Here is an interesting little study of the most popular baby names from 1880, when they first started keeping these records, right through to 2009.

 

From 1880 through 1946, the number one girl’s name, every year, was “Mary”. For some reason, probably Hollywood connected, from 1946 through 1952, “Mary” fell to second place behind “Linda”. “Mary” then returned to first place, where it remained until 1962. At that point, the popularity of the name began to fall, until, by 1972 it was completely out of the top 10.

 

I guess that tells us a lot about the 1960′s. It tells us about the decline of the “Grand Olde Name”

 

It also tells us about the decline of the American Dream that my parents passed on to me as my birthright!

 

Which brings us to today. (:<) (:<) (:<)   Cry the Beloved Country!!

 

 

Popularity in 1880				Popularity in 1950				Popularity in 2009
Rank	Male name	Female name		Rank	Male name	Female name		Rank	Male name	Female name
1	John	Mary		1	James	Linda		1	Jacob	Isabella
2	William	Anna		2	Robert	Mary		2	Ethan	Emma
3	James	Emma		3	John	Patricia		3	Michael	Olivia
4	Charles	Elizabeth		4	Michael	Barbara		4	Alexander	Sophia
5	George	Minnie		5	David	Susan		5	William	Ava
6	Frank	Margaret		6	William	Nancy		6	Joshua	Emily
7	Joseph	Ida		7	Richard	Deborah		7	Daniel	Madison
8	Thomas	Alice		8	Thomas	Sandra		8	Jayden	Abigail
9	Henry	Bertha		9	Charles	Carol		9	Noah	Chloe
10	Robert	Sarah		10	Gary	Kathleen		10	Anthony	Mia
11	Edward	Annie		11	Larry	Sharon		11	Christopher	Elizabeth
12	Harry	Clara		12	Ronald	Karen		12	Aiden	Addison
13	Walter	Ella		13	Joseph	Donna		13	Matthew	Alexis
14	Arthur	Florence		14	Donald	Brenda		14	David	Ella
15	Fred	Cora		15	Kenneth	Margaret		15	Andrew	Samantha
16	Albert	Martha		16	Steven	Diane		16	Joseph	Natalie
17	Samuel	Laura		17	Dennis	Pamela		17	Logan	Grace
18	David	Nellie		18	Paul	Janet		18	James	Lily
19	Louis	Grace		19	Stephen	Shirley		19	Ryan	Alyssa
20	Joe	Carrie		20	George	Carolyn		20	Benjamin	Ashley