Names Searched Right Now:
Search Open Super Search
Hello, Guest Login or Register
Close

Super Search

Close

Login

Or Register

Number One Baby Names

Rate This List:

Baby names that have achieved the top standing in the U.S. are an elite group. Since the beginning of American baby-naming time, 1880, there have been only 16 baby names that have reached Number One, with Emma and David only touching the top for one year each and Ashley for just two. The all-time Number One baby names in the U.S. are:

  • Ashley

    Gender: F Rate:

    Ashley was a sensation in the 1980s and 1990s; it hit Number 1 in 1991 and remains in the Top 50. Ashley is still pretty but no longer even vaguely stylish in any of its numerous variations.  Read More 

  • David

    Gender: M Rate:

    David is a classsic with a lot going for it. Serious yet simpatico, it has deep biblical roots as the Hebrew name of the Old Testament second king of Israel who, as a boy, slew the giant Philistine... Read More 

  • Emily

    Gender: F Rate:

    Emily may have dropped in the standings to Number 6, but it was the most popular name for over a decade because it appeals as a girls' name on many levels: Emily is feminine, classic, simple, prett... Read More 

  • Emma

    Gender: F Rate:

    Emma is the Number 3 name -- down from Number 2 last year and Number 1 the year before -- having done handsprings up the popularity charts thanks to a legion of Emma heroines, from Bovary to Goldma... Read More 

  • Isabella

    Gender: F Rate:

    Isabella is a major superstar baby girl name, Number 2 on the charts after being the top name for two years running--due at least in some part to the 'Twilight effect' and lead character Isabella '... Read More 

  • Jacob

    Gender: M Rate:

    Jacob has been the Number 1 boys' name for more than a decade now--given a huge boost by the Twilight phenomenon--but which is still a surprise to most people. While classics like Michael and John... Read More 

  • Recent User Lists

    See More

    Popular Lists

    See More

  • James

    Gender: M Rate:

    James is one of the classic Anglo-Saxon names, a stalwart through the ages, which is more popular and --yes--stylish than ever today. It recently came out Number 1 in a poll of America's favorite b... Read More 

  • Jennifer

    Gender: F Rate:

    Jennifer was the top name of the 1970s, when there were close to 800,000 Jennifers born: No wonder there are now online support groups for grown-up Jens who have suffered a lack of personal identit... Read More 

  • Jessica

    Gender: F Rate:

    When Jennifer was ready to give up her throne, her crown was passed to Jessica, who reigned for not one but two decades; Jessica was the top name of both the 1980s and 90s, never sounding quite as ... Read More 

  • John

    Gender: M Rate:

    John reigned as the most popular of all boys' Christian names for four hundred years, from the time the first Crusaders carried it back to Britain until the 1950s, at which point American baby name... Read More 

List Categories:
Baby Name Popularity and Trends
Historic Names
See All List Categories

You might also like these lists:

Popular Baby Names
Girls' Names
Boys' Names
Unisex Names
Celebrity Baby Names
Exclusive Nameberry picks, direct to you.

Store

Beyond Ava & Aiden book cover
Get ebook versions of our most popular books!

About Us

Linda Rosenkrantz & Pamela Redmond Satran

Author experts Pamela Redmond Satran and Linda Rosenkrantz revolutionized baby naming.

See More
Ebooks of The Baby Name Bible, Cool Names & Beyond Ava & Aiden