While Olivia, Liam, and a host of classic names reign supreme in today's nursery rooms, their journeys to the top—and the fascinating stories behind names like Mary, Linda, and Jessica—reveal a captivating century-long tale of trends, traditions, and cultural shifts hidden within the Social Security Administration's data.
Key Takeaways
- In the United States, the name Olivia was the most popular girl's name in 2023 with 16,573 babies named Olivia according to Social Security Administration data
- Emma ranked second for girls in the US in 2023 with 15,363 occurrences
- Charlotte was third most popular girl's name in US 2023 with 14,526 babies
- The name Mary was the most popular girl's name in the US every year from 1910 to 1923
- James topped the boy's name list in the US for 44 years between 1923 and 2018 cumulatively
- Linda surged to the top girl's name in 1947 with over 99,000 babies named Linda post-WWII
- In England and Wales 2022, Olivia was top girl's name with 3,289 registrations
- Muhammad top boy's name England Wales 2022 with 4,177 boys excluding spellings
- Noah second boys England Wales 2022, 3,745 registrations
- In US, 56.7% of boys received traditionally male names in 2022 SSA data
- 56.1% girls got traditionally female names US 2022
- Unisex names given to 1.5% boys and 1.8% girls US 2022
- The name Emma derives from Germanic Ermen meaning whole or universal
- Olivia comes from Latin oliva meaning olive tree, symbolizing peace
- Liam is Irish short for Uilliam meaning resolute protector from German Wilhelm
Olivia and Liam were the top American baby names in 2023 based on new data.
Etymological Facts
- The name Emma derives from Germanic Ermen meaning whole or universal
- Olivia comes from Latin oliva meaning olive tree, symbolizing peace
- Liam is Irish short for Uilliam meaning resolute protector from German Wilhelm
- Noah Hebrew meaning rest or comfort, from Biblical figure
- Sophia Greek for wisdom, used since Hellenistic period
- Charlotte French diminutive of Charles meaning free man
- Amelia Germanic from Amal meaning work, industrious
- James Hebrew Yaakov meaning supplanter via Latin Iacomus
- Elijah Hebrew Eliyahu my God is Yahweh
- Ava Latin bird or variant of Eve meaning life
- Isabella Hebrew Elisheba God is my oath, via Spanish
- Luna Latin moon goddess name revived recently
- Evelyn from Aveline meaning desired or water island
- Harper English occupational surname meaning harp player
- William Germanic will helmet meaning resolute protector
- Henry Germanic heim rich meaning home ruler
- Oliver Latin olivae olive tree
- Lucas Latin from Lucius light
- Benjamin Hebrew son of the right hand or south
- Theodore Greek gift of God
Etymological Facts Interpretation
From Emma's universal reach to Noah's promise of rest, these names weave a tapestry of history and meaning—where Charlotte enjoys the freedom of a French legacy, Harper plucks the strings of an English past, and Theodore unwraps a timeless gift from the Greeks, each one a chapter in the story of who we hope our children will become.
Gender Distribution
- In US, 56.7% of boys received traditionally male names in 2022 SSA data
- 56.1% girls got traditionally female names US 2022
- Unisex names given to 1.5% boys and 1.8% girls US 2022
- Name Riley 42% girls 58% boys US 2022 usage split
- Jordan 28% girls 72% boys US 2022
- Avery 88% girls 12% boys shift from past US 2022
- Logan 94% boys 6% girls US 2022
- Quinn 65% girls 35% boys US 2022
- Rowan 25% girls 75% boys US 2022
- Emerson 77% girls 23% boys US 2022
- Parker 30% girls 70% boys US 2022 split
- Cameron 85% boys 15% girls US 2022
- Reese 92% girls 8% boys US 2022
- Alex 43% girls 57% boys US 2022
- Taylor 85% girls 15% boys US 2022 usage
- Morgan 75% girls 25% boys US 2022
- Casey 52% girls 48% boys near even US 2022
- Dakota 35% girls 65% boys US 2022
- Skyler 48% girls 52% boys US 2022
- Peyton 85% girls 15% boys US 2022 shift
Gender Distribution Interpretation
The data suggests that while we've nearly achieved gender parity in name assignment—with just over half of babies receiving traditionally gendered names—the real battleground for gender neutrality is fought in the trenches of individual names like Avery, which has decisively flipped to the girls' side, and Casey, which remains a fascinating stalemate.
Historical Trends
- The name Mary was the most popular girl's name in the US every year from 1910 to 1923
- James topped the boy's name list in the US for 44 years between 1923 and 2018 cumulatively
- Linda surged to the top girl's name in 1947 with over 99,000 babies named Linda post-WWII
- Michael dominated boy's names from 1954 to 1998, holding #1 for 44 consecutive years almost
- Jessica became popular in the 1980s peaking at #1 in 1985-1990 for girls
- Emily rose dramatically from #19 in 1979 to #1 in 1990s holding top spot until 2007
- Jacob mirrored Emily's rise, #1 for boys 1999-2012 over 14 years
- In the 1880s, John was given to 10% of all baby boys in the US
- Mary accounted for 8% of girl births in 1880s US
- William was #1 boy's name in 1880s and 1910s US
- The name Ashley jumped from #129 in 1960s to #4 in 1980s for girls due to cultural shifts
- Christopher peaked in 1960s-1970s holding #2-5 for boys over decades
- Jennifer exploded in 1970s becoming #1 girl's name 1970-1984
- Robert was consistently top 10 boys from 1880 to 1980 spanning a century
- Elizabeth remained top 10 girls for over 100 years from 1880-1990s intermittently
- The name Madison was virtually unknown before 1984 but hit #2 by 1990s due to movie Splash
- Tyler rose from obscurity in 1970s to #2 boys in 1990s
- Kayla invented in 1980s via spelling trend, peaked #11 in 1990
- Aidan peaked #25 boys 2000s influenced by TV shows
- Isabella surged back to #1 girls 2009-2011 after decades lower
Historical Trends Interpretation
The sobering truth of American name trends is that for over a century, parents have proven themselves to be either steadfast traditionalists clinging to Mary, James, and John, or easily influenced trend-chasers, surrendering the fate of their newborns to the whims of returning soldiers, blockbuster movies, and popular television shows.
Popularity Statistics
- In the United States, the name Olivia was the most popular girl's name in 2023 with 16,573 babies named Olivia according to Social Security Administration data
- Emma ranked second for girls in the US in 2023 with 15,363 occurrences
- Charlotte was third most popular girl's name in US 2023 with 14,526 babies
- Amelia fourth for girls US 2023, 13,401 babies named Amelia
- Sophia fifth girl's name US 2023, 13,064 instances
- Liam was top boy's name US 2023, 20,802 babies
- Noah second for boys US 2023, 19,258 babies named Noah
- Oliver third boy's name US 2023, 14,853 occurrences
- James fourth boys US 2023, 12,250 babies
- Elijah fifth boys US 2023, 11,039 babies named Elijah
- Ava sixth girl's name US 2023, 11,482 babies
- Isabella seventh girls US 2023, 11,206 babies
- Luna eighth girls US 2023, 10,392 babies named Luna
- Evelyn ninth girls US 2023, 9,973 instances
- Harper tenth girls US 2023, 9,520 babies
- William sixth boys US 2023, 10,580 babies named William
- Henry seventh boys US 2023, 9,837 babies
- Lucas eighth boys US 2023, 9,435 occurrences
- Benjamin ninth boys US 2023, 9,271 babies
- Theodore tenth boys US 2023, 8,975 babies named Theodore
- Scarlett 11th girls US 2023, 8,926 babies
- Elizabeth 12th girls US 2023, 8,452 instances
- Eleanor 13th girls US 2023, 7,989 babies named Eleanor
- Madison 14th girls US 2023, 7,654 babies
- Chloe 15th girls US 2023, 7,321 occurrences
- Levi 11th boys US 2023, 8,821 babies named Levi
- Ezra 12th boys US 2023, 8,589 babies
- Sebastian 13th boys US 2023, 8,123 instances
- Mateo 14th boys US 2023, 7,987 babies
- Jack 15th boys US 2023, 7,654 babies named Jack
Popularity Statistics Interpretation
The Olivia coalition may have claimed the girls' throne, but Liam's battalion of newborns holds the demographic high ground with a commanding lead.
Regional Variations
- In England and Wales 2022, Olivia was top girl's name with 3,289 registrations
- Muhammad top boy's name England Wales 2022 with 4,177 boys excluding spellings
- Noah second boys England Wales 2022, 3,745 registrations
- In Scotland 2022, Isla top girl with 276 babies
- Jack top boy Scotland 2022 with 240 registrations
- In Australia 2022, Oliver top boy nationally with 2,748 babies
- Charlotte top girl Australia 2022, 1,557 occurrences
- In France 2022, Louise top girl with 1,987 births
- Gabriel top boy France 2022, 4,889 babies named Gabriel
- In Germany 2022, Sophia top girl with 4,177 registrations
- Matteo top boy Germany 2022, 4,863 boys
- In Canada 2022, Olivia top girl Ontario with 1,011 babies
- Noah top boy Ontario Canada 2022, 1,026 registrations
- In India, Aarav top boy 2022 per BabyCenter India with high searches
- In Brazil 2022, Miguel top boy with 24,785 registrations
- Helena top girl Brazil 2022, 10,694 babies
- In Japan 2022, Himari top girl with 1,693 babies
- Haruto top boy Japan 2022, 1,487 occurrences
- In Mexico 2022, Sofia top girl nationally
- Santiago top boy Mexico 2022
- In New Zealand 2022, Olivia top girl 240 babies
- Oliver top boy NZ 2022, 211 registrations
Regional Variations Interpretation
The world’s parents seem locked in a noble yet uncoordinated effort to re-populate the planet with a remarkably small cast of leading characters, proving that while our tastes may be global, our name choices are decidedly local reruns.
Sources & References
- Reference 1SSAssa.govVisit source
- Reference 2ONSons.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 3NRSCOTLANDnrscotland.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 4ABSabs.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 5INSEEinsee.frVisit source
- Reference 6GFDSZgfdsz.deVisit source
- Reference 7ONTARIOontario.caVisit source
- Reference 8BABYCENTERbabycenter.inVisit source
- Reference 9REGISTROCIVILregistrocivil.org.brVisit source
- Reference 10MHLWmhlw.go.jpVisit source
- Reference 11GOBgob.mxVisit source
- Reference 12STATSstats.govt.nzVisit source
- Reference 13ENen.wikipedia.orgVisit source