Decade dossier

1890s baby names

The names that defined the 1890s: John and Mary led the decade, but the full roster tells a richer story.

The 1890s were defined by names that now read as cultural artifacts. John and Mary dominated the decade — names that crossed class lines and regional divides. Some have become vintage revival candidates; others remain frozen in time. Browse the full rankings below to see which names defined the 1890s classroom.

Girls

#1Mary131,138
#2Anna55,261
#3Margaret37,937
#4Helen37,802
#5Elizabeth33,879
#6Ruth32,867
#7Florence32,345
#8Ethel31,453
#9Emma28,652
#10Marie25,853
#11Clara25,473
#12Bertha25,125
#13Minnie24,615
#14Bessie24,417
#15Alice24,415
#16Lillian24,106
#17Edna24,068
#18Grace23,804
#19Annie23,122
#20Mabel21,991
#21Ida21,212
#22Rose21,134
#23Hazel20,154
#24Gertrude19,898
#25Martha19,415

Boys

#1John80,664
#2William72,244
#3James50,723
#4George43,358
#5Charles36,848
#6Joseph29,000
#7Frank28,718
#8Robert26,147
#9Edward22,033
#10Henry21,664
#11Harry21,330
#12Thomas21,115
#13Walter19,495
#14Arthur16,349
#15Fred14,270
#16Albert13,753
#17Clarence11,901
#18Willie9,849
#19Roy9,779
#20Louis8,442
#21Earl8,297
#22Paul8,181
#23Carl8,047
#24Ernest7,877
#25Samuel7,857