Most popular baby names of 1903

The top three names for both boys and girls showed remarkable stability between 1902 and 1903, with the trio of John, William, and James maintaining their hold as America's favorite boy names. For girls, Mary, Helen, and Anna similarly held their ground at the top of the charts. This consistency suggests these classic names continued to resonate deeply with American parents in the early 1900s, carrying their traditional appeal into the new century.

Among the top 10 girls' names in 1903, we see some interesting shifts despite the stability at the very top. Dorothy made an impressive climb from #15 in 1902 to #11 in 1903, suggesting this name was gaining momentum with parents. Meanwhile, Marie moved up from #8 to #7, while Florence dropped from #7 to #8. The most traditional feminine names continued to dominate, with Mary maintaining its long-standing dominance as the most popular girl's name in America.

Looking at the top 10 boys' names, Joseph and Robert swapped positions in 1903, with Robert climbing to #7 and Joseph falling to #6. Thomas made a notable advancement from #11 to #10, entering the top 10 and displacing Henry, which fell to #11. Overall, the top boys' names maintained remarkable consistency, with John, William, James, George, and Charles firmly established as the top five favorites among American parents.

The broader naming patterns reveal interesting cultural preferences of the era. Traditional biblical names remained tremendously popular for boys, with John, James, Joseph, and Thomas all appearing in the top 10. For girls, there was a notable preference for feminine names ending in "a" or "e" sounds, like Mary, Anna, Marie, and Florence. Short, elegant classics dominated both lists, reflecting the early 20th century preference for names that were both traditional and refined. Names like Dorothy and Mildred were gaining ground for girls, possibly indicating a subtle shift toward more modern-sounding choices as the new century progressed.

Top baby names of 1903