Baby-names are endlessly fascinating. Whether it’s narrowing down your list as you decide what to name your sweet baby or learning the story behind your name, the topic of baby names quickly becomes a rabbit hole of curiosity.

Have you ever wondered about how popular your name was the year you were born? What about how popular your baby’s name was the year they were born?

We checked in with the Social Security Administration and found out the most popular names for the last 50 years. Right now, 2020’s most popular baby name list isn’t out just yet, but in the meantime, you can check out this list of 2020 baby name predictions, and then hang tight to see if they were right!

Remember, trendy or unique, your baby’s name will always be perfect—and yours is too!

Here are the 5 most popular baby names by year for boys and girls:

The most popular baby names in 2019

Girl :

  1. Olivia
  2. Emma
  3. Ava
  4. Sophia
  5. Isabella

Boy

  1. Liam
  2. Noah
  3. Oliver
  4. William
  5. Elijah

The most popular baby names in 2018

Girl :

  1. Emma
  2. Olivia
  3. Ava
  4. Isabella
  5. Sophia

Boy :

  1. Liam
  2. Noah
  3. William
  4. James
  5. Oliver

The most popular baby names in 2017

Girl:

  1. Emma
  2. Olivia
  3. Ava
  4. Isabella
  5. Sophia

Boy:

  1. Liam
  2. Noah
  3. William
  4. James
  5. Logan

The most popular baby names in 2016

Girl:

  1. Emma
  2. Olivia
  3. Ava
  4. Sophia
  5. Isabella

Boy:

  1. Noah
  2. Liam
  3. William
  4. Mason
  5. James

The most popular baby names in 2015

Girl:

  1. Emma
  2. Olivia
  3. Ava
  4. Sophia
  5. Isabella

Boy:

  1. Noah
  2. Liam
  3. Jacob
  4. Mason
  5. William

The most popular baby names in 2014

Girl:

  1. Emma
  2. Olivia
  3. Sophia
  4. Isabella
  5. Ava

Boy:

  1. Noah
  2. Liam
  3. Mason
  4. Jacob
  5. William

The most popular baby names in 2013

Girl:

  1. Sophia
  2. Emma
  3. Olivia
  4. Isabella
  5. Ava

Boy:

  1. Noah
  2. Jacob
  3. Liam
  4. Mason
  5. William

The most popular baby names in 2012

Girl:

  1. Sophia
  2. Emma
  3. Isabella
  4. Olivia
  5. Ava

Boy:

  1. Jacob
  2. Mason
  3. Ethan
  4. Noah
  5. William

The most popular baby names in 2011

Girl:

  1. Sophia
  2. Isabella
  3. Emma
  4. Olivia
  5. Ava

Boy:

  1. Jacob
  2. Mason
  3. William
  4. Jayden
  5. Noah

The most popular baby names in 2010

Girl:

  1. Isabella
  2. Sophia
  3. Emma
  4. Olivia
  5. Ava

Boy:

  1. Jacob
  2. Ethan
  3. Michael
  4. Jayden
  5. William

The most popular baby names in 2009

Girl:

  1. Isabella
  2. Emma
  3. Olivia
  4. Sophia
  5. Ava

Boy:

  1. Jacob
  2. Ethan
  3. Michael
  4. Alexander
  5. William

The most popular baby names in 2008

Girl:

  1. Emma
  2. Isabella
  3. Emily
  4. Olivia
  5. Ava

Boy:

  1. Jacob
  2. Michael
  3. Ethan
  4. Joshua
  5. Daniel

The most popular baby names in 2007

Girl:

  1. Emily
  2. Isabella
  3. Emma
  4. Ava
  5. Madison

Boy:

  1. Jacob
  2. Michael
  3. Ethan
  4. Joshua
  5. Daniel

The most popular baby names in 2006

Girl:

  1. Emily
  2. Emma
  3. Madison
  4. Isabella
  5. Ava

Boy:

  1. Jacob
  2. Michael
  3. Joshua
  4. Ethan
  5. Matthew

The most popular baby names in 2005

Girl:

  1. Emily
  2. Emma
  3. Madison
  4. Abigail
  5. Olivia

Boy:

  1. Jacob
  2. Michael
  3. Joshua
  4. Matthew
  5. Ethan

The most popular baby names in 2004

Girl:

  1. Emily
  2. Emma
  3. Madison
  4. Olivia
  5. Hannah

Boy:

  1. Jacob
  2. Michael
  3. Joshua
  4. Matthew
  5. Ethan

The most popular baby names in 2003

Girl:

  1. Emily
  2. Emma
  3. Madison
  4. Hannah
  5. Olivia

Boy:

  1. Jacob
  2. Michael
  3. Joshua
  4. Matthew
  5. Andrew

The most popular baby names in 2002

Girl:

  1. Emily
  2. Madison
  3. Hannah
  4. Emma
  5. Alexis

Boy:

  1. Jacob
  2. Michael
  3. Joshua
  4. Matthew
  5. Ethan

The most popular baby names in 2001

Girl:

  1. Emily
  2. Madison
  3. Hannah
  4. Ashley
  5. Alexis

Boy:

  1. Jacob
  2. Michael
  3. Matthew
  4. Joshua
  5. Christopher

The most popular baby names in 2000

Girl:

  1. Emily
  2. Hannah
  3. Madison
  4. Ashley
  5. Sarah

Boy:

  1. Jacob
  2. Michael
  3. Matthew
  4. Joshua
  5. Christopher

The most popular baby names in 1999

Girl:

  1. Emily
  2. Hannah
  3. Alexis
  4. Sarah
  5. Samantha

Boy:

  1. Jacob
  2. Michael
  3. Matthew
  4. Joshua
  5. Nicholas

The most popular baby names in 1998

Girl:

  1. Emily
  2. Hannah
  3. Samantha
  4. Sarah
  5. Ashley

Boy:

  1. Michael
  2. Jacob
  3. Matthew
  4. Joshua
  5. Christopher

The most popular baby names in 1997

Girl:

  1. Emily
  2. Jessica
  3. Ashley
  4. Sarah
  5. Hannah

Boy:

  1. Michael
  2. Jacob
  3. Matthew
  4. Christopher
  5. Joshua

The most popular baby names in 1996

Girl:

  1. Emily
  2. Jessica
  3. Ashley
  4. Sarah
  5. Samantha

Boy:

  1. Michael
  2. Matthew
  3. Jacob
  4. Christopher
  5. Joshua

The most popular baby names in 1995

Girl:

  1. Jessica
  2. Ashley
  3. Emily
  4. Samantha
  5. Sarah

Boy:

  1. Michael
  2. Matthew
  3. Christopher
  4. Jacob
  5. Joshua

The most popular baby names in 1994

Girl:

  1. Jessica
  2. Ashley
  3. Emily
  4. Samantha
  5. Sarah

Boy:

  1. Michael
  2. Christopher
  3. Matthew
  4. Joshua
  5. Tyler

The most popular baby names in 1993

Girl:

  1. Jessica
  2. Ashley
  3. Sarah
  4. Samantha
  5. Emily

Boy:

  1. Michael
  2. Christopher
  3. Matthew
  4. Joshua
  5. Tyler

The most popular baby names in 1992

Girl:

  1. Ashley
  2. Jessica
  3. Amanda
  4. Brittany
  5. Sarah

Boy:

  1. Michael
  2. Christopher
  3. Matthew
  4. Joshua
  5. Andrew

The most popular baby names in 1991

Girl:

  1. Ashley
  2. Jessica
  3. Brittany
  4. Amanda
  5. Samantha

Boy:

  1. Michael
  2. Christopher
  3. Matthew
  4. Joshua
  5. Andrew

The most popular baby names in 1990

Girl:

  1. Jessica
  2. Ashley
  3. Brittany
  4. Amanda
  5. Samantha

Boy:

  1. Michael
  2. Christopher
  3. Matthew
  4. Joshua
  5. Daniel

The most popular baby names in 1989

Girl:

  1. Jessica
  2. Ashley
  3. Brittany
  4. Amanda
  5. Sarah

Boy:

  1. Michael
  2. Christopher
  3. Matthew
  4. Joshua
  5. David

The most popular baby names in 1988

Girl:

  1. Jessica
  2. Ashley
  3. Amanda
  4. Sarah
  5. Jennifer

Boy:

  1. Michael
  2. Christopher
  3. Matthew
  4. Joshua
  5. Andrew

The most popular baby names in 1987

Girl:

  1. Jessica
  2. Ashley
  3. Amanda
  4. Jennifer
  5. Sarah

Boy:

  1. Michael
  2. Christopher
  3. Matthew
  4. Joshua
  5. David

The most popular baby names in 1986

Girl:

  1. Jessica
  2. Ashley
  3. Amanda
  4. Jennifer
  5. Sarah

Boy:

  1. Michael
  2. Christopher
  3. Matthew
  4. Joshua
  5. David

The most popular baby names in 1985

Girl:

  1. Jessica
  2. Ashley
  3. Jennifer
  4. Amanda
  5. Sarah

Boy:

  1. Michael
  2. Christopher
  3. Matthew
  4. Joshua
  5. Daniel

The most popular baby names in 1984

Girl:

  1. Jennifer
  2. Jessica
  3. Ashley
  4. Amanda
  5. Sarah

Boy:

  1. Michael
  2. Christopher
  3. Matthew
  4. Joshua
  5. David

The most popular baby names in 1983

Girl:

  1. Jennifer
  2. Jessica
  3. Amanda
  4. Ashley
  5. Sarah

Boy:

  1. Michael
  2. Christopher
  3. Matthew
  4. David
  5. Joshua

The most popular baby names in 1982

Girl:

  1. Jennifer
  2. Jessica
  3. Amanda
  4. Sarah
  5. Melissa

Boy:

  1. Michael
  2. Christopher
  3. Matthew
  4. Jason
  5. David

The most popular baby names in 1981

Girl:

  1. Jennifer
  2. Jessica
  3. Amanda
  4. Sarah
  5. Melissa

Boy:

  1. Michael
  2. Christopher
  3. Matthew
  4. Jason
  5. David

The most popular baby names in 1980

Girl:

  1. Jennifer
  2. Amanda
  3. Jessica
  4. Melissa
  5. Sarah

Boy:

  1. Michael
  2. Christopher
  3. Jason
  4. David
  5. James

The most popular baby names in 1979

Girl:

  1. Jennifer
  2. Melissa
  3. Amanda
  4. Jessica
  5. Amy

Boy:

  1. Michael
  2. Christopher
  3. Jason
  4. David
  5. James

The most popular baby names in 1978

Girl:

  1. Jennifer
  2. Melissa
  3. Jessica
  4. Amy
  5. Heather

Boy:

  1. Michael
  2. Jason
  3. Christopher
  4. David
  5. James

The most popular baby names in 1977

Girl:

  1. Jennifer
  2. Melissa
  3. Amy
  4. Jessica
  5. Heather

Boy:

  1. Michael
  2. Jason
  3. Christopher
  4. David
  5. James

The most popular baby names in 1976

Girl:

  1. Jennifer
  2. Amy
  3. Melissa
  4. Heather
  5. Angela

Boy:

  1. Michael
  2. Jason
  3. Christopher
  4. David
  5. James

The most popular baby names in 1975

Girl:

  1. Jennifer
  2. Amy
  3. Heather
  4. Melissa
  5. Angela

Boy:

  1. Michael
  2. Jason
  3. Christopher
  4. James
  5. David

The most popular baby names in 1974

Girl:

  1. Jennifer
  2. Amy
  3. Michelle
  4. Heather
  5. Angela

Boy:

  1. Michael
  2. Jason
  3. Christopher
  4. David
  5. James

The most popular baby names in 1973

Girl:

  1. Jennifer
  2. Amy
  3. Michelle
  4. Kimberly
  5. Lisa

Boy:

  1. Michael
  2. Christopher
  3. Jason
  4. James
  5. David

The most popular baby names in 1972

Girl:

  1. Jennifer
  2. Michelle
  3. Lisa
  4. Kimberly
  5. Amy

Boy:

  1. Michael
  2. Christopher
  3. James
  4. David
  5. John

The most popular baby names in 1971

Girl:

  1. Jennifer
  2. Michelle
  3. Lisa
  4. Amy
  5. Angela

Boy:

  1. Michael
  2. James
  3. David
  4. John
  5. Robert

The most popular baby names in 1970

Girl:

  1. Jennifer
  2. Lisa
  3. Kimberly
  4. Michelle
  5. Amy

Boy:

  1. Michael
  2. James
  3. David
  4. John
  5. Robert

Perfect gifts for your favorite newly named baby from The Motherly Shop.

 

Pacifier and teether bundle

pacifier and teether bundle

This bundle includes a genius pacifier with a “pop when it drops” function to help keep your baby’s favorite pacifier clean. The high-grade silicone teether will keep those teething gums happy—and how adorable is this set?

$25
Buy Now

 

 

Milestone blanket

milestone blanket

A big name deserve a big entrance. We love these gorgeous milestones blankets for their first photos and sharing their name with the world!

$25
Buy Now

 

 

We independently select and share the products we love—and may receive a commission if you choose to buy.

Related Stories

2024 Article Hero Celebrity Trending 17 Motherly

Pregnancy

Top baby names 2024: Who’s in, who’s out, and what’s trending

baby name stealing Motherly

Viral & Trending

My sister ‘stole’ my dream baby name—how do I make peace with it?

Son and dad talking Motherly

Viral & Trending

Son asks if he’s wrong for not changing his name despite parents’ wishes

The latest

Pregnancy

Top baby names 2024: Who’s in, who’s out, and what’s trending

Viral & Trending

My sister ‘stole’ my dream baby name—how do I make peace with it?

Viral & Trending

Son asks if he’s wrong for not changing his name despite parents’ wishes

Pregnancy

If you didn’t experience “pregnancy glow”, you are not alone