News The Most Popular Baby Names 100 Years Ago Gone are the days when Marys and Margarets reigned supreme. By Meghan Overdeep Meghan Overdeep Meghan Overdeep has more than a decade of writing and editing experience for top publications. Her expertise extends from weddings and animals to every pop culture moment in between. She has been scouring the Internet for the buzziest Southern news since joining the team in 2017. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on July 1, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email In This Article View All In This Article The Most Popular Baby Names From 1920 The Top Names From the Last 100 Years How to Pick a Classic Baby Name More Timeless and Historical Baby Name Ideas In 1920, Prohibition was in full swing, women had just been granted the right to vote, and commercial radio was just starting to take off. It's wild to think about how far America has come in 100 years—how much has changed, and yet, how much has stayed the same. For comparison, we looked through the Social Security Administration's baby name database to see what Americans were naming their kids the year Amelia Earhart took her first flight. Wondering what the baby name landscape looked like in 1920? Here are the top 25 monikers for boys and girls. George Marks/Getty Images The Most Popular Baby Names From 1920 It turns out that names like William, James, and Elizabeth have been going strong for more than a century, while the Mildreds and Alberts of the world appear to have fallen on hard times. The 25 Most Popular Girl Names From 1920 MaryDorothyHelenMargaretRuthMildredVirginiaElizabethFrancesAnnaBettyEvelynMarieDorisAliceFlorenceIreneLillianLouiseRoseCatherineGladysMarthaMarjorieEleanor The 25 Most Popular Boy Names From 1920 JohnWilliamRobertJamesCharlesGeorgeJosephEdwardFrankRichardThomasHaroldWalterPaulRaymondDonaldHenryArthurAlbertJackHarryRalphKennethHowardDavid The Top Names From the Last 100 Years These names are the overall top 25 names from 1922 to 2021, according to the Social Security Administration. In the last 100 years, James and Mary have held the No. 1 spot, which are classic Biblical names. The Top 25 Girl Names From the Last 100 Years MaryPatriciaJenniferLindaElizabethBarbaraSusanJessicaSarahKarenLisaNancyBettyMargaretSandraAshleyKimberlyEmilyDonnaMichelleCarolAmandaDorothyMelissaDeborah The Top 25 Boy Names From the Last 100 Years JamesRobertJohnMichaelDavidWilliamRichardThomasCharlesChristopherDanielMatthewAnthonyMarkDonaldStevenPaulAndrewJoshuaKennethKevinBrianGeorgeTimothy How to Pick a Classic Baby Name once you decide on an approach—like classic or timeless baby names— you can focus on whittling down the list. For a baby name that has some roots, choose a name after a special family member, which is a long-standing Southern tradition, or a historical figure from the past you admire. When a baby name comes from a special person, it becomes more meaningful and adds a sense of legacy to your family. More Timeless and Historical Baby Name Ideas If having a connection with the past is important to you for naming your baby, learn the meaning behind these centuries-old names and who they are connected to in history. For names that reflect one's faith, explore these Biblical names from the Old Testament for boys and girls and their significance. There are also timeless Southern baby names that we will always treasure. Vintage names are making a comeback too—drawn from everything from literary works and royal family members to your own family tree—with deep origins you can pass on to the next generation. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit