Popular Baby Names

The popular baby names change periodically. In addition, there are names that have sustained their popularity for hundreds of years.

There are many reasons to think about naming the child with one of the popular names. There is certain strength in numbers and some names sound good with many surnames, which partly explain why these names are so popular.

Some names become popular for a few years, then fade away from the most popular baby names lists. Its good to keep in mind that the baby lives into the old age with the name, so naming should reflect some consideration for longer term suitability.

Popular Baby Names – Pros and Cons

There are positive and negative sides to choosing a popular baby name.

A popular baby name is easily recognized and spelled, making it easier for the child to communicate the name.

However, if there are many similarly named same-age children in the same area where the baby grows up, this can cause some problems. The problems might be multiplied if the surname is a common one as well.

Popular Baby Names Resources

The U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) publishes lists of the most popular baby names registered in the U.S. These lists are based on samples taken by the SSA from the full data.

The SSA's list of popular baby names goes as deep as 1000 most popular registered names per year.

Below is an exemplary list of 50 most popular baby names taken from the SSA’s data for years 2003, 2002, and 2001.

You can also look up the original SSA source for the most popular baby names (opens up a new window).

You might also be interested in taking a look at the top 100 UK baby names for boys and girls in 2004.

As for the U.S. data, SSA would like you to note that in the frequency orderings, the popular baby names are not edited or grouped together. In particular, different spellings of similar names are not combined. For example, the baby girl names Kaitlin, Kaitlyn, Kaitlynn, Katelin, Katelyn, Katelynn, and Katlyn are considered separate names in the tables.

Also, the data from SSA is 100% sample, unless otherwise noted. This leaves room for some statistical errors. Also, keep in mind that the original source may contain spelling errors, as well as the transfer process to these pages may have caused them, so always re-check the final spelling of the name.

The most popular baby names below are listed in popularity order.

50 Most Popular Baby Names in 2003 - Boy Names

1. Jacob
2. Michael
3. Joshua
4. Matthew
5. Andrew
6. Joseph
7. Ethan
8. Daniel
9. Christopher
10. Anthony
11. William
12. Ryan
13. Nicholas
14. David
15. Tyler
16. Alexander
17. John
18. James
19. Dylan
20. Zachary
21. Brandon
22. Jonathan
23. Samuel
24. Christian
25. Benjamin
26. Justin
27. Nathan
28. Jose
29. Logan
30. Gabriel
31. Kevin
32. Noah
33. Austin
34. Caleb
35. Robert
36. Thomas
37. Elijah
38. Jordan
39. Aidan
40. Cameron
41. Hunter
42. Jason
43. Angel
44. Connor
45. Evan
46. Jack
47. Luke
48. Isaac
49. Aaron
50. Isaiah

50 Most Popular Baby Names in 2003 - Girl Names

1. Emily
2. Emma
3. Madison
4. Hannah
5. Olivia
6. Abigail
7. Alexis
8. Ashley
9. Elizabeth
10. Samantha
11. Isabella
12. Sarah
13. Grace
14. Alyssa
15. Lauren
16. Kayla
17. Brianna
18. Jessica
19. Taylor
20. Sophia
21. Anna
22. Victoria
23. Natalie
24. Chloe
25. Sydney
26. Hailey
27. Jasmine
28. Rachel
29. Morgan
30. Megan
31. Jennifer
32. Kaitlyn
33. Julia
34. Haley
35. Mia
36. Katherine
37. Destiny
38. Alexandra
39. Nicole
40. Maria
41. Ava
42. Savannah
43. Brooke
44. Ella
45. Allison
46. Mackenzie
47. Paige
48. Stephanie
49. Jordan
50. Kylie

50 Most Popular Baby Names in 2002 - Boy Names

1. Jacob
2. Michael
3. Joshua
4. Matthew
5. Ethan
6. Joseph
7. Andrew
8. Christopher
9. Daniel
10. Nicholas
11. William
12. Anthony
13. David
14. Tyler
15. Alexander
16. Ryan
17. John
18. James
19. Zachary
20. Brandon
21. Jonathan
22. Justin
23. Christian
24. Dylan
25. Samuel
26. Austin
27. Jose
28. Benjamin
29. Nathan
30. Logan
31. Kevin
32. Gabriel
33. Robert
34. Noah
35. Caleb
36. Thomas
37. Jordan
38. Hunter
39. Cameron
40. Kyle
41. Elijah
42. Jason
43. Jack
44. Aaron
45. Isaiah
46. Angel
47. Luke
48. Connor
49. Luis
50. Isaac

50 Most Popular Baby Names in 2002 - Girl Names

1. Emily
2. Madison
3. Hannah
4. Emma
5. Alexis
6. Ashley
7. Abigail
8. Sarah
9. Samantha
10. Olivia
11. Elizabeth
12. Alyssa
13. Lauren
14. Isabella
15. Grace
16. Jessica
17. Brianna
18. Taylor
19. Kayla
20. Anna
21. Victoria
22. Megan
23. Sydney
24. Chloe
25. Rachel
26. Jasmine
27. Sophia
28. Jennifer
29. Morgan
30. Natalie
31. Julia
32. Kaitlyn
33. Hailey
34. Destiny
35. Haley
36. Katherine
37. Nicole
38. Alexandra
39. Maria
40. Savannah
41. Stephanie
42. Mia
43. Mackenzie
44. Allison
45. Amanda
46. Jordan
47. Jenna
48. Faith
49. Paige
50. Makayla

50 Most Popular Baby Names in 2001 - Boy Names

1. Jacob
2. Michael
3. Matthew
4. Joshua
5. Christopher
6. Nicholas
7. Andrew
8. Joseph
9. Daniel
10. William
11. Anthony
12. David
13. Tyler
14. John
15. Ryan
16. Zachary
17. Ethan
18. Brandon
19. James
20. Alexander
21. Dylan
22. Justin
23. Jonathan
24. Christian
25. Austin
26. Samuel
27. Benjamin
28. Noah
29. Kevin
30. Jose
31. Logan
32. Robert
33. Nathan
34. Thomas
35. Cameron
36. Hunter
37. Gabriel
38. Caleb
39. Jordan
40. Kyle
41. Jason
42. Aaron
43. Eric
44. Luis
45. Isaiah
46. Brian
47. Elijah
48. Isaac
49. Jack
50. Connor

50 Most Popular Baby Names in 2001 - Girl Names

1. Emily
2. Madison
3. Hannah
4. Ashley
5. Alexis
6. Samantha
7. Sarah
8. Abigail
9. Elizabeth
10. Jessica
11. Olivia
12. Taylor
13. Emma
14. Alyssa
15. Lauren
16. Grace
17. Kayla
18. Brianna
19. Anna
20. Megan
21. Victoria
22. Destiny
23. Sydney
24. Rachel
25. Jennifer
26. Jasmine
27. Julia
28. Isabella
29. Morgan
30. Chloe
31. Kaitlyn
32. Natalie
33. Nicole
34. Hailey
35. Haley
36. Katherine
37. Alexandra
38. Sophia
39. Amanda
40. Maria
41. Mackenzie
42. Stephanie
43. Savannah
44. Allison
45. Jenna
46. Andrea
47. Rebecca
48. Jordan
49. Mary
50. Gabrielle