Most popular names of the 1890s
The most popular names for babies born in the US in the 1890s were Mary for girls and John for boys. Mary was given to about 59 per 1,000 girls, and John to about 71 per 1,000 boys. New in the girls' top 10 compared with the 1880s: Helen, Florence, Ruth and Ethel. New in the boys' top 10: Edward.
Girls
| # | Name | Share of girls | 1880–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mary | 59 per 1,000 | |
| 2 | Anna | 25 per 1,000 | |
| 3 | Margaret | 17 per 1,000 | |
| 4 | Helen new | 17 per 1,000 | |
| 5 | Elizabeth | 15 per 1,000 | |
| 6 | Florence new | 15 per 1,000 | |
| 7 | Ruth new | 15 per 1,000 | |
| 8 | Ethel new | 14 per 1,000 | |
| 9 | Emma | 13 per 1,000 | |
| 10 | Clara | 12 per 1,000 |
Boys
| # | Name | Share of boys | 1880–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John | 71 per 1,000 | |
| 2 | William | 63 per 1,000 | |
| 3 | James | 44 per 1,000 | |
| 4 | George | 38 per 1,000 | |
| 5 | Charles | 32 per 1,000 | |
| 6 | Joseph | 25 per 1,000 | |
| 7 | Frank | 25 per 1,000 | |
| 8 | Robert | 23 per 1,000 | |
| 9 | Edward new | 19 per 1,000 | |
| 10 | Henry | 19 per 1,000 |
"Share" is the average share of babies of that sex who got the name in each year of the decade. Each small curve runs from 1880 to 2025. Source: US Social Security Administration.