A new study of Office for National Statistics (ONS) baby name data reveals the names that have stood the test of time and remained consistently popular over the last 100 years.
A total of 15 names have made it into the top 100 most popular names every decade since the 1920s. The list includes a number of traditional British names favoured by the monarchy such as George, Charles, and Elizabeth. 13 boys’ names made the list, compared to just two girls’ names, suggesting that parents are more daring in their choices for baby girls. In fact, 339 different girls’ names appeared in the top 100 of each decade between the 1920s and 2010s, compared to just 276 boys’ names.
The data shows that girls’ names don’t stand the test of time with parents in the same way that boys’ names do. For instance, Gwendoline, Doris, and Vera were all staples of the 1920s, before being replaced by names such as Robyn, Harriet, and Zoe in later decades.
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The data analysis by leading name label manufacturer, mynametags.com, also reveals a shift in parents’ attitudes towards nicknames throughout the generations. For instance, Alexander is one of the most consistently popular names, having been in the charts every decade since the 1920s, whilst Alex didn’t become popular in its own right until the 80s. The same trend can be seen with Anthony, Daniel, and Joshua, with their shortened versions – Tony, Danny, and Josh – all making appearances as given names later in the records.
The ONS also points out: "The appearance of Mohammed in the top 100 is not such a new phenomenon – the first time this name entered the top 100 was in 1924 when it ranked as the 91st most popular name for baby boys. This was not a blip as the name has featured in the top 100 most popular names for baby boys every ten years from 1924 to 1994 and every year since 1996."
Meanwhile, the preference for nicknames as chosen names shows parents are becoming more informal with their name choices, especially when it comes to boys’ names. In the 1920s, just three nicknames appear in the top 100 boys’ chart - ‘Harry’, ‘Roy’, and ‘Fred’. This is compared to 15 in the 2010s chart, including ‘Teddy’, ‘Ollie’, and ‘Freddie’.
The Most Popular Baby Names: 1921-2021
- Alexander
- Charles
- Daniel
- David
- Edward
- Elizabeth
- George
- James
- Joseph
- Michael
- Mohammed
- Robert
- Sarah
- Thomas
- William
My Nametags analysed baby name data for registered births in England and Wales from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) between the 1920s and 2010s. Visit the My Nametags website to find out more about the meanings of the most popular names and why they may have remained in fashion.
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