Naming a baby is an important decision that parents make, and many factors can influence their choices. Over time, certain names have become more popular than others, often due to cultural and societal trends, celebrity influence, and other factors. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has been tracking the popularity of baby names in the United States for over 100 years, providing a fascinating look at naming trends and preferences over time. In this context, let's explore some of the most popular names in the US over the years, their meanings, and the factors that may have contributed to their popularity.

Most Famous Girl names in the US You'll Love (2023)

The data about popular baby names in the United States are provided by the Social Security Administration (SSA) using the information on the given names of the babies who received the Social Security numbers in a particular year. This data is from the applications for Social Security cards and is names which were used to name at least five babies in any one year.

The SSA has been releasing this data since 1997 and releases the top 1000 most popular baby boy and baby girl names every year as well as lists of names which have risen and fell in popularity most significantly between the current year and the preceding year. The SSA also offers a tool on the website that allows one to type in a name of their choice and the page will show their findings on how some of the names are popular as per today or how they have evolved over time. Data contained in this tool date as far back as the 1880s. According to the Social Security Administration's data on baby names in the United States, the most popular girl names from 1980 to 2021 (as of the latest available data) are as follows:According to the Social Security Administration's data on baby names in the United States, the most popular girl names from 1980 to 2021 (as of the latest available data) are as follows:

1980s:

Jessica- The meaning of this Hebrew name is God beholds”, a character in Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice.

Jennifer – A Cornish name meaning ‘white wave’. This name was in vogue in the 20th century majorly in the 1970s – 1980s by famous personalities like Jennifer Aniston and Jennifer Lopez.

Amanda – From Latin, it means ‘lovable’. This name was used in the seventeenth and eighteenth century with sentimental works such as a play by English author Colley Cibber titled, “Amanda”.

Ashley: This is an English name meaning ash tree meadow Its traditionally used as a male name, but later on in the 1980s and 1990, it was used for girls, especially after the character of Ashley Abbott on “The Young and the Restless’.

Sarah – a name of Hebrew origin that is of the meaning ‘princess’; is of biblical origin and is associated with the wife of Abraham and the mother of Isaac.

Stephanie: This is a Greek origin name meaning crown or a garland and became famous in middle of the twentieth century but may have been borrowed from France with the similar name Stéphanie.

Nicole: this is the French translation of the word, which when translated into English means ‘victorious people’ was in use in the middle of the twentieth century and may have owed its origin to the Greek word Nikolaos.

Elizabeth – Hebrew name that translates as ‘God is my oath.’ It is a biblical name given to many important biblical characters including the woman who was the mother of John the Baptist.

Heather – an English name comes from the word flower which denotes the flower that grows on the heath. Its usage was observed in the 1960s and 1970s, maybe because of the movie the ‘Heathers’ where one of the characters is named Heather McNamara.

Melissa – a Greek name meaning “bee. ” This name was in use during the 1960’s and 1970’s maybe due to a character called Melissa in a show called The Partridge Family.

1990s:

More Recommendations to explore

Jessica- a Hebrew name that is translating to mean, ‘God beholds’. The name was made famous by Shakespeare’s ‘The merchant of Venice’ main female character, Jessica.

Ashley – an English name meaning “ash tree meadow. ”It was used for boys up to the middle of the twentieth century, but by the 1980s and 1990s it become popular for baby girls mostly from the character Ashley Abbott on the popular television show “The Young and The Restless”.

She: Emily, This is an English microgynitive name which has its roots in meaning ‘rival.’ This name was brought to light in the 19th century, by the famous poet Emily Dickinson.

Sarah – is a Hebrew name meaning ‘princess’. It is among the old testament names worn by the wife of Abraham and mother to Isaac.
Samantha – name of English origin, meaning ‘listener’; the name was famous in the sixties and in seventies; could have been borrowed from the famous TV-show ‘Bewitched’, where one of the characters was named Samantha.

Amanda: a Latin root word meaning lovable and used at 17th and 18th century in literatures such as the play of English playwright Colley Cibber entitled “Amanda.”
Brittany - topographic name that originated from the geographical location of a region in the northwestern part of France referred to as Bretagne this name Brittany is used. It was especially in fashion and widely used during the 1980s and 1990’s and can perhaps be attributed to the influence of possessing the character from the TV program “Glee” named Brittany Pierce.

Megan - a Welsh name meaning "pearl. " It was popularized in the 1980s and 1990s, and may have been influenced by the character Megan Wheeler on the TV show "Law & Order: Where do creative criminals and their overpowering criminal intent originate from?

Taylor – This is an English name which originated from the occupations such as a tailor or seamstress. This dance came to the scene in the early 1990s perhaps with the help of a castle actress named Taylor swift.
Nicole.Is a name of French origin it means victorious people It became popular in the middle of the 20th century and its source might be the Greek name Nikolaos.

2000s:

Emily - a name originating from English which means ‘rival’ this name became famous in the 19th century due to literature for instance Emily Dickinson, the poet.

Madison: Origin English: Meaning “son of Matthew,” it came into fashion in the 1980s and 1990s; probably because of the character with the same name in the television series “Splash.”

Emma : a derivation of the Old Germanic word for ‘universal’ or ‘totally, entirely, all-round’, and which was brought to prominence by Jane Austen’s novel ‘Emma’.

Olivia - coming from the Latin, translating to ‘olive tree. ‘ It became rather

famous in the course of the 20th century, significantly influenced by the character Olivia Walton from the show ‘The Waltons.

The name could be Hannah, a Hebrew name, which when translated in English means ‘grace’ or ‘ favor.’ It is biblical name of the mother of the prophet Samuel.
Abigail – a Hebrew name given to mean ‘my father’s joy’. This is a biblical name, and the name of King David’s wife.

Isabella – Spanish and Italian name derived from the Hebrew ‘Isabel’ which translates as ‘God is my oath’; became a more popular name in the 19th century after the novel Isabella written by the British poet, John Keats.

Ashley – a name of English origin and can be translated as ash tree meadow In the past Ashley was given to males only but in recent years 1980s and 1990s became common for females and one of the reasons could be that they have a character by this name Ashley Abbott on The Young and the Restless.
Samantha originated as an English name and in the meaning of ‘listener. ‘ Though the name had its fame in the 1960s and the 1970s, many people believe that it was given due to the TV show named ‘Bewitched’ where the main character of the story was a woman named Samantha.

Elizabeth – a Hebrew name for girls meaning “God is my oath. ” It is a biblical name given to many women of the Bible like the mother of John the Baptist.

2010s:

Emma – A name of Germanic origin and a meaning of universal, this name achieved popularity in the nineteenth century because of Jane Austen’s novel ‘Emma’.
Sophia – This is a Greek word that stands for wisdom and it has featured most of the times in different calendars.
Olivia – a Latin origin name that means, ‘olive tree’ This name was mostly used in the twentieth century whereby the most famous figure named Olivia is Olivia Walton, a character from the ‘The Waltons’.
Isabella: This is of Spanish and Italian origin and means ‘God is my oath’ Isabella was made famous through literature, more specifically the work of John Keats in the 19th Century book Isabella.
Ava : Latin, meaning ‘bird’. Despite not being in use in medieval Europe, Ava rose in the list of popular baby names in the 20th century and it is said that the Hollywood actress Ava Gardner is responsible for it.
Mia – a name from the Scandinavian countries for girls, its meaning is translated as ‘mine’ or ‘beloved’; this name got its popularity in the 20th century; there is a version that it was due to Mia Farrow, the representative of the cinema industry.
Emily – an English name meaning rival. It being the most common name for girls in the 19th century, mostly due to her famous poet Emily Dickinson.
Abigail – meaning father’s delight, this is a biblical name that belongs to the wife of David.
Madison – an English name of a child given the meaning “son of Matthew”. It took its biggest spike in the eighties and nineties, most likely owing to the TV series “Splash” featuring a character by the same name.
Charlotte – a French given name, which means “free man” and was brought to popularity by a woman’s first name of the main character in the book “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Bronte. It has also been worn by different members of the royal family of Britain as well as by Princess Charlotte of Cambridge.

2020s (as of 2021):

Emma – a modern name of Germanic origin meaning ‘universal’; has risen to fame in the 19th century because of Jane Austen’s novel – “Emma”.

Olivia – about olive, tree, plant; a name of the twentieth century known from “The Waltons” as Olivia Walton.

Ava, a Latin word meaning ‘bird’; however, despite this meaning, the name was not used till the 20th century; it is assumed that the name might owe its existence to the famous actress named Ava Gardner.

Charlotte – a French name meaning “free man.” The name gained a lot of popularity in the 19th century by Literature, for example, the book “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Bronte. The baby bump dress has also been worn by several other members of the British Royal Family including Princess Charlotte of Cambridge.

Sophia – meaning ‘wisdom’ the name originates from Greece and have continuously featured in the list of most popular names.

Amelia : The Amelia originates from Germany, meaning work An 18th-century name and the character in Oliver Goldsmith book “Vicar of Wakefield”.
Isabella is derived from Spanish and Italian origin and it meaning is “God is my oath “ The name came into use during the 19th century and contain references with a literary background like the novel “Isabella” by John Keats.

Mia – a Scandinavian name meaning mine (as in belonging to me) or beloved It was a 20th century name, that perhaps owes its popularities to the successful actress Mia Farrow.

Evelyn – its an English name and it translates to “wished for child.” It was quite famous in the nineteenth and early twentieth century but then faded out, but now it is back in fashion again.

Harper – an English name mentioning a harp player; this name was popularised in the 21st century and was probably inspired by the writer Harper Lee. This raises the issues of changes in the popularity of names for two childrens where some names that were previously given to many childrens could become less popular while on the other hand there could be names which were less popular are becoming very popular.