The Most Popular Baby Boy Names From 1880 To 2019, Visualized
Today the most common baby boy names are either Liam or Noah, but if you trace baby names further back in US history, you'll notice that the most popular male names have shifted through the decades.
Using data from the United States Social Security Administration, YouTuber Dr. Whoo has made a video that shows the rise and fall of the most popular baby boy names from 1880 to 2019:
While John is no longer a hugely popular name for boys these days, back in 1880, it was the most common name for a newborn boy, and its popularity persisted all the way until 1924, when it was finally overtaken by Robert.
The reign of the name Robert, however, didn't last as long as John, and in 1941, James became the most popular name, only to be later supplanted by Michael in 1955.
Like John, the popularity of the name Michael endured for a long time in the US. With the exception of a brief two years in the '60s when David became the No.1 most popular boy's name, Michael was the name most parents chose to name their newborn boy all the way until 2000.
While some names like John and George have become relatively less popular in the last 10 years, there are names that have mounted comebacks, such as William, a name that has always been among the top 10 most popular since 1880 but lost its top 10 status in the '90s. In the early aughts, however, it resurfaced and has remained popular since.
