Name Popularity Chart
This chart shows births per year, not living population.
Why Baby Name Popularity Changes Over Time
Names rise and fall because of culture, not logic. A name surges when a celebrity, TV character, or public figure carries it into the spotlight. Then it declines as that generation ages and the name starts to feel dated to the next wave of parents. Girl names shift faster than boy names. Since 1880, 86 unique girl names have appeared in the top 10, compared to only 49 unique boy names. Names without a strong cultural attachment, like William or Elizabeth, hold steady across generations because no single era claims them.
How to Read Your Name's Popularity Chart
The vertical axis shows births per year, meaning the number of babies in the US given that name in each year. The horizontal axis runs from 1990 to 2026. The highest point on the chart is the peak year. Below the chart, a trend label tells you whether your name is Rising, Declining, Stable, or making a Comeback. Rising means births with that name increased over the last 10 years compared to the prior decade. Comeback means the name fell sharply at some point, then started recovering.
Four Name Patterns Worth Knowing
| Pattern | What It Means | Example Names |
|---|---|---|
| Classic Peak | Dominated one era, then declined steadily | Dorothy, Betty, Gary, Larry |
| Timeless | Consistently top-50 across 100 or more years | James, Elizabeth, William |
| Modern Surge | Near-zero before 2000, now top-10 | Liam, Luna, Aria, Mason |
| Comeback | Popular before 1950, then rare, now rising again | Eleanor, Arthur, Hazel, Leo |
The Name That Defined Each Decade
| Decade | Top Boy Name | Top Girl Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1900s | John | Mary |
| 1920s | Robert | Mary |
| 1940s | James | Mary |
| 1960s | Michael | Lisa |
| 1980s | Michael | Jessica |
| 2000s | Jacob | Emily |
| 2010s | Noah | Emma |
| 2020s | Liam | Olivia |
Data source: US Social Security Administration birth records.
What the Chart Does Not Show
The chart tracks births, not living people. A name with 40,000 births in 1965 does not mean there are 40,000 Americans with that name today. Many of those people have died, and others were born in different years. To find out how many Americans with your name are alive right now, HowManyOfMe combines SSA birth records with US Census survival data to produce a living population estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
Your name's popularity chart shows the era you were born into and where your name is heading next. Type your name above to see the full picture, then check how many Americans carry it today at howmanyofmes.com.