What's in a Name?

Trends come and go, but names are forever.  Just like with anything else, there are trends in baby names.  Some names peak in popularity for a short time and then quickly disappear, like the name Miley.  Obviously, this name was made popular by pop superstar, Miley Cyrus.  Unlike some pop stars though, some baby names have stood the test of time.

Andrew Thompson, Data Editor at Ceros, took the liberty of charting every name recorded by the Social Security Administration dating back to 1910.  From this data set, Thompson created an interactive widget for parents, or anyone with curiosity, to see how popular a name has been over the last century.

Thompson also took the liberty of determining which names have been the most popular over the last 100 years, and which have been the least popular.  Check it out below!

Most Popular Boy Names:
1. James
2. John
3. Robert
4. Michael
5. William

Most Popular Girl Names:
1. Mary
2. Patricia
3. Elizabeth
4. Jennifer
5. Linda 

Least Popular Boy Names:
1. Davi
2. Jourdan
3. Ahron
4. Bladimir
5. Kimani

 Least Popular Girl Names:
1. Zipporah
2. Mikaylah
3. Kassi
4. Saphira
5. Rashonda

If you’d like to play with Thompson’s tool, click here!