the past 100 years.
For the time period between 1924 and 2023, Liam only ranks 94th with 314,543 births – while Noah ranks 61st with 483,508 births. Let’s take a look at what names ranked inside the top-25 during that timespan.
25. Ronald
# of Births (since 1924): 1,071,048
Origin: Old Norse
Meaning: derived from the name Rögnvaldr, which is composed of the elements “regin” (meaning “advice” or “decision”) and “valdr” (meaning “ruler” or “power”).
Famous People: Ronald Reagan (40th President of the United States), Ronald McDonald (mascot of the McDonald’s fast-food restaurant chain), Ronald Coleman (English actor)
24. Timothy
# of Births (since 1924): 1,075,595
Origin: Greek
Meaning: derived from the Greek name Τιμόθεος (Timotheos), which is composed of the elements “τιμάω” (timao), meaning “to honor,” and “θεός” (theos), meaning “God.”
Famous People: Timothy Dalton (British actor), Timothy Hutton (American actor and director), Timothy Leary (American psychologist), Timothy Olyphant (American actor)
23. Brian
# of Births (since 1924): 1,171,294
Origin: Celtic, Irish
Meaning: derived from the Old Celtic word “brígh,” meaning “noble,” “strong,” or “high.”
Famous People: Brian May (English musician, songwriter, and astrophysicist), Brian Wilson (American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer), Brian Cox (Scottish actor), Brian Eno (English musician, composer, and record producer), Brian McKnight (American singer-songwriter)
22. Kevin
# of Births (since 1924): 1,180,609
Origin: Irish
Meaning: comes from the Old Irish “Caoimhghín,” composed of “caomh” (meaning “kind,” “gentle,” or “handsome”) and “ghín” (meaning “birth”).
Famous People: Kevin Costner (American actor), Kevin Durant (American basketball player), Kevin Hart (American comedian), Kevin Spacey (American actor and producer), Kevin Bacon (American actor and musician)
21. Kenneth
# of Births (since 1924): 1,196,302
Origin: Gaelic
Meaning: derived from the Scottish Gaelic name Coinneach, meaning “handsome” or “comely.”
Famous People: Kenneth Branagh (Irish actor, director, and producer), Kenneth Cole (American fashion designer), Kenneth Lay (American businessman), Kennth Grahame (British writer), Kenneth Kaunda (first President of Zambia)
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20. Joshua
# of Births (since 1924): 1,236,272
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: derived from the Hebrew name Yehoshua (יהושע), which means “Yahweh is salvation” or “God is salvation.”
Famous People: Joshua Jackson (Canadian-American actor), Joshua Bell (American violinist and conductor), Joshua Reynolds (18th century English painter), Joshua Redman (American jazz saxophonist and composer), Joshua Wong (Hong Kong pro-democracy activist and politician)
19. Paul
# of Births (since 1924): 1,240,331
Origin: Latin
Meaning: derived from the Roman family name Paulus or Paullus, which means “small” or “humble.”
Famous People: Paul McCartney (English singer, songwriter, and musician), Paul Newman (American actor, film director, and race car driver), Paul Walker (American actor), Paul Simon (American singer, songwriter, and musician)
18. Andrew
# of Births (since 1924): 1,258,208
Origin: Greek
Meaning: derived from the Greek name Andreas (Ανδρέας), which means “manly” or “brave.”
Famous People: Andrew Garfield (English-American actor), Andrew Jackson (7th President of the US), Andrew Lloyd Webber (British composer and impresario of musical theatre), Andrew Cuomo (American politician), Andrew Luck (former American NFL quarterback)
17. Steven
# of Births (since 1924): 1,285,675
Origin: Greek
Meaning: derived from the Greek name Stephanos (Στέφανος), which means “crown” or “wreath.”
Famous People: Steven Spielberg (American filmmaker and producer), Steven Tyler (American singer, songwriter, and musician), Steven Seagal (American actor, producer, and screenwriter), Steven Gerrard (English former professional footballer)
16. Donald
# of Births (since 1924): 1,292,951
Origin: Gaelic, Scottish
Meaning: derived from the Gaelic name Domhnall, which means “world ruler” or “ruler of the world.”
Famous People: Donald Trump (45th President of the United States), Donald Glover (American actor, comedian, writer, producer, director, musician, and DJ), Donald Sutherland (Canadian actor), Donald Rumsfeld (American politican and businessman)
15. Mark
# of Births (since 1924): 1,349,763
Origin: Latin
Meaning: derived from the name Marcus, which is believed to be related to Mars, the Roman god of war.
Famous People: Mark Twain (American author), Mark Zuckerberg (American computer programmer and co-founder of Facebook), Mark Wahlberg (American actor), Mark Hamill (American actor), Mark Cuban (American businessman and owner of the Dallas Mavericks)
14. Anthony
# of Births (since 1924): 1,410,412
Origin: Latin
Meaning: derived from the Roman family name Antonius, which is of uncertain meaning.
Famous People: Anthony Hopkins (Welsh actor), Anthony Bourdain (American celebrity chef, author, and travel documentarian), Anthony Kiedis (American musician and lead vocalist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers), Anthony Joshua (British professional boxer), Anthony Mackie (American actor)
13. Matthew
# of Births (since 1924): 1,626,375
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: derived from the Hebrew name Mattityahu, which means “gift of Yahweh” or “gift of God.”
Famous People: Matthew McConaughey (American actor), Matthew Perry (American-Canadian actor), Matthew Broderick (American actor), Matthew Stafford (American NFL quarterback), Matthew Modine (American actor)
12. Daniel
# of Births (since 1924): 1,909,598
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: derived from the Hebrew name Daniyyel, which means “God is my judge.”
Famous People: Daniel Radcliffe (English actor), Daniel Day-Lewis (retired English actor), Daniel Craig (English actor), Daniel Defoe (English writer, journalist, and pamphleteer), Daniel Boone (American pioneer, explorer, and frontiersman)
11. Charles
# of Births (since 1924): 2,014,431
Origin: Germanic
Meaning: derived from the Germanic name Karl, which means “free man” or “man.”
Famous People: Charles Dickens (English writer and social critic), Charles Darwin (English naturalist, geologist, and biologist), Charles Lindbergh (American aviator), King Charles III (current King of the UK), Charles Barkley (retired American professional basketball player)
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10. Christopher
# of Births (since 1924): 2,054,571
Origin: Greek
Meaning: derived from the Greek name Christophoros, which means “bearer of Christ.”
Famous People: Christopher Columbus (Italian explorer and navigator), Christopher Reeve (American actor), Christopher Nolan (British-American film director, producer, and screenwriter), Christopher Walken (American actor), Christopher Plummer (Canadian actor)
9. Thomas
# of Births (since 1924): 2,125,282
Origin: Aramaic
Meaning: derived from the Aramaic name Ta’oma’, which means “twin.”
Famous People: Thomas Jefferson (3rd President of the United States), Thomas Edison (American inventor and businessman), Thomas Hardy (English novelist and poet), Thomas Hobbes (English philosopher), Thomas More (English lawyer, social philosopher, author, and statesman)
8. Joseph
# of Births (since 1924): 2,281,833
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: derived from the Hebrew name Yosef (יוסף), which means “He will add” or “God will increase.”
Famous People: Joseph Stalin (former leader of the Soviet Union), Joseph Gordeon-Levitt (American actor and filmmaker), Joseph Pulitzer (Hungarian-American newspaper publisher who established the Pulitzer Prizes), Joseph Fiennes (English actor)
7. Richard
# of Births (since 1924): 2,406,731
Origin: Germanic
Meaning: derived from the Old Germanic elements “ric,” meaning “ruler” or “king,” and “hard,” meaning “strong” or “brave.”
Famous People: Richard Nixon (37th President of the United States), Richard Branson (British entrepreneur and founder of the Virgin Group), Richard Gere (American actor), Richard Feynman (American theoretical physicist), Richard III (King of England from 1483 to 1485)
6. William
# of Births (since 1924): 3,443,460
Origin: Germanic
Meaning: derived from the Old German name Willahelm, which is composed of the elements “wil,” meaning “will” or “desire,” and “helm,” meaning “helmet” or “protection.”
Famous People: William Shakespeare (English playwright, poet, and actor), William the Conqueror (first Norman King of England from 1066 to 1087), William Howard Taft (27th President of the United States), William Faulkner (American writer and Nobel Prize laureate), William Wallace (Scottish knight)
5. David
# of Births (since 1924): 3,563,511
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: derived from the Hebrew name Dawid (דָּוִד), which means “beloved” or “friend.”
Famous People: David Beckham (English former professional footballer), David Bowie (English singer, songwriter, and actor), David Letterman (American television host, comedian, and writer), David Lynch (American filmmaker, painter, musician, and writer), David Attenborough (British broadcaster)
4. John
# of Births (since 1924): 4,304,850
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: derived from the Hebrew name Yochanan (יוֹחָנָן), which means “Yahweh is gracious” or “God is gracious.”
Famous People: John F. Kennedy (35th President of the United States), John Lennon (English singer, songwriter, and musician), John D. Rockefeller (American business magnate and philanthropist), John Wayne (iconic American actor), John Steinbeck (American author)
3. Robert
# of Births (since 1924): 4,305,346
Origin: Germanic
Meaning: derived from the Old High German name Hrodebert, which is composed of the elements “hrod,” meaning “fame,” and “beraht,” meaning “bright” or “shining.”
Famous People: Robert Downey Jr. (American actor), Robert Redford (American actor, director, and producer), Robert De Niro (American actor and producer), Robert Frost (American poet), Robert F. Kennedy (American politician and former US Attorney General from 1961 to 1964)
2. Michael
# of Births (since 1924): 4,350,425
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: derived from the Hebrew name מִיכָאֵל (Mikha’el), which means “Who is like God?”
Famous People: Michael Jackson (American singer, songwriter, and dancer), Michael Jordan (American former professional NBA player), Michael Phelps (American former competitive swimmer), Michael Douglas (American actor and producer), Michael Caine (English actor)
1. James
# of Births (since 1924): 4,586,625
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: derived from the Hebrew name Ya’akov (יעקב), which translates to Jacob in English. It means “supplanter” or “one who follows.”
Famous People: James Cameron (Canadian filmmaker), James Brown (American singer, songwriter, and dancer), James Dean (American actor), James Franco (American actor, filmmaker, and writer), James Madison (4th President of the United States)
What Are the Most Common Names to Give Your Little Girl?
Alright, let’s move on to the most common names for girls. Where boys had a stranglehold on Liam and Noah, the girls have a stranglehold on Olivia and Emma – ranking No. 1 and No. 2 every year since 2014.
Emma ranked No. 1 every year between 2014 and 2018, while Olivia ranked No. 2 in that same timespan. Between 2019 and 2023, the rankings flipped with Olivia ranking No. 1 and Emma dropping to No. 2.
They’ve both been inside the top-5 every year since 2008.
But still, just like Noah and Liam, Emma and Olivia aren’t as popular when you look at the numbers over the past 100 years – with Emma ranking 35th (609,552 births) and Olivia ranking 48th (529,879 births).
With that said, let’s take a look at the 25 most common names for girls between 1924 and 2023.
25. Stephanie
# of Births (since 1924): 739,794
Origin: Greek
Meaning: derived from the Greek name Stephanos (Στέφανος), which means “crown” or “garland.”
Famous People: Stephanie Meyer (American author), Stephanie McMahon (American businesswoman and wrestling personality), Stephanie March (American actress), Stephanie Beatriz (American actress)
24. Deborah
# of Births (since 1924): 740,606
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: derived from the Hebrew name דְּבוֹרָה (Devorah), which means “bee.”
Famous People: Deborah Kerr (Scottish actress), Deborah Harry (American singer, songwriter, and actress), Deborah Cox (Canadian R&B singer-songwriter), Debbie Reynolds (American actress, singer, and dancer)
23. Melissa
# of Births (since 1924): 756,273
Origin: Greek
Meaning: derived from the Greek word μέλισσα (melissa), which means “bee.”
Famous People: Melissa McCarthy (American actress, comedian, and writer), Melissa Joan Hart (American actress), Melissa Etheridge (American singer-songwriter and musician), Melissa George (Australian-American actress)
22. Amanda
# of Births (since 1924): 774,175
Origin: Latin
Meaning: derived from the Latin word “amandus,” which means “lovable” or “worthy of love.”
Famous People: Amanda Seyfried (American actress and singer), Amanda Bynes (American actress), Amanda Peet (American actress), Amanda Palmer (American singer, songwriter, and performance artist)
21. Carol
# of Births (since 1924): 801,415
Origin: English, French, Latin
Meaning: derived from the French name Carole or the Latin name Carolus, which is the feminine form of Charles. The name Charles itself means “free man” or “manly.”
Famous People: Carol Burnett (American actress, comedian, singer, and writer), Carol Channing (American actress, singer, dancer, and comedian), Carol Kane (American actress), Carol Alt (American model and actress)
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20. Michelle
# of Births (since 1924): 814,766
Origin: French, Hebrew
Meaning: derived from the Hebrew name Michael, which means “Who is like God?”
Famous People: Michelle Obama (former First Lady of the United States), Michelle Pfeiffer (American actress), Michelle Williams (American actress), Michelle Yeoh (Malaysian actress)
19. Donna
# of Births (since 1924): 818,300
Origin: Italian
Meaning: The name Donna is of Italian origin, meaning “lady” or “woman.”
Famous People: Donna Summer (American singer), Donna Reed (American actress), Donna Karan (American fashion designer), Donna Tartt (American author), Donna Brazile (American political strategist)
18. Margaret
# of Births (since 1924): 843,625
Origin: Greek
Meaning: derived from the Greek word “margaritēs,” which means “pearl.”
Famous People: Margaret Thatcher (Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990), Margaret Atwood (Canadian author), Margaret Mead (American cultural anthropologist), Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon (younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II)
17. Kimberly
# of Births (since 1924): 843,885
Origin: Old English
Meaning: derived from a place name meaning “Cyneburg’s meadow” or “Cyneburg’s field.” The elements “Cyneburg” mean “royal fortress” (from the Old English words “cyne” meaning “royal” and “burg” meaning “fortress” or “manor”), and “ley” means “meadow” or “field.”
Famous People: Kimberly Williams-Paisley (American actress), Kimberly Guilfoyle (American attorney, news personality, and former advisor to President Donald Trump), Kimberly Elise (American actress), Kimberly Perry (American singer and musician)
16. Emily
# of Births (since 1924): 844,051
Origin: Latin
Meaning: derived from the Latin name Aemilia, which is the feminine form of Aemilius, an ancient Roman family name. The name is often associated with the Latin word “aemulus,” meaning “rival” or “eager.”
Famous People: Emily Dickinson (American poet), Emily Blunt (British actress), Emily Bronte (English novelist and poet), Emily Ratajkowski (American model and actress), Emily Deschanel (American actress and producer)
15. Ashley
# of Births (since 1924): 855,088
Origin: Old English
Meaning: derived from a place name meaning “ash tree clearing” or “meadow of ash trees.”
Famous People: Ashley Judd (American actress and political activist), Ashley Olsen (American actress, fashion designer, and businesswoman), Ashley Tisdale (American actress, singer, and producer), Ashley Graham (American plus-size model), Ashley Cole (English former professional footballer)
14. Betty
# of Births (since 1924): 860,122
Origin: English, Hebrew
Meaning: diminutive form of Elizabeth, which is derived from the Hebrew name Elisheva (אֱלִישֶׁבַע). The name Elizabeth means “God is my oath” or “pledged to God.”
Famous People: Betty White (American actress and comedian), Betty Friedan (American feminist writer and activist), Betty Davis (American funk and soul singer), Betty Grable (American actress, singer, and dancer), Betty Ford (former First Lady of the United States)
13. Sandra
# of Births (since 1924): 873,476
Origin: Greek
Meaning: short form of the name Alexandra, which means “defender of the people.” The name Alexandra itself is derived from the Greek name Alexandros, composed of the elements “alexein” (to defend) and “aner” (man).
Famous People: Sandra Bullock (American actress), Sandra Oh (Canadian actress), Sandra Day O’Connor (first woman appointed to the United States Supreme Court), Sandra Cisneros (American writer), Sandra Dee (American actress and model)
12. Nancy
# of Births (since 1924): 957,210
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: derived from the Hebrew name Hannah, which means “grace” or “favor.”
Famous People: Nancy Reagan (former First Lady of the United States), Nancy Sinatra (American singer and actress), Nancy Pelosi (American politician and Speaker of the House), Nancy Kerrigan (American former figure skater and Olympic medalist), Nancy Wilson (American jazz singer and entertainer)
11. Lisa
# of Births (since 1924): 965,624
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: derived as a short form of Elizabeth. Elizabeth itself comes from the Hebrew name Elisheva (אֱלִישֶׁבַע), which means “God is my oath” or “pledged to God.”
Famous People: Lisa Kudrow (American actress, comedian, and writer), Lisa Marie Presley (American singer-songwriter and daughter of Elvis Presley), Lisa Bonet (American actress), Lisa Ling (American journalist, TV presenter, and author)
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10. Sarah
# of Births (since 1924): 985,596
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: derived from the Hebrew name שָׂרָה (Sarah), which means “princess” or “noblewoman.”
Famous People: Sarah Jessica Parker (American actress and producer), Sarah Palin (American politician, commentator, and author), Sarah McLachlan (Canadian singer-songwriter), Sarah Silverman (American comedian, actress, and writer)
9. Karen
# of Births (since 1924): 986,083
Origin: Danish, Greek
Meaning: derived from the name Katherine, which comes from the Greek name Aikaterine. The meaning of Katherine is often associated with the Greek word “katharos,” meaning “pure.”
Famous People: Karen Carpenter (American singer and drummer), Karen Black (American actress), Karen Gillan (Scottish actress), Karen Blixen (Danish author), Karen Allen (American actress)
8. Jessica
# of Births (since 1924): 1,048,185
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: derived from the Hebrew name Yiskah (יִסְכָּה), meaning “foresight” or “to behold.”
Famous People: Jessica Alba (American actress), Jessica Biel (American actress), Jessica Chastain (American actress and producer), Jessica Simpson (American singer, actress, and fashion designer), Jessica Ennis-Hill (British track and field athlete)
7. Susan
# of Births (since 1924): 1,101,447
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: derived from the Hebrew name Shoshana (שׁוֹשַׁנָּה), which means “lily” or “rose.”
Famous People: Susan Sarandon (American actress), Susan B. Anthony (American social reformer), Susan Boyle (Scottish singer), Susan Sontag (American writer, filmmaker, philosopher, and political activist)
6. Barbara
# of Births (since 1924): 1,379,146
Origin: Greek
Meaning: derived from the Greek word “barbaros” (βάρβαρος), which means “foreign” or “stranger.”
Famous People: Barbara Streisand (American singer, actress, and filmmaker), Barbara Walters (American broadcast journalist, author, and TV personality), Barbara Bush (former First Lady of the United States), Barbara Stanwyck (American actress)
5. Elizabeth
# of Births (since 1924): 1,395,049
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: derived from the Hebrew name Elisheva (אֱלִישֶׁבַע), which means “God is my oath” or “pledged to God.”
Famous People: Queen Elizabeth II (former Queen of the UK), Elizabeth Taylor (British-American actress), Elizabeth Warren (American politician and former law professor), Elizabeth Hurley (English actress, businesswoman, and model), Elizabeth Olsen (American actress)
4. Linda
# of Births (since 1924): 1,448,217
Origin: Spanish, Germanic
Meaning: The name Linda is of Spanish origin, meaning “pretty” or “beautiful.” It can also be derived from the Germanic element “lind,” which means “soft” or “tender.”
Famous People: Linda Ronstadt (American singer), Linda Hamilton (American actress), Linda Evangelista (Canadian supermodel), Linda McCartney (American musician, photographer, and animal rights activist), Linda Hunt (American actress)
3. Jennifer
# of Births (since 1924): 1,470,260
Origin: Cornish
Meaning: derived from the Cornish form of the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere), which means “white wave” or “fair one.”
Famous People: Jennifer Aniston (American actress), Jennifer Lopez (American singer, actress, and dancer), Jennifer Lawrence (American actress), Jennifer Garner (American actress)
2. Patricia
# of Births (since 1924): 1,546,373
Origin: Latin
Meaning: derived from the Latin word “patricius,” which means “noble” or “nobleman.”
Famous People: Patricia Arquette (American actress), Patricia Clarkson (American actress), Patricia Heaton (American actress), Patricia Highsmith (American novelist and short story writer), Patricia Neal (American actress)
1. Mary
# of Births (since 1924): 2,985,148
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: derived from the Hebrew name Miriam (מִרְיָם). The exact meaning of Miriam is debated, but it is commonly thought to mean “bitter,” “beloved,” or “wished-for child.”
Famous People: Mary, Queen of Scots (Queen of Scotland from 1542 to 1567), Mary Shelley (English novelist), Mary J. Blige (American singer, songwriter, and actress), Mary Tyler Moore (American actress, producer, and social advocate), Mary Cassatt (American painter and printmaker)
Are You Inspired By Any Of These Common Names?
Parents have a bit of a love-hate relationship with common names. As the statistics show, there are certain names that get more love than others, but they’re the same names other parents try to avoid.
On one hand, common names can provide a sense of familiarity and understanding in social settings, making it easier for a child to blend in and avoid constant corrections or mispronunciations of their name.
On the other hand, common names may lack uniqueness, potentially leading to a feeling of being lost in the crowd, especially in settings like classrooms where multiple children may share the same name.
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Whether you’re ‘Team YES’ or ‘Team NO’ on common names, the list above gives you a solid foundation of names to consider or avoid – and if you need more ideas, we have plenty more where that came from!
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Baby Name Generator
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