US first names, 1900–1909
Random names from the 1900s
First names on this page come from Social Security Administration records of U.S. births in the 1900s. That period holds 2,927,484 girls across 3,828 distinct names and 1,357,458 boys across 2,487 distinct names. The three most common names were for girls: Mary, Helen, Margaret; for boys: John, William, James. Names are picked in proportion to how often they were given, and last names come from the 2000 U.S. Census, so the mix looks like real American full names.
More options — middle names, no repeats, realism, seed
1 gives real frequencies. 0 makes every name equally likely.
What the data says
- About 1 in 5 girls born in the 1900s got one of just 10 names. Those 10 names hold 20.0% of all recorded girls.
- Names for girls behave like 308 equally common names out of 3,828 in use (effective number of names).
- The average girl's name has 5.6 letters.
- About 1 in 3 boys born in the 1900s got one of just 10 names. Those 10 names hold 32.6% of all recorded boys.
- Names for boys behave like 204 equally common names out of 2,487 in use (effective number of names).
- The average boy's name has 5.6 letters.
- Fastest riser for girls: Maxine, from 173 births in 1890 to 1899 to 1,409 in 1900 to 1909.
- Biggest fall for girls: Lulu, from 2,659 births in 1890 to 1899 to 1,376 in 1900 to 1909.
- Fastest riser for boys: Roosevelt, from 57 births in 1890 to 1899 to 1,790 in 1900 to 1909.
- Biggest fall for boys: Grover, from 1,498 births in 1890 to 1899 to 626 in 1900 to 1909.
Girls: Top 20 names
| # | Name | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mary | 161,504 | 5.52% |
| 2 | Helen | 69,428 | 2.37% |
| 3 | Margaret | 57,919 | 1.98% |
| 4 | Anna | 54,918 | 1.88% |
| 5 | Ruth | 51,010 | 1.74% |
| 6 | Elizabeth | 41,708 | 1.42% |
| 7 | Dorothy | 39,112 | 1.34% |
| 8 | Marie | 37,091 | 1.27% |
| 9 | Florence | 36,191 | 1.24% |
| 10 | Mildred | 36,173 | 1.24% |
| 11 | Alice | 35,232 | 1.20% |
| 12 | Ethel | 34,868 | 1.19% |
| 13 | Lillian | 32,519 | 1.11% |
| 14 | Gladys | 30,285 | 1.03% |
| 15 | Edna | 29,832 | 1.02% |
| 16 | Frances | 28,499 | 0.97% |
| 17 | Rose | 28,106 | 0.96% |
| 18 | Annie | 27,748 | 0.95% |
| 19 | Grace | 26,927 | 0.92% |
| 20 | Bertha | 24,247 | 0.83% |
Boys: Top 20 names
| # | Name | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John | 84,590 | 6.23% |
| 2 | William | 69,320 | 5.11% |
| 3 | James | 62,170 | 4.58% |
| 4 | George | 43,589 | 3.21% |
| 5 | Charles | 36,184 | 2.67% |
| 6 | Robert | 35,849 | 2.64% |
| 7 | Joseph | 35,173 | 2.59% |
| 8 | Frank | 29,046 | 2.14% |
| 9 | Edward | 24,516 | 1.81% |
| 10 | Thomas | 21,783 | 1.60% |
| 11 | Henry | 21,772 | 1.60% |
| 12 | Walter | 19,997 | 1.47% |
| 13 | Harry | 17,906 | 1.32% |
| 14 | Willie | 17,746 | 1.31% |
| 15 | Arthur | 15,409 | 1.14% |
| 16 | Albert | 15,318 | 1.13% |
| 17 | Clarence | 13,573 | 1.00% |
| 18 | Fred | 13,076 | 0.96% |
| 19 | Harold | 12,795 | 0.94% |
| 20 | Paul | 12,636 | 0.93% |
Girls: 1890 to 1899 → 1900 to 1909
Rising fastest
- Maxine 173 → 1,409
- Thelma 2,385 → 18,265
- Gloria 71 → 435
- Odell 61 → 323
- Dorthy 72 → 347
Falling fastest
- Lulu 2,659 → 1,376
- Maud 3,285 → 1,836
- Inga 400 → 248
- Adah 431 → 271
- Kittie 358 → 226
Boys: 1890 to 1899 → 1900 to 1909
Rising fastest
- Roosevelt 57 → 1,790
- Booker 79 → 809
- Salvatore 86 → 540
- Odell 64 → 359
- Alton 276 → 1,102
Falling fastest
- Grover 1,498 → 626
- Bryan 405 → 197
- Hobart 348 → 170
- Harrison 991 → 530
- Lon 314 → 170
Questions and answers
What was the most common girl's name in the 1900s?
Mary. 161,504 girls received it, 5.52% of all recorded girls born in the 1900s.
What was the most common boy's name in the 1900s?
John. 84,590 boys received it, 6.23% of all recorded boys born in the 1900s.
How concentrated are names in the 1900s?
Among girls the 10 most common names cover 20.0% of births; among boys 32.6%. In this period boys' names were the more concentrated set.
Which names grew fastest compared with 1890 to 1899?
Among names with at least 300 births in 1900 to 1909, the biggest gains were for girls, Maxine (173 births in 1890 to 1899, 1,409 in 1900 to 1909); for boys, Roosevelt (57 births in 1890 to 1899, 1,790 in 1900 to 1909).
How long is the average first name in the 1900s?
Weighted by how often each name was given: 5.6 letters for girls, 5.6 letters for boys.