Most popular baby names of 1908

Looking at the baby names from 1907 to 1908, we can see remarkable consistency at the top of the charts. The trio of John, William, and James continued their reign as the most popular boys' names in America, maintaining the exact same positions in both years. Similarly, for girls, Mary, Helen, and Margaret held firm as the top three choices, showing American parents' continuing preference for these classic names. This stability at the very top of the naming charts suggests these traditional favorites had deeply entrenched cultural significance during this period.

Among the top 10 girls' names in 1908, we see subtle but notable shifts that reveal evolving preferences. While Mary maintained its dominant position, Dorothy rose from 6th to 6th place, and Louise climbed from 21st to 18th position – an impressive jump reflecting growing affection for this elegant French-derived name. Classical names with long histories like Elizabeth (7th) and Alice (9th) remained popular choices, while more romantic options like Marie (10th) rounded out the top selections. The letter "M" appears particularly strong among girls' top names, with Mary, Margaret, Mildred, and Marie all ranking in the top 10.

For boys' names in 1908, traditional masculine choices continued to dominate the landscape. The order of the top 6 names saw a slight shuffle – Joseph moved up from 7th to 6th position, while Charles dropped from 6th to 7th. Thomas climbed from 11th to enter the top 10 at 10th place, displacing Henry who fell to 11th position. Overall, short, strong names with biblical or royal connections remained the preference for American boys. Names like Robert (5th) and Joseph (6th) show the enduring appeal of biblical influences, while Anglo-Saxon classics like William (2nd) and Edward (9th) maintained their appeal.

Looking at broader naming patterns across both genders, we notice several interesting trends. Traditional names still dominated American preferences in the early 1900s, with few modern inventions making the top ranks. Girls' names showed greater variety in endings, with "-a" (Anna), "-ie" (Marie), and "-en" (Helen) all appearing in the top ranks. For boys, there was a clear preference for single-syllable names, with John, James, Frank, and Charles all ranking highly. The data reveals that American parents in this era generally favored established classics with historical significance over innovative choices, suggesting a culture that valued tradition and continuity in naming practices.

Top baby names of 1908