Q.
What was the most common first name amongst your high school friends?

Beware the person asking you that question. Particularly if they are smoking a pipe, wearing a trench coat, and shadowing their eyes beneath a herringbone cap. Well, perhaps, beware this person in general. But know that, here, the nosy posy could be digging a fast-track tunnel to your date and place of birth.

What do we know about the most popular English first names by decade?

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A.

We can find some official information as listed in the USA Social Security Administration website.

Top 3 Most Popular Baby Names By Decade in the US

1880 Females
i.   Mary
ii.  Anna
iii. Emma

1880 Males
i.   John
ii.  William
iii.  James

🦩

1890 Females
i.   Mary
ii.  Anna
iii. Margaret

1890 Males
i.   John
ii.  William
iii. James

🦩

1900 Females
i.   Mary
ii.  Helen
iii. Margaret

1900 Males
i.   John
ii.  William
iii. James

🦩

1910 Females
i.   Mary
ii.  Helen
iii. Dorothy

1910 Males
i.   John
ii.  William
iii. James

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Gustav Klimt. Baby (Cradle). 1917/18

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1920 Females
i.   Mary
ii.  Dorothy
iii. Helen

1920 Males
i.   Robert
ii.  John
iii. James

🦩

1930’s Females
i.   Mary
ii.  Betty
iii. Barbara

1930’s Males
i.   Robert
ii.  James
iii. John

🦩

1940’s Females
i.   Mary
ii.  Linda
iii. Barbara

1940’s Males
i.   James
ii.  Robert
iii. John

🦩

1950’s Females
i.   Mary
ii.  Linda
iii. Patricia

1950’s Males
i.   James
ii.  Michael
iii. Robert

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Richard Diebenkorn. Seated Woman. 1967

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1960’s Females
i.   Lisa
ii.  Mary
iii. Susan

1960’s Males
i.   Michael
ii.  David
iii.  John

🦩

1970’s Females
i.   Jennifer
ii.  Amy
iii. Melissa

1970’s Males
i.    Michael
ii.   Christopher
iii.  Jason

🦩

1980’s Females
i.   Jessica
ii.  Jennifer
iii. Amanda

1980’s Males
i.   Michael
ii.  Christopher
iii. Matthew

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1990’s Females
i.   Jessica
ii.  Ashley
iii. Emily

1990’s Males
i.   Michael
ii.  Christopher
iii. Matthew

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Louisa Matthíasdóttir. Village Scene. 1991

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2000’s Females
i.   Emily
ii.  Madison
iii. Emma

2000’s Males
i.   Jacob
ii.  Michael
iii. Joshua

🦩

2010s Females
i.   Emma
ii.  Olivia
iii. Sophia

2010’s Females
i.   Noah
ii.  Liam
iii. Jacob

🦩

And for 2021-2023

Females
i.   Olivia
ii.  Emma
iii. Charlotte

Males
i.   Liam
ii.  Noah
iii. Oliver

🦩

Bringing it all together …

The Top 5 Names From 1924-2023

Females
i.   Mary
ii.  Patricia
iii. Jennifer
iv.  Linda
v.   Elizabeth 🦚

Males
i.   James
ii.  Michael
iii.  Robert
iv.  John
v.   David

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www.justcurious.ca

Header Art: Joan Miró. Horse, Pipe, and Red Flower. 1920