Decade dossier

1920s baby names

The names that defined the 1920s: Robert and Mary led the decade, but the full roster tells a richer story.

The 1920s were defined by names that now read as cultural artifacts. Robert 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 1920s classroom.

Girls

#1Mary701,755
#2Dorothy368,875
#3Helen290,404
#4Betty283,096
#5Margaret245,011
#6Ruth218,520
#7Virginia169,554
#8Doris151,193
#9Mildred147,155
#10Frances140,391
#11Elizabeth139,672
#12Evelyn124,166
#13Anna123,895
#14Marie110,564
#15Alice110,526
#16Jean105,999
#17Shirley98,602
#18Barbara97,210
#19Irene92,836
#20Marjorie91,221
#21Florence88,295
#22Lois88,133
#23Martha86,788
#24Rose85,305
#25Lillian83,160

Boys

#1Robert576,374
#2John564,052
#3James515,301
#4William512,402
#5Charles298,031
#6George261,945
#7Joseph243,809
#8Richard222,599
#9Edward197,348
#10Donald191,816
#11Thomas161,107
#12Frank151,830
#13Harold133,585
#14Paul132,384
#15Raymond124,212
#16Walter119,809
#17Jack115,983
#18Henry104,552
#19Kenneth99,490
#20Arthur97,112
#21Albert94,431
#22David88,736
#23Harry86,183
#24Eugene84,755
#25Ralph84,466