Most popular baby names of 1917

America's favorite baby names showed remarkable consistency between 1916 and 1917, with the top contenders maintaining their stronghold. The trio of John, William, and James remained firmly entrenched as the most popular boys' names, showing no movement whatsoever in their rankings. Similarly, Mary, Helen, and Dorothy held steady as the top three girls' names for the second consecutive year, demonstrating their enduring appeal to American parents during this period.

Looking more closely at the top 10 girls' names in 1917, we see a picture of remarkable stability. Mary continued its reign as the undisputed favorite for American daughters. Virginia showed the most movement within the top 10, holding firmly at position 10 after ranking the same in 1916. Elizabeth maintained its position at number 8, while Margaret and Ruth held steady at positions 4 and 5 respectively. Frances and Anna also showed consistency, with neither name gaining or losing rank position within the top girls' choices.

For boys' names in 1917, traditional choices dominated the landscape. John, William, and James formed the powerful triumvirate at the top, followed by Robert and Joseph to round out the top five. One notable movement occurred with George and Charles swapping positions—George moved up to 6th place while Charles dropped to 7th. This minor reshuffling represents the only movement within the boys' top 10, highlighting the conservative naming patterns of the era. Edward, Frank, and Thomas completed the top 10, maintaining their exact positions from the previous year.

The broader naming patterns of 1917 reveal interesting cultural preferences. Traditional biblical names like John, James, and Mary continued their long-standing popularity. For girls, names ending in "-a" or "-e" sounds were prevalent, with 7 of the top 10 featuring these feminine endings (Mary, Dorothy, Margaret, Anna, Elizabeth, Frances, Virginia). Boys' names showed a preference for solid, traditional choices with English and biblical origins. Interestingly, both genders' top names reflect a society valuing tradition and continuity during a period of global uncertainty, with World War I being a significant backdrop to these naming choices.

Top baby names of 1917