Top 100 Baby Names from a Century Ago

If recent trends are any guide, expect to encounter more Liams, Noahs, Olivias, and Emmas in the birth announcements flooding your social media in 2024.

However, these names were scarcely seen a century ago. The Social Security Administration’s baby name database reveals that Liam didn’t rank in the top 500 for 1924, Noah barely cracked the top 400, and Olivia just made it into the top 300. Emma, by contrast, held the 57th spot.

Some names, however, have stood the test of time. James ranked fourth in both 1924 and 2022, while William was third in 1924 and sixth in 2022. Elizabeth and Evelyn were 11th and 12th in 1924, respectively, and 15th and 9th in 2022.

While some names from both genders feel outdated—Frank and Harold are rarely seen among newborns today—female names appear to cycle in and out of popularity more frequently. The 1924 top 10 list for girls is dominated by names tied to mid-century women or reminiscent of grandmothers, such as Dorothy, Betty, Ruth, Mildred, and Doris.

Even timeless names like Mary, which topped the list in 1924, and Anna, which ranked 13th, are less common today. Mary placed 136th in 2022, while Anna came in 83rd. Similarly, Robert, the top boys’ name in 1924, dropped to 84th in 2022. Still, maintaining a spot in the top 100 a century after its peak is noteworthy.

Names also tend to move up or down the rankings gradually. Yearly shifts are minimal, as seen in the nearly identical 1923 and 1924 lists. Once a name secures a top position, it often remains there for a decade or more, as demonstrated by Michael and Jennifer.

Below, explore the top 100 boys’ and girls’ names from 1924: