Top 100 Baby Names of the Last 100 Years

It seems the newest parents-to-be want a unique name for their child. Though some folks seem to take it a bit too far with monikers like Cougar, Tomorrow, Marvelous and Tequila (and let’s not forget baby Hashtag), most parents presumably want a name their child can live with.
Unusual names may seem like a great idea these days, but traditional names are traditional for a reason. They may be family names, or they may denote a certain meaning that the parents wish to convey to their offspring. Regardless of the reason, these 100 baby names have stood the test of time over the last 100 years or so, based on data from the Social Security Administration.
Here are the top 100 most popular baby names over the last 100 years.
1.) James

CBS Broadcasting, Inc.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Boy
The number-one male baby name for the last 100 years, James has been the popular given name for around 4.9 million boys. James is still in the top 20, showing what a timeless name it really is.
2.) Mary
- Origin: Greek
- Girl
The number one girl’s name is Mary. Over 3.7 million girls have this name. James has been in the top 5 from 1912 to 1980, while Mary has been in the top from 1912 to 1967. Mary ranked 112th in 2011, which still isn’t bad considering the millions of babies born over the last 100 years
3.) Patricia

Mario Anzuoni, Reuters
- Origin: Latin
- Girl
Patricia first became popular in 1935, remaining in the top five for around 20 years. More than 1.5 million girls have been named Patricia. It hasn’t been a popular name recently, so maybe it’s due for a comeback.
4.) John
- Origin: English
- Boy
The name John enjoyed seemingly endless popularity from 1912 to 1972. This baby name is still in the top 30 popular boy’s baby names. There have been more than 4.7 million baby boys named John in the last 100 years.
5.) Elizabeth

Getty Images
- Origin: Greek
- Girl
Elizabeth, meaning “my God is abundance,” is the name given to more than 1.4 million girls in the last 100 years. Famous women named Elizabeth include Queen Elizabeth and actress Elizabeth Taylor.
6.) Robert
- Origin: French
- Boy
The name Robert has been given to more than 4.6 million boys since it first became popular in 1912. Robert means “bright fame” and is the name of many famous men including author Robert Browning, poet Robert Frost and actor Robert Redford.
7.) Jennifer

Getty Images
- Origin: Welsh
- Girl
Jennifer has been the name of more than 1.4 million people in the last 100 years, first hitting the top five in 1968. This name remained popular for 20 years before it fell off the top-five list.
8.) Michael
- Origin: Herbew
- Boy
Michael first hit the top five in 1949 and stayed there through 2010. In that time period, more than 4.2 million people have been named Michael, which means, “who is like God.” Unfortunately, naming your son Michael does not guarantee that he will be god-like.
9.) William

Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
- Origin: French
- Boy
William has been the name of more than 3.7 million boys since 1912. It held strong for 57 years before it dropped from the top five, but it reappeared in 2009 and has been a top name ever since. Famous Williams include William Shakespeare, William the Conqueror of England and author William Faulkner.
10.) Linda
- Origin: Spanish
- Girl
Linda first broke into the top five in 1941 and remained there for more than 20 years. In the last 100 years, there have been more than 1.4 million babies named Linda, which means “soft and tender” or “beautiful.”
11.) Barbara

Russell James
- Origin: Greek
- Girl
Barbara comes from the Greek word “barbaros”. It means “foreign” or “strange traveler from a foreign land.” It was popular in medieval Britain after the 3rd-century martyr, St. Barbara.
12.) David
- Origin: Hebrew
- Boy
This baby name comes from the Hebrew word Dawid, which means “beloved” or “uncle.”
13.) Susan

Parade
- Origin: Persian language, Hebrew, Greek
- Girl
Even though there were many places this name came from, Susan means “lily.”
14.) Richard
- Origin: German, French, and English
- Boy
This name derives from the word “ric” (ruler, leader, king, powerful) and “hard” (strong, brave, hardy). The nam, therefore,e means “strong in rule.”
15.) Jessica

Amy Sussman/Invision/AP/REX/Shutterstock
- Origin: Hebrew
- Girl
This wonderful baby name means two things: “gift” and “God beholds.”
16.) Margaret
- Origin: Greek
- Girl
Margaret means “pearl.”
17.) Joseph

Mark Blinch/Reuters
- Origin: Latin
- Boy
Originally derived from Ioseph, this means “he will add.”
18.) Sarah
- Origin: Hebrew
- Girl
In Hebrew, the meaning of the name Sarah is “Princess.”
19.) Thomas

Wenn
- Origin: English, Welsh, Scottish, French, German, Dutch and Danish
- Boy
The name derives from the medieval personal name of Biblical origin, meaning ‘twin’.
20.) Charles
- Origin: German
- Boy
Started in Germany, this name is an Old English word meaning “a man, freeman, peasant.”
21.) Karen

Sony Pictures
- Origin: Danish
- Girl
The root of this name means “pure” or “unsullied.”
22.) Nancy
- Origin: Hebrew
- Girl
The meaning of this name is “grace.”
23.) Christopher

Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images
- Origin: Greek
- Boy
Christopher comes from a medieval personal name which ostensibly means “bearer of Christ.”
24.) Betty
- Origin: Hebrew
- Girl
Even though this is an American name, the meaning is either “oath of God” or “God is satisfaction.”
25.) Daniel

Barbiradpicture/Shutterstock
- Origin: Hebrew
- Boy
This baby name means, “God is my judge” and it derives from two early biblical figures, primary among them Daniel from the Book of Daniel.
26.) Dorothy
- Origin: Greek
- Girl
Dorothy derives from the Greek word Dōrothéa, which means the “gift of God.”
27.) Matthew

Roy Rochlin/FilmMagic
- Origin: Greek , Hebrew
- Boy
It comes from the Greek form of Hebrew meaning “gift of YAHWEH.” It comes from the roots of the meaning “gift” and refers to the Hebrew God
28.) Lisa
- Origin: Hebrew
- Girl
Similar to Elizabeth, Lisa means “the oath of God” or “God is satisfaction”.
29.) Anthony

Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney
- Origin: Roman
- Boy
This popular baby name means “highly praiseworthy.” It also derives from a Roman clan name.
30.) Donald
- Origin: Gaelic
- Boy
The baby name Donald means “world-ruler” or “world-wielder.”
31.) Sandra

Medium
- Origin: Greek
- Girl
A feminine form of Alexander meaning defender of men, this name has been used in Britain since the early 13th century.
32.) Mark
- Origin: Latin
- Boy
The name Mark means “consecrated to the god Mars.” It also may mean “God of war” or “to be warlike.”
33.) Ashley

Stylehall
- Origin: Anglo-Saxon
- Girl and Boy
The name of the drives from the Anglo-Saxon words meaning “ash,” “meadow” and “forest cleaning.”
34.) Paul
- Origin: Roman
- Boy
The name derives from the Roman clan name, Paulus, which means “small” or “humble.”
35.) Kimberly

Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP
- Origin: Old English
- Girl
The meaning of Kimberly is “from the wood of the royal forest.”
36.) Steven
- Origin: Latin
- Boy
The name is derived from Stephanos, which means “a crown” or “a garland.”
37.) George

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
- Origin: Greek
- Boy
Coming from a few Greek words, the meaning of George is “rustic” and “farmer.”
38.) Donna
- Origin: Italian
- Girl
The name means “woman” in Italian.
39.) Carol

Jake Michaels/The New York Times/Redux.
- Origin: Greek
- Girl
The name is derived from the vocabulary word carol (joyous song, a carol).
40.) Kenneth
- Origin: Gaelic
- Boy
Kenneth means “born of fire” and “handsome.”
41.) Andrew

- Origin: Greek
- Boy
The boy name comes from the Greek word “andros”, which means “man” The meaning evolved into “manly” and, as consequence, “brave”, “strong”, “courageous” and “warrior”.
42.) Michelle
- Origin: French, Hebrew
- Girl
Starting at the French feminine form of Michel, from the Hebrew name Michael that means “Who is like God?”
43.) Emily

Brigitte Lacombe
- Origin: Latin
- Girl
This girl name is derived from the Latin origin name Aemilia, which is the feminine form of the Roman family name Aemilius, which means trying to equal or excel. Also, it is a name taken from the root word aemulus, meaning “rival.”
44.) Joshua
- Origin: Hebrew
- Boy
The name was the name of the biblical Moses’s successor who led the children of Israel into the Promised Land.
45.) Edward

Wenn
- Origin: Old English
- Boy
The meaning behind Edward is “wealthy” or “fortunate guardian”.
46.) Helen
- Origin: Greek
- Girl
From a Greek origin, Helen means “light, torch, bright.”
47.) Amanda

Allure
- Origin: Latin
- Girl
This baby name is derived from the Latin word “amanda”, which means “lovable” and “worthy to be loved.”
48.) Brian
- Origin: Irish, Breton
- Boy
The name possibly means “high” or “noble.”
49.) Kevin

Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock
- Origin: Irish
- Boy
Kevin is an Irish name that means “kind, gentle, handsome.”
50.) Melissa
- Origin: Greek
- Girl
This girl’s name means “bee.”
51.) Deborah

Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP/REX/Shutterstock
- Origin: Hebrew
- Girl
Similar to Melissa, Deborah means “bee.”
52.) Ronald
- Origin: Scandinavian
- Boy
The name is derived from elements that meant “advice,” “decision” and “ruler.”
53.) Timothy

Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
- Origin: Greek
- Boy
Timothy means “honoring God.”
54.) Stephanie
- Origin: Greek
- Girl
Similar to Steven, the name has ties to the Greek word, Stephana, which is a feminine form of Stephanos. This means “a crown” or “a garland.”
55.) Laura

Michael Loccisano/Getty Images For ESPN
- Origin: Latin
- Girl
The name Laura is the feminized form of “laurus”, which is Latin for “bay laurel plant”. In the Greco-Roman era, this plant was used as a symbol of victory, honor or fame.
56.) Jason
- Origin: Latin, Greek
- Boy
This boy name derived from the word “iasthai”, which means “to heal.”
57.) Jeffrey

Theo Wargo, Getty Images
- Origin: German
- Boy
Derived from one of three Old German names, Jeffrey means “district,” “traveler” or “peaceful pledge.”
58.) Rebecca
- Origin: Hebrew
- Girl
The origins of this word stem from the meaning of “noose” and “to tie.”
59.) Sharon

Variety
- Origin: Hebrew
- Girl
Sharon means “a plain, a flat area.”
60.) Ryan
- Origin: Gaelic
- Boy and Girl
Popular sources typically suggest that Ryan means “little king” or “illustrious.”
61.) Gary

BT
- Origin: German
- Boy
The name is derived from the German word “gar”, which means “spear.”
62.) Cynthia
- Origin: Greek
- Girl
Cynthia was originally a title of the Greek goddess Artemis. According to legend, Arthemis was born on Mount Cynthus.
63.) Kathleen

Cindy Barrymore/REX/Shutterstock.
- Origin: Gaelic
- Girl
Similar to Katherine, this name means “pure” from the old Irish language.
64.) Jacob
- Origin: Latin
- Boy
Jacob means “seizing by the heel” or “supplanting.”
65.) Nicholas

- Origin: Greek
- Boy
Derived from the Greek word “nike”, this name means “victory of the people.”
66.) Shirley
- Origin: English
- Girl
The original meaning of the name Shirley is “bright wood,” “bright meadow” and “from the white meadow.”
67.) Amy

Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP Images
- Origin: French
- Girl
Originally from the French, the meaning of this girl name is “dearly loved” and “beloved.”
68.) Eric
- Origin: Norwegian
- Boy
The name is derived from the name “ever or eternal ruler.”
69.) Stephen

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
- Origin: Greek
- Boy
The meaning of this boy name means “crown” and “that which surrounds.”
70.) Anna
- Origin: Latin
- Girl
Derived from the name Hannah, the meaning of Anna is “favor,” “grace” or “beautiful.”
71.) Angela

Rex/Shutterstock
- Origin: Greek
- Girl
This baby name is derived from the Greek word “ángelos”, which means “messenger of gods”
72.) Jonathan
- Origin: Hebrew
- Boy
In Hebrew, the meaning of the name Jonathan is “Jehovah has given.”
73.) Larry

Rex/Shutterstock
- Origin: Latin
- Boy
The name Larry, which is similar to Lawrence and Laurence, means “laurel.”
74.) Ruth
- Origin: Hebrew
- Girl
Ruth means “companion,” “friend” or “vision of beauty.”
75.) Brenda

INSTAR Images
- Origin: Norwegian
- Girl
This girl name means “sword” or “torch.”
76.) Scott
- Origin: Latin
- Boy
Scott is derived from the Latin word “Scoti”, which means Gaelic speaker.
77.) Frank

NY Times
- Origin: Latin
- Boy
The name Francis means “Frenchman” or “free one.”
78.) Pamela
- Origin: Greek
- Girl
The girl name Pamela has roots in Greek meaning “all sweetness” or “honey.”
79.) Virginia

Medium
- Origin: Latin
- Girl
This feminine name has a connection to the Ancient Roman family name Virginius, a name probably derived from the Latin word “virgo”, meaning “maiden” or “virgin.”
80.) Justin
- Origin: Latin
- Boy
Justin is a form of the Latin given name Justinus, a derivative of Justus, meaning “just,” “fair” or “righteous.”
81.) Brandon

Esther Lin
- Origin: English
- Boy
Brandon comes from an old English wording meaning “hill covered with broom.”
82.) Katherine
- Origin: Latin and Greek
- Girl
Katherine comes from Latin and Greek both meaning “pure” and “clear.”
83.) Nicole

Steve Granitz/WireImage
- Origin: Greek
- Girl
The girl name Nicole means “victory of the people.”
84.) Raymond
- Origin: German
- Boy
The male given name comes from the old German word, Ragin, which means “counsel.”
85.) Gregory

Shutterstock
- Origin: Latin
- Boy
Gregory is a masculine name from the word “Gregorius,” which means “watchful.”
86.) Catherine
- Origin: Latin, Greek
- Girl
Similar to Katherine, this name means “pure” and “clear.”
87.) Christine

Christine Lakin
- Origin: Greek
- Girl
The name is mentioned in many languages, all meaning “follower of Christ.”
88.) Samuel
- Origin: Hebrew
- Boy
The boy name means “the name of God.”
89.) Benjamin

Sebastien Nogier/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock
- Origin: Hebrew
- Boy
In Hebrew, the meaning of the name Benjamin is “son of my right hand.”
90.) Samantha
- Origin: Aramaic
- Girl
The girl name Samantha means “listener.”
91.) Debra

People
- Origin: Hebrew
- Girl
The name Debra in Hebrew means “bee.”
92.) Patrick
- Origin: Roman
- Boy
Patrick comes for the Romans, and it means “noble.”
93.) Jack

Joshua Mellin
- Origin: English
- Boy
This boy name means “God is gracious.”
94.) Janet
- Origin: English
- Girl
This girl name is the feminine version of John, and it means “God has been gracious.”
95.) Carolyn

Jill Johnson/jpistudios
- Origin: Italian
- Girl
Originally from Italy, Carolyn means “strong.”
96.) Alexander
- Origin: Greek
- Boy
The name comes from the Greeks, and it means “defender of men.”
97.) Dennis

Fox News
- Origin: Greek
- Boy
The name comes for a Greek God of mythological god of wine and revelry.
98.) Rachel
- Origin: Hebrew
- Girl
The meaning of the Hebrew name is “ewe.”
99.) Heather

Gotham/GC Images
- Origin: English
- Girl
In English, the meaning of the name Heather is “a flowering evergreen plant that thrives on peaty barren lands as in Scotland.”
100.) Jerry
- Origin: English
- Boy
The meaning of this name is “ruling spear.”
Did You Enjoy the Top Baby Names?
There seems to be a lot of baby names that are popular. We wonder what will be popular in the next 100 years. Click next to see the weirdest celebrity baby names.