Back to School Names
School is back in session! What names are filling the classroom rosters this year versus when you were in school -- and your parents and grandparents?
For school-aged kids, names are a particularly important component of identity. We hear countless adults today report resenting having been one of five Ashleys in their grade in school. And on the opposite end of the spectrum, we hear stories from adults who were teased in school for their unique names.
The incoming Kindergarteners in the United States were born in 2018-2019, meaning the most common names in the youngest grammar school classes will include Emma, Olivia, and Ava for girls, and Liam, Noah, and William for boys.
80s kids, on the other hand, were much more likely to share a seat on the bus with a Jessica, Jennifer, Michael, or Christopher.
So let's take a look into what names you would have seen on the classroom rosters in each decade, based on the names given to the highest number of babies in that span of 10 years.
Top Names of the 2020s
Babies born in the 2020s may not be in grammar school quite yet, but here is a sneak peak into what names we can expect to define the current decade and rule the roost in the graduating class of 2040. As of the most recent year of data (2023), soft-spoken Theodore has officially knocked timeless classic Alexander out of the Top 10 names of the 2020s thus far.
Top Names of the 2010s
Kids born in the 2010s are in their prime school age now — ranging from Kindergarten to eighth grade. Emma and Noah were the top names of the last full decade, with other popular picks including surnames Mason and Madison and gentle classics like Charlotte and Elijah.
Top Names of the 2000s
With the start of a new millennia came the wave of today's generation of top baby names. Current popular picks like Olivia and Isabella entered the US Top 10 for the first time in this decade. On the boy's side, strong and sturdy Biblical names dominated including Jacob, Ethan, and Daniel.
Top Names of the 1990s
The names most commonly seen in classrooms of 90s kids include Taylor and Tyler, Jessica and Joshua, Megan and Michael — now composing the new current generation of mom names and dad names.
Top Names of the 1980s
Heather, Heather, and Heather — I've gotta hand it to one of my favorite movies for representing a realistic 1980s classroom. For boys, down-to-earth classics like Chris, Matt, and Dave were favorites.
Top Names of the 1970s
It was over 10 years of baby Jennifers and baby Jasons filling up nurseries that led Nameberry founders Pamela Redmond and Linda Rosenkrantz to write their revolutionary baby name book — Beyond Jennifer & Jason — in the 80s. Defining names of the 70s also include Angela, Kimberly, and Lisa for girls, and Brian, Michael, and Christopher for boys.
Top Names of the 1960s
The 60s brought along one giant leap for mankind, and one even bigger leap for baby names — the first ever "trendy" and nontraditional boy name to the make the US Top 10: Jeffrey. For girls, Karen, Susan, and Linda were favorites.
Top Names of the 1950s
Debbie dominated in the 50s, with both Deborah and Debra among the top names of the decade. James, Michael, and Robert rounded out the Top 3 for boys.
Top Names of the 1940s
As World War II came to a close in 1945, the Baby Boom began. With this influx of babies came an influx of Carols, Judiths, and Sharons, Richards, Ronalds, and Roberts.
Top Names of the 1930s
American sweetheart Shirley Temple brought her name into the limelight throughout the 30s. Other influential 30s figures include Joan Crawford, Barbara Stanwyck, and Bette Davis. Donald, George, and Thomas were popular names for boys.
Top Names of the 1920s
Exactly a century ago, clunky, strong girl names were the pinnacle of style in the Roaring Twenties, including Doris, Mildred, and Frances. Robert, John, and James were the top names for boys.
Top Names of the 1910s
Parents in the 1910s loved sweet classics like Anna, Elizabeth, and Margaret. Frank, Edward, and Charles were popular picks for baby boys.
Top Names of the 1900s
Soft and feminine girl names like Florence, Marie, and Helen were in style at the turn of the 20th century. Classics like John, William, and James would hold strong for over 100 years since.
What was your favorite decade of names? Look out for this Sunday's newsletter to cast your vote!