Most popular baby names of 1900

As we entered the new century, American parents showed remarkable consistency in their naming preferences. The top three names for both boys and girls remained impressively stable between 1899 and 1900. John, William, and James held their positions firmly as the most popular boys' names, continuing their long-standing dominance in American culture. Similarly, Mary maintained its reign as the most popular girl's name, though there was a small shift as Anna dropped from second to third place, with Helen rising to claim the second position in 1900.

The top 10 girls' names of 1900 reveal interesting patterns of both stability and change. Mary's dominance remained unchallenged at number one, reflecting America's enduring connection to this classic biblical name. Helen's rise to second place suggests growing appreciation for this name of Greek origin. Other mainstays in the top 10 included Margaret, Ruth, Elizabeth, Florence, and Ethel. Notably, Marie climbed to the ninth position in 1900 from eighth in 1899, while Lillian held steady at tenth place. Many of these popular girls' names featured soft sounds and often ended with consonants or the gentle 'a' sound, as in Anna and Clara.

For boys, the naming landscape showed remarkable consistency at the top. The classic trio of John, William, and James continued their reign, followed closely by George and Charles to round out the top five. Robert moved up to sixth place in 1900 from seventh the previous year, while Joseph dropped one position to seventh. Frank, Edward, and Henry completed the top 10, maintaining their positions from the previous year. Traditional masculine names dominated the list, with many honoring historical figures, saints, or biblical characters. One-syllable names like John and Frank remained particularly strong choices for boys.

Broader naming patterns revealed Americans' preference for traditional, established names at the turn of the century. Biblical influences remained strong for both genders, with Mary, Ruth, Elizabeth, John, and Joseph all deriving from religious texts. Notably, shorter names were particularly popular for boys, while girls' names often featured softer sounds and more varied endings. Names beginning with 'M' appeared frequently in the girls' top ranks, with Mary, Margaret, Martha, and Marie all making strong showings. For boys, names starting with 'J' dominated the very top positions. As America entered a new century, parents largely chose names with established histories and cultural significance, suggesting a desire for continuity and tradition during this transitional period.

Top baby names of 1900