Most popular names by decade
Names come and go in waves. This table shows the number one name for American girls and boys in every decade since the 1880s. Open a decade to see its full top 10 and how each name's popularity rose and fell.
| Decade | Top girl's name | Top boy's name |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | Mary | John |
| 1890s | Mary | John |
| 1900s | Mary | John |
| 1910s | Mary | John |
| 1920s | Mary | Robert |
| 1930s | Mary | Robert |
| 1940s | Mary | James |
| 1950s | Mary | James |
| 1960s | Lisa | Michael |
| 1970s | Jennifer | Michael |
| 1980s | Jessica | Michael |
| 1990s | Jessica | Michael |
| 2000s | Emily | Jacob |
| 2010s | Emma | Noah |
| 2020s (so far) | Olivia | Liam |
1880s1890s1900s1910s1920s1930s1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s