From The 1930s to Today
Every decade has had its most popular name, and sometimes for good reason. This might explain why there’s an influx of actors and actresses with the same first name born in every generation. Either way, if you want to take some inspiration from the past few decades, here are the 20 most popular girl and boy names for each era.
1. Harold
Harold gained traction in the 1930s and was a popular name among tens of thousands of boys. The name has origins in Old English and Old Norse. It was a name that had leadership value, as it meant army ruler.
2. Betty
Betty was the go-to for lots of parents in the 1930s and was the most popular girl name of the decade. Betty is a short form of Elizabeth, which means God is my oath. It was a very friendly and approachable name, which captured the attitudes people held during the time.
3. Larry
Larry may have just been the most popular boy name of all time and would be used for thousands of boys from the 30s, 40s, and even into the 50s and 60s. Larry stems from Lawrence, which may mean From Laurentum or even Laurel-crowned. Despite which definition you subscribe to, it’s clear that this name had a lot of casual charm.
4. Judith
While Judith would overtake Betty as the most popular name in the 1940s, it wasn’t by much. Judith is a Hebrew name that means Woman from Judea, but it also has roots as a very formal and classic name. Its timeless elegance is what made it so appealing to so many families.
5. Bruce
While Larry was still reigning supreme, Bruce began to gain noticeable popularity in the 50s, and one can’t help but wonder if that’s what inspired Batman’s name. The name has many initial origins, though, including Scottish, English, and French roots. It essentially means the willowlands and is often correlated with the warrior spirit.
6. Debra
Debra had a short and sweet stint during the 1950s and was the go-to name for many expecting parents. Debra is a shorter form of Deborah, which is also a Hebrew name. Surprisingly, the name means bee, but it was also the name of a heroine and prophetess from the Old Testament.
7. Todd
Todd finally surpassed Larry in popularity in the 60s, and was a strong and sensible name too. Todd actually means fox in Middle English and had that cool and approachable vibe the 60s loved. Todds were usually clean-cut and sensible, which made them quite abundant.
8. Tammy
In the 1960s, Debra began to sink while Tammy began to rise. Interestingly, the name Tammy means palm tree. Its origins are from Hebrew and Russian, and it also serves as a short form of the name Tamara.
9. Chad
Chad is still a notable name to this day, but it first garnered its popularity in the 70s first. Today, Chad is used as a joking term to refer to someone who’s stereotypically cool or socially conventional. Ironically, it worked the same way in the past, as it meant battle warrior and had Old English origins.
10. Jennifer
Jennifer may just be the most popular name ever, and ruled from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Maybe that’s why so many 90s and 80s-born actresses are named Jennifer. The name actually means fair one, but not in the context you think, as some believe it refers to a white, shadowy supernatural being. Despite this meaning, lots of parents gravitated to it and started a huge name craze.
11. Dustin
While nowhere near as popular as Jennifer, Dustin became the most popular name choice in the 80s. This name has its origins in Old Norse culture and means valiant fighter. Interestingly enough, a lot of people correlate the name with the cowboy-cool image.
12. Amanda
While it never surpassed Jennifer, Amanda became a popular choice in the 80s as well. Amanda feels like a very romantic name, and that’s because it is. While its origins are Latin, the name itself means worthy of love.
13. Cody
Cody did manage to beat Dustin as a name, being tens of thousands of times more popular during the 90s. Cody just has this down-to-earth and casual energy that parents adored. That’s probably because the name means helpful.
14. Brittany
Isn’t it funny how there’s at least one famous celebrity from every decade with the most popular name? Well, in the 90s, the most popular girl's name was none other than Brittany. The name’s origins are French, as it literally means From Brittany, which was a region in France.
15. Ethan
Ethan gained a lot of traction for baby boys in the 2000s. Ethan has its origins in Hebrew as well and gives off this gentle strength vibe that modern parents adore. The name itself means strong or firm, cementing it as a timeless pick.
16. Madison
Similarly, in the 2000s, Madison became the most popular pick for young girls. This name was actually an English surname for a while and meant Son of Maud. But it became a popular pick in the 2000s, likely due to the movie Splash.
17. Aiden
You probably know an Aiden or two, especially since it was the most popular boy name in the 2010s. Aiden just has this energetic quality to it that other names lacked. This adds up as the Irish-originating name means little fire.
18. Sophia
Likewise, parents started naming their little girls Sophia in the 2010s as well. The name Sophia has both a lyrical and intelligent quality to it. With origins in Greek, the name means wisdom, making it a popular pick for parents who want to honor history and capture elegance.
19. Oliver
It’s funny how in the present time we’ve shifted back to some of the oldest names around, with Oliver being the most popular pick in the 2020s so far. The name has its origins in Old Norse and Latin. The name refers to an olive tree planter, which could be taken as a symbol of peace.
20. Amelia
Meanwhile, for the girls, Amelia sits as one of the most popular choices in the 2020s. The name has roots in Latin and Germanic and comes with plenty of historical flair. In terms of meaning, it refers to industrious, which is the perfect way to set your little one up for life.
