The most popular baby name for newborn boys is no ordinary Joe, or John or Michael. As for baby girls, Mary might have been the name of choice more than 100 years ago, but not any longer.
Noah was the most popular name for newborn boys in 2016 for the fourth straight year. There were 19,015 Noahs born that year. Also for the fourth year in a row, the name Liam was the runner-up. Among newborn girls, Emma was the most popular name in 2016 for the third year in a row. That year, 19,414 Emmas entered the world as Emma outdistanced Olivia for the third straight year.
To find the most popular baby boy and girl names for the past 100 years, 24/7 Wall St reviewed data from the U.S. Social Security Administration about the most popular girl and boy names.
Click here to see most popular baby names for boys and girls.
Click here to see our detailed findings and methodology.
Source: Topical Press Agency / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: John
> Female runners up: Helen, Dorothy, Margaret
> Male runners up: William, James, Robert
> Babies born in 1917: 2,944,000
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Source: A. R. Coster / Topical Press Agency / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: John
> Female runners up: Helen, Dorothy, Margaret
> Male runners up: William, James, Robert
> Babies born in 1918: 2,948,000
Source: A. R. Coster / Topical Press Agency / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: John
> Female runners up: Helen, Dorothy, Margaret
> Male runners up: William, James, Robert
> Babies born in 1919: 2,740,000
Source: Central Press / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: John
> Female runners up: Dorothy, Helen, Margaret
> Male runners up: William, Robert, James
> Babies born in 1920: 2,950,000
Source: Topical Press Agency / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: John
> Female runners up: Dorothy, Helen, Margaret
> Male runners up: Robert, William, James
> Babies born in 1921: 3,055,000
Source: Hulton Archive / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: John
> Female runners up: Dorothy, Helen, Margaret
> Male runners up: Robert, William, James
> Babies born in 1922: 2,882,000
Source: Smith / Fox Photos / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: John
> Female runners up: Dorothy, Helen, Margaret
> Male runners up: Robert, William, James
> Babies born in 1923: 2,910,000
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Source: MacGregor / Topical Press Agency / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Robert
> Female runners up: Dorothy, Helen, Betty
> Male runners up: John, William, James
> Babies born in 1924: 2,979,000
Source: Fox Photos / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Robert
> Female runners up: Dorothy, Betty, Helen
> Male runners up: John, William, James
> Babies born in 1925: 2,909,000
Source: Topical Press Agency / Hulton Archive / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Robert
> Female runners up: Dorothy, Betty, Helen
> Male runners up: John, James, William
> Babies born in 1926: 2,839,000
Source: Fox Photos / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Robert
> Female runners up: Dorothy, Betty, Helen
> Male runners up: John, James, William
> Babies born in 1927: 2,802,000
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Source: Fox Photos / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Robert
> Female runners up: Betty, Dorothy, Helen
> Male runners up: John, James, William
> Babies born in 1928: 2,674,000
Source: Fox Photos / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Robert
> Female runners up: Betty, Dorothy, Helen
> Male runners up: James, John, William
> Babies born in 1929: 2,582,000
Source: Hulton Archive / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Robert
> Female runners up: Betty, Dorothy, Helen
> Male runners up: James, John, William
> Babies born in 1930: 2,618,000
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Hulton Archive / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Robert
> Female runners up: Betty, Dorothy, Barbara
> Male runners up: James, John, William
> Babies born in 1931: 2,506,000
Source: Fox Photos / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Robert
> Female runners up: Betty, Barbara, Dorothy
> Male runners up: James, John, William
> Babies born in 1932: 2,440,000
Source: Norman Smith / Fox Photos / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Robert
> Female runners up: Betty, Barbara, Dorothy
> Male runners up: James, John, William
> Babies born in 1933: 2,307,000
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Source: Fox Photos / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Robert
> Female runners up: Betty, Barbara, Shirley
> Male runners up: James, John, William
> Babies born in 1934: 2,396,000
Source: Fox Photos / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Robert
> Female runners up: Shirley, Barbara, Betty
> Male runners up: James, John, William
> Babies born in 1935: 2,377,000
Source: Fox Photos / Hulton Archive / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Robert
> Female runners up: Shirley, Barbara, Betty
> Male runners up: James, John, William
> Babies born in 1936: 2,355,000
Source: B. C. Parade / Fox Photos / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Robert
> Female runners up: Barbara, Patricia, Shirley
> Male runners up: James, John, William
> Babies born in 1937: 2,413,000
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Source: Keystone / Hulton Archive / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Robert
> Female runners up: Barbara, Patricia, Betty
> Male runners up: James, John, William
> Babies born in 1938: 2,496,000
Source: General Photographic Agency / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Robert
> Female runners up: Barbara, Patricia, Betty
> Male runners up: James, John, William
> Babies born in 1939: 2,466,000
Source: Hulton Archive / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: James
> Female runners up: Barbara, Patricia, Judith
> Male runners up: Robert, John, William
> Babies born in 1940: 2,559,000
24/7 Wall St.
Source: George W. Hales / Fox Photos / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: James
> Female runners up: Barbara, Patricia, Carol
> Male runners up: Robert, John, William
> Babies born in 1941: 2,703,000
Source: Keystone / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: James
> Female runners up: Barbara, Patricia, Linda
> Male runners up: Robert, John, William
> Babies born in 1942: 2,989,000
Source: Fred Morley / Fox Photos / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: James
> Female runners up: Barbara, Patricia, Linda
> Male runners up: Robert, John, William
> Babies born in 1943: 3,104,000
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Source: Express / Express / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: James
> Female runners up: Barbara, Linda, Patricia
> Male runners up: Robert, John, William
> Babies born in 1944: 2,939,000
Source: Keystone / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: James
> Female runners up: Linda, Barbara, Patricia
> Male runners up: Robert, John, William
> Babies born in 1945: 2,858,000
Source: Keystone / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: James
> Female runners up: Linda, Patricia, Barbara
> Male runners up: Robert, John, William
> Babies born in 1946: 3,411,000
Source: Keystone / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Linda
> Most popular male baby name: James
> Female runners up: Mary, Patricia, Barbara
> Male runners up: Robert, John, William
> Babies born in 1947: 3,817,000
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Source: Three Lions / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Linda
> Most popular male baby name: James
> Female runners up: Mary, Barbara, Patricia
> Male runners up: Robert, John, William
> Babies born in 1948: 3,637,000
Source: Hulton Archive / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Linda
> Most popular male baby name: James
> Female runners up: Mary, Patricia, Barbara
> Male runners up: Robert, John, William
> Babies born in 1949: 3,649,000
Source: George Konig / Keystone Features / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Linda
> Most popular male baby name: James
> Female runners up: Mary, Patricia, Barbara
> Male runners up: Robert, John, Michael
> Babies born in 1950: 3,632,000
Source: Hulton Archive / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Linda
> Most popular male baby name: James
> Female runners up: Mary, Patricia, Deborah
> Male runners up: Robert, John, Michael
> Babies born in 1951: 3,820,000
Source: Housewife / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Linda
> Most popular male baby name: James
> Female runners up: Mary, Patricia, Deborah
> Male runners up: Robert, John, Michael
> Babies born in 1952: 3,909,000
Source: Alan Meek / Express / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Robert
> Female runners up: Linda, Deborah, Patricia
> Male runners up: James, Michael, John
> Babies born in 1953: 3,959,000
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Source: Central Press / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Linda, Deborah, Patricia
> Male runners up: James, Robert, John
> Babies born in 1954: 4,071,000
Source: Carsten / Three Lions / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Deborah, Linda, Debra
> Male runners up: David, James, Robert
> Babies born in 1955: 4,097,000
Source: Terry Fincher / Keystone / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Debra, Linda, Deborah
> Male runners up: James, Robert, David
> Babies born in 1956: 4,210,000
Source: Chaloner Woods / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Susan, Linda, Debra
> Male runners up: James, David, Robert
> Babies born in 1957: 4,300,000
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Source: Keystone / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Susan, Linda, Karen
> Male runners up: David, James, Robert
> Babies born in 1958: 4,246,000
Source: Reg Speller / Fox Photos / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Susan, Linda, Karen
> Male runners up: David, James, John
> Babies born in 1959: 4,286,000
Source: Keystone / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: David
> Female runners up: Susan, Linda, Karen
> Male runners up: Michael, James, John
> Babies born in 1960: 4,257,850
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Keystone / Hulton Archive / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Mary
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Lisa, Susan, Linda
> Male runners up: David, John, James
> Babies born in 1961: 4,268,326
Source: Chaloner Woods / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Lisa
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Mary, Susan, Karen
> Male runners up: David, John, James
> Babies born in 1962: 4,167,362
Source: Keystone / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Lisa
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Mary, Susan, Karen
> Male runners up: John, David, James
> Babies born in 1963: 4,098,020
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Source: Evening Standard / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Lisa
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Mary, Susan, Karen
> Male runners up: John, David, James
> Babies born in 1964: 4,027,490
Source: Keystone / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Lisa
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Mary, Karen, Kimberly
> Male runners up: John, David, James
> Babies born in 1965: 3,760,358
Source: Chris Ware / Keystone Features / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Lisa
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Kimberly, Mary, Michelle
> Male runners up: David, James, John
> Babies born in 1966: 3,606,274
Source: Express / Express / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Lisa
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Kimberly, Michelle, Mary
> Male runners up: David, James, John
> Babies born in 1967: 3,520,959
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Source: Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Lisa
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Michelle, Kimberly, Jennifer
> Male runners up: David, John, James
> Babies born in 1968: 3,501,564
Source: Keystone / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Lisa
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Michelle, Jennifer, Kimberly
> Male runners up: David, James, John
> Babies born in 1969: 3,600,206
Source: Paramount Pictures / Courtesy of Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Jennifer
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Lisa, Kimberly, Michelle
> Male runners up: James, David, John
> Babies born in 1970: 3,731,386
Source: Dwayne Bey / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Jennifer
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Michelle, Lisa, Kimberly
> Male runners up: James, David, John
> Babies born in 1971: 3,555,970
Source: Susan Schiff Faludi / Three Lions / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Jennifer
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Michelle, Lisa, Kimberly
> Male runners up: Christopher, James, David
> Babies born in 1972: 3,258,411
Source: Express Newspapers / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Jennifer
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Amy, Michelle, Kimberly
> Male runners up: Christopher, Jason, James
> Babies born in 1973: 3,136,965
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Source: John Downing / Express / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Jennifer
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Amy, Michelle, Heather
> Male runners up: Jason, Christopher, David
> Babies born in 1974: 3,159,958
Source: Express Newspapers / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Jennifer
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Amy, Heather, Melissa
> Male runners up: Jason, Christopher, James
> Babies born in 1975: 3,144,198
Source: Evening Standard / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Jennifer
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Amy, Melissa, Heather
> Male runners up: Jason, Christopher, David
> Babies born in 1976: 3,167,788
Source: tiffany terry / Flickr
> Most popular female baby name: Jennifer
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Melissa, Amy, Jessica
> Male runners up: Jason, Christopher, David
> Babies born in 1977: 3,326,632
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Source: Keystone / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Jennifer
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Melissa, Jessica, Amy
> Male runners up: Jason, Christopher, David
> Babies born in 1978: 3,333,279
Source: NBC Television / Courtesy of Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Jennifer
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Melissa, Amanda, Jessica
> Male runners up: Christopher, Jason, David
> Babies born in 1979: 3,494,398
Source: M. Fresco / Evening Standard / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Jennifer
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Amanda, Jessica, Melissa
> Male runners up: Christopher, Jason, David
> Babies born in 1980: 3,612,258
Source: Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Jennifer
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Jessica, Amanda, Sarah
> Male runners up: Christopher, Matthew, Jason
> Babies born in 1981: 3,629,238
Source: S. Davis Follow / Flickr
> Most popular female baby name: Jennifer
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Jessica, Amanda, Sarah
> Male runners up: Christopher, Matthew, Jason
> Babies born in 1982: 3,680,537
Source: Hulton Archive / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Jennifer
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Jessica, Amanda, Ashley
> Male runners up: Christopher, Matthew, David
> Babies born in 1983: 3,638,933
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Source: jade / Flickr
> Most popular female baby name: Jennifer
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Jessica, Ashley, Amanda
> Male runners up: Christopher, Matthew, Joshua
> Babies born in 1984: 3,669,141
Source: Natalia Balcerska Photography / Flickr
> Most popular female baby name: Jessica
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Ashley, Jennifer, Amanda
> Male runners up: Christopher, Matthew, Joshua
> Babies born in 1985: 3,760,561
Source: Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Jessica
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Ashley, Amanda, Jennifer
> Male runners up: Christopher, Matthew, Joshua
> Babies born in 1986: 3,756,547
Source: Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Jessica
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Ashley, Amanda, Jennifer
> Male runners up: Christopher, Matthew, Joshua
> Babies born in 1987: 3,809,394
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Source: Tony Duffy / Allsport / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Jessica
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Ashley, Amanda, Sarah
> Male runners up: Christopher, Matthew, Joshua
> Babies born in 1988: 3,909,510
Source: Addie VanDreumel / Flickr
> Most popular female baby name: Jessica
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Ashley, Brittany, Amanda
> Male runners up: Christopher, Matthew, Joshua
> Babies born in 1989: 4,040,958
Source: Doc List / Flickr
> Most popular female baby name: Jessica
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Ashley, Brittany, Amanda
> Male runners up: Christopher, Matthew, Joshua
> Babies born in 1990: 4,158,212
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Ali Eminov / Flickr
> Most popular female baby name: Ashley
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Jessica, Brittany, Amanda
> Male runners up: Christopher, Matthew, Joshua
> Babies born in 1991: 4,110,907
Source: Kevin Dooley / Flickr
> Most popular female baby name: Ashley
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Jessica, Amanda, Brittany
> Male runners up: Christopher, Matthew, Joshua
> Babies born in 1992: 4,065,014
Source: Lisa5201 / iStock
> Most popular female baby name: Jessica
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Ashley, Sarah, Samantha
> Male runners up: Christopher, Matthew, Joshua
> Babies born in 1993: 4,000,240
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Source: santypan / iStock
> Most popular female baby name: Jessica
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Ashley, Emily, Samantha
> Male runners up: Christopher, Matthew, Joshua
> Babies born in 1994: 3,952,767
Source: ChristinLola / iStock
> Most popular female baby name: Jessica
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Ashley, Emily, Samantha
> Male runners up: Matthew, Christopher, Jacob
> Babies born in 1995: 3,899,589
Source: FamVeld / iStock
> Most popular female baby name: Emily
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Jessica, Ashley, Sarah
> Male runners up: Matthew, Jacob, Christopher
> Babies born in 1996: 3,891,494
Source: katrinaelena / iStock
> Most popular female baby name: Emily
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Jessica, Ashley, Sarah
> Male runners up: Jacob, Matthew, Christopher
> Babies born in 1997: 3,880,894
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Source: JPphoto1992 / iStock
> Most popular female baby name: Emily
> Most popular male baby name: Michael
> Female runners up: Hannah, Samantha, Ashley
> Male runners up: Jacob, Matthew, Joshua
> Babies born in 1998: 3,941,553
Source: JPphoto1992 / iStock
> Most popular female baby name: Emily
> Most popular male baby name: Jacob
> Female runners up: Hannah, Alexis, Sarah
> Male runners up: Michael, Matthew, Joshua
> Babies born in 1999: 3,959,417
Source: LSOphoto / iStock
> Most popular female baby name: Emily
> Most popular male baby name: Jacob
> Female runners up: Hannah, Madison, Ashley
> Male runners up: Michael, Matthew, Joshua
> Babies born in 2000: 4,058,814
24/7 Wall St.
Source: claudyo2001 / iStock
> Most popular female baby name: Emily
> Most popular male baby name: Jacob
> Female runners up: Madison, Hannah, Ashley
> Male runners up: Michael, Matthew, Joshua
> Babies born in 2001: 4,025,933
Source: volare2004 / iStock
> Most popular female baby name: Emily
> Most popular male baby name: Jacob
> Female runners up: Madison, Hannah, Emma
> Male runners up: Michael, Joshua, Matthew
> Babies born in 2002: 4,021,726
Source: volare2004 / iStock
> Most popular female baby name: Emily
> Most popular male baby name: Jacob
> Female runners up: Emma, Madison, Hannah
> Male runners up: Michael, Joshua, Matthew
> Babies born in 2003: 4,089,950
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Source: AnitaPatterson / iStock
> Most popular female baby name: Emily
> Most popular male baby name: Jacob
> Female runners up: Emma, Madison, Olivia
> Male runners up: Michael, Joshua, Matthew
> Babies born in 2004: 4,112,052
Source: camptown / iStock
> Most popular female baby name: Emily
> Most popular male baby name: Jacob
> Female runners up: Emma, Madison, Abigail
> Male runners up: Michael, Joshua, Matthew
> Babies born in 2005: 4,138,349
Source: jarenwicklund / iStock
> Most popular female baby name: Emily
> Most popular male baby name: Jacob
> Female runners up: Emma, Madison, Isabella
> Male runners up: Michael, Joshua, Ethan
> Babies born in 2006: 4,265,555
Source: Anetta_R / iStock
> Most popular female baby name: Emily
> Most popular male baby name: Jacob
> Female runners up: Isabella, Emma, Ava
> Male runners up: Michael, Ethan, Joshua
> Babies born in 2007: 4,316,233
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Source: monkeybusinessimages / iStock
> Most popular female baby name: Emma
> Most popular male baby name: Jacob
> Female runners up: Isabella, Emily, Olivia
> Male runners up: Michael, Ethan, Joshua
> Babies born in 2008: 4,247,694
Source: spfoto / iStock
> Most popular female baby name: Isabella
> Most popular male baby name: Jacob
> Female runners up: Emma, Olivia, Sophia
> Male runners up: Ethan, Michael, Alexander
> Babies born in 2009: 4,130,665
Source: Brendan Hoffman / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Isabella
> Most popular male baby name: Jacob
> Female runners up: Sophia, Emma, Olivia
> Male runners up: Ethan, Michael, Jayden
> Babies born in 2010: 3,999,386
24/7 Wall St.
Source: katrinaelena / iStock
> Most popular female baby name: Sophia
> Most popular male baby name: Jacob
> Female runners up: Isabella, Emma, Olivia
> Male runners up: Mason, William, Jayden
> Babies born in 2011: 3,953,590
Source: andipantz / iStock
> Most popular female baby name: Sophia
> Most popular male baby name: Jacob
> Female runners up: Emma, Isabella, Olivia
> Male runners up: Mason, Ethan, Noah
> Babies born in 2012: 3,952,841
Source: nd3000 / iStock
> Most popular female baby name: Sophia
> Most popular male baby name: Noah
> Female runners up: Emma, Olivia, Isabella
> Male runners up: Liam, Jacob, Mason
> Babies born in 2013: 3,932,181
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Source: bukharova / iStock
> Most popular female baby name: Emma
> Most popular male baby name: Noah
> Female runners up: Olivia, Sophia, Isabella
> Male runners up: Liam, Mason, Jacob
> Babies born in 2014: 3,988,076
Source: Alex Brandon-Pool / Getty Images
> Most popular female baby name: Emma
> Most popular male baby name: Noah
> Female runners up: Olivia, Sophia, Ava
> Male runners up: Liam, Mason, Jacob
> Babies born in 2015: 3,978,497
Source: Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images
Most popular female baby name: Emma
> Most popular male baby name: Noah
> Female runners up: Olivia, Ava, Sophia
> Male runners up: Liam, William, Mason
> Babies born in 2016: 3,941,109
Detailed Findings & Methodology
The popularity of Noah and Emma in 2016 continues a trend of more than several years. But what were the popular trends before that? Which names were parents preferred most in the 1980s or the 1950s?
For the 100-year period ending in 2016, the two most popular names for babies in the United States have been Michael and Mary.
From 1954 through 1998, Michael was the most popular name for a boy every year except for 1960. Jacob wrested the name crown from Michael in 1999 and held it until 2013, when Noah became the preferred choice for newborn boys.
Mary was the girls name champion from 1917 to 1946, before relinquishing the crown to Linda in 1947. Mary regained the top spot in 1953 and held that distinction until 1962. The dominance of Mary 100 years ago was a holdover from the popularity of the name in the 19th century. Nearly 6% of all baby girls born during the 1880s and 1890s were named Mary, making it the most popular female name in the late 19th century.
For both Michael and Mary, there was broad consensus among parents on what to name their child. In the case of Michael, more than 92,000 babies were so named in 1957. As for Mary, the high-water mark year for that name was in 1921, when 73,983 baby girls received that name. When Linda unseated Mary in 1947, 99,685 girls were named Linda, the most of any baby regardless of sex ever in the United States.
Starting from the mid-1980s there has been a greater variety of names as parents have been seeking inspiration for their children’s names from sources such as the Bible, popular culture, sports, and Eastern religions.
To identify the most popular baby names for each year, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the U.S. Social Security Administration about the most popular girl and boy names in the U.S. annually. The names are separated by year and sex. The list was most recently updated with the most popular baby names for 2016. From 1916 to 1959, the number of total births were adjusted to account for under-registration of newborns.
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