Top 200 Popular Baby Names in America

Author: Social Security
Published: 6 May 2016 - Updated: 15 Jul 2026
Publication Type: Informative

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content

Synopsis

This list draws directly from U.S. Social Security Administration data, which serves as America's definitive source for baby naming trends. The analysis compiles the 200 most frequently given names for boys and girls from over 23 million recorded births, making it authoritative for parents, researchers, and educators seeking evidence-based naming patterns. The data's authority stems from Social Security's unique position processing all infant name registrations during card applications, providing an unfiltered snapshot of actual parental naming choices across all demographics and regions of the country.*

At a Glance

• 1 - Jacob topped the boys' list with 112,227 occurrences and Sophia led the girls with 121,787, edging out runners-up Noah and Emma.
• 2 - The rankings were drawn from 12,181,467 male births and 11,627,861 female births, based on a 100 percent sample of Social Security card application data.
• 3 - Social Security has published name lists for every year going back to 1880, though it only began compiling them in 1997, and parents supply the name when applying for a child's Social Security card.

Topic Definition

Popular Baby Names

Popular baby names are the given names most frequently chosen by parents for their newborns over a particular period, usually ranked by how many children received each name. In the United States, the definitive record comes from the Social Security Administration, which captures the name of nearly every child at birth through the Social Security card application, giving an unusually complete and unfiltered picture of what families are actually naming their kids rather than a sample or estimate. Because the data is gathered the same way year after year and stretches back to 1880, it lets parents, researchers, and educators trace how tastes shift over time, watching enduring classics hold their ground while newer fashions rise and fade. In short, a list of popular baby names is both a practical guide for parents weighing their options and a small mirror of the culture, reflecting the trends, influences, and generational currents of the moment.

Overview

The U.S. Social Security website offers lists of baby names for each year since 1880. Social Security started compiling baby name lists in 1997, with names dating to back to 1880. At the time of a child's birth, parents supply the name to the agency when applying for a child's Social Security card, thus making Social Security America's source for the most popular baby names.

The following table shows the 200 most popular given names for American male and female babies. For each rank and sex, the table shows the name and the number of occurrences of that name.

The 200 most popular names were taken from 12,181,467 male births and 11,627,861 female births.

Frequently Asked Questions

NOTE: Researched FAQs by Disabled World (DW)

Are name spelling variations counted separately in this ranking?

Yes, the Social Security Administration counts each unique spelling as its own distinct name, which is why closely related forms such as Sophia and Sofia, or Aidan, Aiden, and Ayden, appear as separate entries rather than being combined into a single total.

Does this list combine names given to both boys and girls?

No, the rankings are compiled separately by sex based on the gender recorded on the Social Security card application, so a name used for both boys and girls is tallied independently within each list rather than merged into one overall count.

Why do some names appear on this list but not in more recent rankings?

Naming trends shift over time as cultural influences, popular media, and generational tastes change, so a name that ranked highly in this dataset may rise, fall, or disappear from newer lists as parents gravitate toward emerging styles.

Is a child's privacy protected when their name is used in these statistics?

Yes, the published lists only report aggregate counts of how many children received each name, so no individual child is identified and no personal details beyond the name and the year are ever released.

Can parents change their child's name after the Social Security card is issued?

Yes, a name recorded on the original application can be legally changed later through the appropriate legal process, and the Social Security record can then be updated, though the original figures in a published list are not retroactively altered.

Do these rankings include names given to babies born outside the United States?

The data reflects names supplied on Social Security card applications, which primarily capture children born within the country, so it is not a global measure and does not represent naming choices made by families in other nations.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: Baby names carry significance that extends far beyond a simple label. For prospective parents - including those with disabilities who may have specific cultural, familial, or personal naming priorities - understanding what names are trending offers practical insight into how their child's name will fit within their generation's social landscape. While the Social Security data reflects aggregate choices from nearly a decade ago, the patterns revealed continue to influence contemporary naming decisions, and historical data serves as a foundation for understanding the cyclical nature of name popularity, from classic choices like Jacob and Emma that maintain steady appeal across years to newer entries like Harper and Jayden that signal shifting preferences in American families.*

* Editorial additions by Ian C. Langtree.