Image: Shutterstock
The Social Security Administration in the United States listed the 100 most popular given names in the past century (1915 – 2014) with the number of times that name was given in the century, considering 167,106,197 female birth during this time. Only ten girls’ names have reached the top of the list. While many remained in the same slot for decades, others swayed in their popularity and rankings over the years, yet managed to make it to the top last year. Here are the top 10 arranged in order of number of girls bearing these names during 2014-2015 derived from the US Social Security Administration data:
1. Mary
Name Numbers: 3,569,442
Mary is essentially a name from the New Testament. The name stands not only for the Mother of Jesus Christ but also as the ‘mother of all girls’ names’ in the English-speaking countries. It was at the number one position in 1880 when the SSA started keeping records and held the position till the 1940s. Later it saw a dip and went to its lowest to 120 in 2014. But there is a resurgence of the popularity again after the character Lady Mary in ‘Downtown Abbey.’
2. Patricia
Name Number: 1,566,449
Patricia is of Latin origin derived from the word ‘patrician’ that mean ‘noble’. It was the second most popular name for girls in the US as per the 1990 Census. In last year’s chart it took the second slot.
3. Jennifer
Name Number: 1,462,389
Welsh in origin, the name Jennifer gained popularity after the actress Jennifer Jones. With the release of the film ‘Love Story’ in 1970, the name shot to fame. Jennifer was at the top of the list for nearly 14 years between 1970 and 1984. Apparently there has been no name so far that became such an epidemic or represent a generation of girls as this name did. There were 859,112 Jennifers in the US when this name occupied the top slot.
4. Elisabeth
Name Number: 1,459,038
With its origins in English and Swiss origins. It became famous after Elisabeth I ascended the throne. Elisabeth has shorter versions as Lizzie or Liz. But most parents prefer their daughter be called Lisa over the other two shorter versions.
5. Linda
Name Number: 1,447,566
In 1947, Linda overtook Mary in popularity. It remained in the top slot for six straight years and stayed in the top ten until 1966. One doesn’t know if its popularity can be alluded to actress Linda Darnell. In 1947, there were 99,680 baby girls born who were given this name.
6. Barbara
Name Number: 1,418,293
The name Barbara is of Greek and Latin origin meaning ‘foreign’. It was one of the most popular names in the United States during the 1930s. In the 1940s, it was second to Mary. Barbara was also a popular third-century saint who is the patron of architects, geologists, mathematicians and those handling artillery.
7. Susan
Name Number: 1,107,596
Susan has been derived from English Susannah and Hebrew Soshana or Shoshannah meaning a lily or a rose. The name was at the peak of its popularity in 1955 in the United States with 47,364 baby girls were named Susan.
8. Margaret
Name Number: 1,060,055
Margaret has been derived from the Greek word Maragon for ‘pearl’. It is a classic name used for saints and queens. Margaret is still the Scottish national name. It is an important family name for several people. It was also the first name of Margaret Thatcher, the former Prime Minister of Britain. The modern version of the name has been reduced to Maggie or Meg.
9. Jessica
Name Number: 1,039,233
Jessica has a dubious origin and meaning. However, it is also alluded to Jesse of Hebrew origin meaning ‘gift’. Jessica overtook Jennifer when it was being overused. It also achieved the classic status through Shakespearean works. It was on the top between 1985 and 1990, saw a slump, then reached the top again between 1993 and 1995. In 1985, there were 48,346 baby girls in the US named Jessica.
10. Sarah
Name Number: 997,279
The name Sarah has a Hebrew origin. It means ‘princess’. It is also the Biblical name of the wife of Abraham and the mother of Isaac. The name was very popular between the 1980s and 2000. But has seen a slump of late.
Do your kids bear any of these names? Write us back!
