A lot has happened over the course of the last century. Prohibition started and ended, 12 American astronauts walked on the moon, the internet was invented and Facebook connected people across the globe. During this time, many trends have come and gone, including the popularity of more than a few names.
If a certain moment in time is especially close to your heart, freeze this frame forever by choosing a name for your baby that topped the charts in that particular year. MooseRoots, a genealogy data site by Graphiq, has made this endeavor easier than ever. Using 2015 data from the Social Security Administration, the MooseRoots team found the top three boy and girl names from 1915 to 2015.
Some names reigned for decades -- Mary, Michael, John -- while others enjoyed only a few years at the top -- Brittany, Hannah, Mason. Take a trip down memory lane to find the perfect name for your little bundle of joy.
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1915
Top female names:
- Mary
- Helen
- Dorothy
Top male names:
- John
- William
- James
1916
Top female names:
- Mary
- Helen
- Dorothy
Top male names:
- John
- William
- James
1917
Top female names:
- Mary
- Helen
- Dorothy
Top male names:
- John
- William
- James
1918
Top female names:
- Mary
- Helen
- Dorothy
Top male names:
- John
- William
- James
1919
Top female names:
- Mary
- Helen
- Dorothy
Top male names:
- John
- William
- James
1920
Top female names:
- Mary
- Dorothy
- Helen
Top male names:
- John
- William
- Robert
1921
Top female names:
- Mary
- Dorothy
- Helen
Top male names:
- John
- Robert
- William
1922
Top female names:
- Mary
- Dorothy
- Helen
Top male names:
- John
- Robert
- William
1923
Top female names:
- Mary
- Dorothy
- Helen
Top male names:
- John
- Robert
- William
1924
Top female names:
- Mary
- Dorothy
- Helen
Top male names:
- Robert
- John
- William
1925
Top female names:
- Mary
- Dorothy
- Betty
Top male names:
- Robert
- John
- William
1926
Top female names:
- Mary
- Dorothy
- Betty
Top male names:
- Robert
- John
- James
1927
Top female names:
- Mary
- Dorothy
- Betty
Top male names:
- Robert
- John
- James
1928
Top female names:
- Mary
- Betty
- Dorothy
Top male names:
- Robert
- John
- James
1929
Top female names:
- Mary
- Betty
- Dorothy
Top male names:
- Robert
- James
- John
1930
Top female names:
- Mary
- Betty
- Dorothy
Top male names:
- Robert
- James
- John
1931
Top female names:
- Mary
- Betty
- Dorothy
Top male names:
- Robert
- James
- John
1932
Top female names:
- Mary
- Betty
- Barbara
Top male names:
- Robert
- James
- John
1933
Top female names:
- Mary
- Betty
- Barbara
Top male names:
- Robert
- James
- John
1934
Top female names:
- Mary
- Betty
- Barbara
Top male names:
- Robert
- James
- John
1935
Top female names:
- Mary
- Shirley
- Barbara
Top male names:
- Robert
- James
- John
1936
Top female names:
- Mary
- Shirley
- Barbara
Top male names:
- Robert
- James
- John
1937
Top female names:
- Mary
- Barbara
- Patricia
Top male names:
- Robert
- James
- John
1938
Top female names:
- Mary
- Barbara
- Patricia
Top male names:
- Robert
- James
- John
1939
Top female names:
- Mary
- Barbara
- Patricia
Top male names:
- Robert
- James
- John
1940
Top female names:
- Mary
- Barbara
- Patricia
Top male names:
- James
- Robert
- John
1941
Top female names:
- Mary
- Barbara
- Patricia
Top male names:
- James
- Robert
- John
1942
Top female names:
- Mary
- Barbara
- Patricia
Top male names:
- James
- Robert
- John
1943
Top female names:
- Mary
- Barbara
- Patricia
Top male names:
- James
- Robert
- John
1944
Top female names:
- Mary
- Barbara
- Linda
Top male names:
- James
- Robert
- John
1945
Top female names:
- Mary
- Linda
- Barbara
Top male names:
- James
- Robert
- John
1946
Top female names:
- Mary
- Linda
- Patricia
Top male names:
- James
- Robert
- John
1947
Top female names:
- Linda
- Mary
- Patricia
Top male names:
- James
- Robert
- John
1948
Top female names:
- Linda
- Mary
- Barbara
Top male names:
- James
- Robert
- John
1949
Top female names:
- Linda
- Mary
- Patricia
Top male names:
- James
- Robert
- John
1950
Top female names:
- Linda
- Mary
- Patricia
Top male names:
- James
- Robert
- John
1951
Top female names:
- Linda
- Mary
- Patricia
Top male names:
- James
- Robert
- John
1952
Top female names:
- Linda
- Mary
- Patricia
Top male names:
- James
- Robert
- John
1953
Top female names:
- Mary
- Linda
- Deborah
Top male names:
- Robert
- James
- Michael
1954
Top female names:
- Mary
- Linda
- Deborah
Top male names:
- Michael
- James
- Robert
1955
Top female names:
- Mary
- Deborah
- Linda
Top male names:
- Michael
- David
- James
1956
Top female names:
- Mary
- Debra
- Linda
Top male names:
- Michael
- James
- Robert
1957
Top female names:
- Mary
- Susan
- Linda
Top male names:
- Michael
- James
- David
1958
Top female names:
- Mary
- Susan
- Linda
Top male names:
- Michael
- David
- James
1959
Top female names:
- Mary
- Susan
- Linda
Top male names:
- Michael
- David
- James
1960
Top female names:
- Mary
- Susan
- Linda
Top male names:
- David
- Michael
- James
1961
Top female names:
- Mary
- Lisa
- Susan
Top male names:
- Michael
- David
- John
1962
Top female names:
- Lisa
- Mary
- Susan
Top male names:
- Michael
- David
- John
1963
Top female names:
- Lisa
- Mary
- Susan
Top male names:
- Michael
- John
- David
1964
Top female names:
- Lisa
- Mary
- Susan
Top male names:
- Michael
- John
- David
1965
Top female names:
- Lisa
- Mary
- Karen
Top male names:
- Michael
- John
- David
1966
Top female names:
- Lisa
- Kimberly
- Mary
Top male names:
- Michael
- David
- James
1967
Top female names:
- Lisa
- Kimberly
- Michelle
Top male names:
- Michael
- David
- James
1968
Top female names:
- Lisa
- Michelle
- Kimberly
Top male names:
- Michael
- David
- John
1969
Top female names:
- Lisa
- Michelle
- Jennifer
Top male names:
- Michael
- David
- James
1970
Top female names:
- Jennifer
- Lisa
- Kimberly
Top male names:
- Michael
- James
- David
1971
Top female names:
- Jennifer
- Michelle
- Lisa
Top male names:
- Michael
- James
- David
1972
Top female names:
- Jennifer
- Michelle
- Lisa
Top male names:
- Michael
- Christopher
- James
1973
Top female names:
- Jennifer
- Amy
- Michelle
Top male names:
- Michael
- Christopher
- Jason
1974
Top female names:
- Jennifer
- Amy
- Michelle
Top male names:
- Michael
- Jason
- Christopher
1975
Top female names:
- Jennifer
- Amy
- Heather
Top male names:
- Michael
- Jason
- Christopher
1976
Top female names:
- Jennifer
- Amy
- Melissa
Top male names:
- Michael
- Jason
- Christopher
1977
Top female names:
- Jennifer
- Melissa
- Amy
Top male names:
- Michael
- Jason
- Christopher
1978
Top female names:
- Jennifer
- Melissa
- Jessica
Top male names:
- Michael
- Jason
- Christopher
1979
Top female names:
- Jennifer
- Melissa
- Amanda
Top male names:
- Michael
- Christopher
- Jason
1980
Top female names:
- Jennifer
- Amanda
- Jessica
Top male names:
- Michael
- Christopher
- Jason
1981
Top female names:
- Jennifer
- Jessica
- Amanda
Top male names:
- Michael
- Christopher
- Matthew
1982
Top female names:
- Jennifer
- Jessica
- Amanda
Top male names:
- Michael
- Christopher
- Matthew
1983
Top female names:
- Jennifer
- Jessica
- Amanda
Top male names:
- Michael
- Christopher
- Matthew
1984
Top female names:
- Jennifer
- Jessica
- Ashley
Top male names:
- Michael
- Christopher
- Matthew
1985
Top female names:
- Jessica
- Ashley
- Jennifer
Top male names:
- Michael
- Christopher
- Matthew
1986
Top female names:
- Jessica
- Ashley
- Amanda
Top male names:
- Michael
- Christopher
- Matthew
1987
Top female names:
- Jessica
- Ashley
- Amanda
Top male names:
- Michael
- Christopher
- Matthew
1988
Top female names:
- Jessica
- Ashley
- Amanda
Top male names:
- Michael
- Christopher
- Matthew
1989
Top female names:
- Jessica
- Ashley
- Brittany
Top male names:
- Michael
- Christopher
- Matthew
1990
Top female names:
- Jessica
- Ashley
- Brittany
Top male names:
- Michael
- Christopher
- Matthew
1991
Top female names:
- Ashley
- Jessica
- Brittany
Top male names:
- Michael
- Christopher
- Matthew
1992
Top female names:
- Ashley
- Jessica
- Amanda
Top male names:
- Michael
- Christopher
- Matthew
1993
Top female names:
- Jessica
- Ashley
- Sarah
Top male names:
- Michael
- Christopher
- Matthew
1994
Top female names:
- Jessica
- Ashley
- Emily
Top male names:
- Michael
- Christopher
- Matthew
1995
Top female names:
- Jessica
- Ashley
- Emily
Top male names:
- Michael
- Matthew
- Christopher
1996
Top female names:
- Emily
- Jessica
- Ashley
Top male names:
- Michael
- Matthew
- Jacob
1997
Top female names:
- Emily
- Jessica
- Ashley
Top male names:
- Michael
- Jacob
- Matthew
1998
Top female names:
- Emily
- Hannah
- Samantha
Top male names:
- Michael
- Jacob
- Matthew
1999
Top female names:
- Emily
- Hannah
- Alexis
Top male names:
- Jacob
- Michael
- Matthew
2000
Top female names:
- Emily
- Hannah
- Madison
Top male names:
- Jacob
- Michael
- Matthew
2001
Top female names:
- Emily
- Madison
- Hannah
Top male names:
- Jacob
- Michael
- Matthew
2002
Top female names:
- Emily
- Madison
- Hannah
Top male names:
- Jacob
- Michael
- Joshua
2003
Top female names:
- Emily
- Emma
- Madison
Top male names:
- Jacob
- Michael
- Joshua
2004
Top female names:
- Emily
- Emma
- Madison
Top male names:
- Jacob
- Michael
- Joshua
2005
Top female names:
- Emily
- Emma
- Madison
Top male names:
- Jacob
- Michael
- Joshua
2006
Top female names:
- Emily
- Emma
- Madison
Top male names:
- Jacob
- Michael
- Joshua
2007
Top female names:
- Emily
- Isabella
- Emma
Top male names:
- Jacob
- Michael
- Ethan
2008
Top female names:
- Emma
- Isabella
- Emily
Top male names:
- Jacob
- Michael
- Ethan
2009
Top female names:
- Isabella
- Emma
- Olivia
Top male names:
- Jacob
- Ethan
- Michael
2010
Top female names:
- Isabella
- Sophia
- Emma
Top male names:
- Jacob
- Ethan
- Michael
2011
Top female names:
- Sophia
- Isabella
- Emma
Top male names:
- Jacob
- Mason
- William
2012
Top female names:
- Sophia
- Emma
- Isabella
Top male names:
- Jacob
- Mason
- Ethan
2013
Top female names:
- Sophia
- Emma
- Olivia
Top male names:
- Noah
- Liam
- Jacob
2014
Top female names:
- Emma
- Olivia
- Sophia
Top male names:
- Noah
- Liam
- Mason
2015
Top female names:
- Emma
- Olivia
- Sophia
Top male names:
- Noah
- Liam
- Mason
