James was the most popular boys’ name of the 1950s, just ahead of Michael: 843,768 babies against 837,471. Michael then led every decade from the 1960s through the 1990s. Girls’ names changed faster: 7 different names led the 8 decades, and only Jessica led twice, in the 1980s and 1990s. These rankings come from Social Security records, counting every baby given each name in each decade; the 2020s cover 2020 to 2025.
Not one girls’ name and not one boys’ name was in the top 10 of every decade from the 1950s to the 2020s. James and William come closest for boys: both were in the top 10 in the 1950s and are back in it in the 2020s.
Names Have Become Far More Varied
Over the decades, parents spread their choices across more names, so the top 10 names cover a smaller share of babies:
Decade
Girls: top 10 share
Boys: top 10 share
Names given
1950s
21.3%
31.7%
17,019
1960s
15.1%
28.5%
19,959
1970s
16.5%
25.5%
28,720
1980s
17.1%
22.2%
34,883
1990s
12.1%
16.1%
45,944
2000s
8.7%
10.9%
55,441
2010s
8.3%
8.3%
54,976
2020 to 2025
7.3%
7.8%
45,391
In the 1950s, 31.7% of baby boys got one of the 10 most popular boys’ names. In the 2020s, 7.8% did. The number of different names given grew from 17,019 in the 1950s to 55,441 in the 2000s. The 2020s count is lower only because it covers six years.
Look Up a Name From Any Decade
Type the name in the search box on the home page; its chart shows the babies given it in every year since 1880.
Its page also shows about how many people with the name are alive today and their average age.
