Baby names that gained the most popularity the year you were born

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Bryce (gained 252 places)
--- Rank in 1919: #832 (62 babies born)
--- Rank in 1920: #580 (115 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Myrl (gained 197 places)
--- Rank in 1919: #984 (53 babies born)
--- Rank in 1920: #787 (84 babies born)

A variant of the name Brice, a Celtic name meaning “speckled,” Bryce was the surname of a Mormon Pioneer—Ebenezer Bryce—after whom Bryce Canyon National Park is named. Myrl may have gained some traction thanks to the short story “Dora Myrl, The Lady Detective,” part of a popular series by M. McDonnell Bodkin at the turn of the century. The name Bryce lives on today through athletes Bryce Harper and Bryce Petty, and for a girl in actress Bryce Dallas-Howard, while Myrl has faded off the charts.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Dante (gained 264 places)
--- Rank in 1920: #826 (66 babies born)
--- Rank in 1921: #562 (125 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Henry (gained 151 places)
--- Rank in 1920: #893 (66 babies born)
--- Rank in 1921: #742 (97 babies born)

One of the most famous bearers of the name Dante before 1921 was Italian poet Dante Alighieri, who wrote “The Divine Comedy.” Henry as a girl’s name peaked in popularity in 1882 by reaching the top 500, and saw a slight resurgence, perhaps in part as a nod to the overwhelming popularity of Henry Ford. While Henry has virtually disappeared as a girl’s name, Dante is the given name of rapper/actor Mos Def and has remained in the top 500 as a boy’s name since 1974.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Daryl (gained 417 places)
--- Rank in 1921: #843 (67 babies born)
--- Rank in 1922: #426 (199 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Marilynn (gained 269 places)
--- Rank in 1921: #657 (125 babies born)
--- Rank in 1922: #388 (283 babies born)

A variant of the name Darrell, from French origin meaning “beloved,” Daryl jumped over 400 spots from 1921–22. Daryl is recognized as a girl’s name with actress Daryl Hannah. It is also borne by male musician Daryl Hall and former NFL fullback Daryl Johnston. Marilynn began being used in the 1920s, and traces its roots to two revered women in the Bible, the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Jordan (gained 257 places)
--- Rank in 1922: #949 (54 babies born)
--- Rank in 1923: #692 (87 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Laurel (gained 288 places)
--- Rank in 1922: #774 (89 babies born)
--- Rank in 1923: #486 (202 babies born)

A Hebrew name meaning “to flow down,” Jordan was originally given to people baptized in water from the River Jordan, and rose in popularity in the early 1920s partially from increased Jewish migration from Europe around World War I. Jordan would rise again in the early 1990s, as both a boys and girls name, thanks to basketball superstar Michael Jordan. Laurel stems from Latin in reference to the laurel wreath, a symbol of peace and success in ancient Rome.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Virgle (gained 264 places)
--- Rank in 1923: #941 (53 babies born)
--- Rank in 1924: #677 (92 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Ocie (gained 205 places)
--- Rank in 1923: #991 (57 babies born)
--- Rank in 1924: #786 (91 babies born)

Virgle draws its roots as a variation of Virgil, the name of a Roman poet in the first century, who wrote the "Aeneid." Virgil dropped slightly in popularity from 1923–24 as the variant Virgle rose. Ocie has been used as a unisex name, but fell out of usage since the 1930s, with only nine Ocie's born in 2012.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Dexter (gained 315 places)
--- Rank in 1924: #984 (51 babies born)
--- Rank in 1925: #669 (91 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Ofelia (gained 202 places)
--- Rank in 1924: #788 (89 babies born)
--- Rank in 1925: #586 (151 babies born)

Dexter picked up a little steam in 1925 as the name of the protagonist from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1922 short story “Winter Dreams.” Stemming from the Old English surname for someone who works with dyes, Dexter is thought of today for the serial killer in the Showtime series of the same name based on a series of novels. Ophelia, meaning “help,” was made famous by Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” in 1600, with the Spanish/Italian variant form Ofelia emerging as a girl’s name in 1920.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Kirby (gained 257 places)
--- Rank in 1925: #983 (48 babies born)
--- Rank in 1926: #726 (77 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Georgene (gained 248 places)
--- Rank in 1925: #996 (56 babies born)
--- Rank in 1926: #748 (92 babies born)

A French feminine of the name George, Georgene, meaning “farmer,” gained prominence thanks partially to Georgene Faulkner, a popular children’s author in the early 20th century. Kirby draws its roots from an English surname meaning “church settlement” in Norse. Kirby remained popular through the mid-20th century through the characters of icon John Wayne, who played five characters that used the name.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Valentino (gained 302 places)
--- Rank in 1926: #979 (49 babies born)
--- Rank in 1927: #677 (90 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Vilma (gained 192 places)
--- Rank in 1926: #669 (117 babies born)
--- Rank in 1927: #477 (213 babies born)

European V-names accounted for the biggest gains for both genders in 1927, with the Italian Valentino, and Swedish-Russian Vilma surging. Valentino, meaning “strong, healthy,” stems from Valentine, a third-century saint and namesake for the February holiday. Two actors during the Silent Film era helped keep their respective names in popular culture, with Hungarian American actress Vilma Banky starring in two movies alongside Rudolph Valentino.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Duncan (gained 237 places)
--- Rank in 1927: #900 (57 babies born)
--- Rank in 1928: #663 (89 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Charmaine (gained 436 places)
--- Rank in 1927: #856 (74 babies born)
--- Rank in 1928: #420 (264 babies born)

Duncan stems from Gaelic, meaning “dark warrior,” and was borne by two Scottish kings, one of which was featured in the Shakespearean play “MacBeth.” A surge in Scottish immigration in the early 1920s can be partially credited for the name’s success, with over 350,000 Scots entering the U.S. during the decade. The 1924 play and 1926 silent comedy “What Price Glory?” brought the name Charmaine into existence, as the lead female character in the year’s second-highest grossing film.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Evert (gained 275 places)
--- Rank in 1928: #981 (49 babies born)
--- Rank in 1929: #706 (77 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Jeanine (gained 406 places)
--- Rank in 1928: #888 (68 babies born)
--- Rank in 1929: #482 (197 babies born)

A Dutch-Swedish take on the Germanic name Everard, meaning "brave boar," Evert is still a popular name in the Netherlands despite falling off the SSA list in 1938. While perhaps the most famous Evert is Chris Evert Lloyd, an alternate spelling, Everett, has surged into the top 100 as of 2018. The 1928 hit film "Jeannine, I Dream of Lilac Time" sent both this name, and the alternate spelling Jeanine, meaning "God is gracious," shooting up the SSA list.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Farrell (gained 265 places)
--- Rank in 1929: #983 (47 babies born)
--- Rank in 1930: #718 (76 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Wynona (gained 233 places)
--- Rank in 1929: #933 (59 babies born)
--- Rank in 1930: #700 (97 babies born)

The combination of increased Irish immigration coupled with the success of Irish American actor Charles Farrell helped the name move up the boys’ list. Wynona is an alternate spelling for Winona, and was adapted from Sioux culture, meaning “firstborn daughter.” In Sioux legend, and brought to popular culture through a number of books, Winona leaped to her death rather than marry a man she did not love.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Dino (gained 228 places)
--- Rank in 1930: #944 (51 babies born)
--- Rank in 1931: #716 (72 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Claudette (gained 330 places)
--- Rank in 1930: #941 (60 babies born)
--- Rank in 1931: #611 (117 babies born)

Between 1880–1920, nearly 4 million Italian immigrants entered the United States, and the growing population possibly contributed to a rise in the number of Dinos in 1931. Actress Claudette Colbert shot to fame in the new so-called talkies of the late 1920s and early '30s, with her beauty and singing voice bringing great attention to the name. A French feminine form of the Roman name Claudius, Claudette would fall out of the top 1,000 by 1973.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Lindsey (gained 268 places)
--- Rank in 1931: #997 (44 babies born)
--- Rank in 1932: #729 (73 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Marylyn (gained 246 places)
--- Rank in 1931: #931 (55 babies born)
--- Rank in 1932: #685 (98 babies born)

An English surname that traces to the territory of Lindsey in Lincolnshire, the first name Lindsey was used mostly for boys until the 1970s. The rise of future “Bionic Woman” Lindsay Wagner in the early 1970s may have precipitated the change. Another name of English descent, Marylyn got attention in the late 1920s thanks to popular musical actress Marilyn Miller, who branched into movies in the early 1930s.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Delano (gained 375 places)
--- Rank in 1932: #677 (81 babies born)
--- Rank in 1933: #302 (315 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Bernita (gained 245 places)
--- Rank in 1932: #933 (57 babies born)
--- Rank in 1933: #688 (89 babies born)

Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected president in 1933 and single-handedly prompted a spike in the name Delano, his middle name. From a French surname for someone from La Noue, Delano was the maiden name of Roosevelt’s mother, Sara Delano. Similarly of French origin, Bernita is a feminine take on Bernard, meaning “strong as a bear.”

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Lynwood (gained 287 places)
--- Rank in 1933: #842 (54 babies born)
--- Rank in 1934: #555 (113 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Georgina (gained 227 places)
--- Rank in 1933: #937 (53 babies born)
--- Rank in 1934: #710 (87 babies born)

From an English surname meaning "stream forest," Lynwood was a popular alternate spelling of Linwood in the 1930s. Georgina, meaning "farmer," is a feminized version of the name George, which traces back to a number of saints and kings. The name possibly received a bump up the list as a tribute to George Herman "Babe" Ruth, who played his last season with the New York Yankees in 1934.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Kerry (gained 420 places)
--- Rank in 1934: #968 (43 babies born)
--- Rank in 1935: #548 (110 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Marva (gained 317 places)
--- Rank in 1934: #782 (74 babies born)
--- Rank in 1935: #465 (187 babies born)

Taken from the name of a county in Ireland, Kerry first appeared as a boy’s name in 1934, and would remain popular as both a boys and girls name until the 1990s. Marva has ties to both English and Aramaic, meaning “lady, or mistress of the house,” as well as being the Hebrew word for sage.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Landon (gained 505 places)
--- Rank in 1935: #930 (46 babies born)
--- Rank in 1936: #425 (173 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Shelby (gained 662 places)
--- Rank in 1935: #840 (67 babies born)
--- Rank in 1936: #178 (1,071 babies born)

Alfred Landon was a politician running for president in 1936, and was predicted by Literary Digest to win the election over Franklin D. Roosevelt in a landslide (the opposite happened). The name spent just three years on the SSA list from 1935–37, before falling off until 1962, where it has remained in the top 100 since 2003, partially thanks to U.S. soccer superstar Landon Donovan. The main character in the 1935 film “The Woman in Red” helped put the name Shelby on the list for girls (it had been for boys since 1880), and spur a 600-plus spot jump to 1936.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Errol (gained 415 places)
--- Rank in 1936: #905 (46 babies born)
--- Rank in 1937: #490 (136 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Deanna (gained 630 places)
--- Rank in 1936: #769 (77 babies born)
--- Rank in 1937: #139 (1,624 babies born)

One man, Australian actor Errol Flynn, can be credited for sending the name up the charts in 1937 after “Captain Blood” and “The Charge of the Light Brigade” became smash hits in 1936. Deanna Durbin helped do the same for her name, starring as the teenage daughter in many films of the 1930s, including the 1936 hit “Every Sunday” alongside Judy Garland.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Lance (gained 382 places)
--- Rank in 1937: #721 (70 babies born)
--- Rank in 1938: #339 (267 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Arleen (gained 313 places)
--- Rank in 1937: #688 (98 babies born)
--- Rank in 1938: #375 (310 babies born)

Derived from the German name Lanzo, meaning “land,” Lance joined the Social Security list in 1934, perhaps in part from the fictional character Lance O’Leary from the Mystery Movie Series of the 1930s. Actor Lance Henriksen and Pro Football Hall of Famer Lance Alworth both just missed contributing to the spike, as they were born in 1940. Arleen Whelan brought some notoriety to the alternate spelling of Arline in 1938 as the lead female role in the film “Kidnapped,” based on the book by Robert Louis Stevenson.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Judith (gained 292 places)
--- Rank in 1938: #977 (42 babies born)
--- Rank in 1939: #685 (75 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Marleen (gained 252 places)
--- Rank in 1938: #992 (51 babies born)
--- Rank in 1939: #740 (85 babies born)

Judith had a nine-year run in the top 1,000 as a boys name from 1938–46, and may have gained traction thanks to Judy Garland, who starred in "The Wizard of Oz" in 1939. Garland's success as Dorothy helped propel the name Judith, Hebrew for "woman from Judea," to the top 10 girls names in 1939. A variant of Marlene, a mashup of the names Maria and Magdalene, in association with the character in the New Testament of the Bible. Although she used the traditional spelling, actress Marlene Dietrich brought notoriety to the name, starring in a number of movies during the 1930s

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Jeffery (gained 327 places)
--- Rank in 1939: #836 (53 babies born)
--- Rank in 1940: #509 (128 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Melanie (gained 452 places)
--- Rank in 1939: #930 (57 babies born)
--- Rank in 1940: #478 (200 babies born)

Adapted from the name of a Roman saint that gave all her money to charity, Melanie gained over 400 places in 1940 thanks to the film release of “Gone With the Wind.” Melanie Hamilton Wilkes was sister-in-law and eventual best friend to the wildly successful film’s heroine Scarlett O’Hara. An alternate spelling to Jeffrey and Geoffrey, meaning “pledge of peace,” Jeffery would reach as high as #42 in 1966.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Lyndon (gained 294 places)
--- Rank in 1940: #938 (46 babies born)
--- Rank in 1941: #644 (90 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Shari (gained 301 places)
--- Rank in 1940: #868 (67 babies born)
--- Rank in 1941: #567 (151 babies born)

While serving as president in the 1960s, Lyndon B. Johnson rejuvenated the name, one he may have helped grown in 1940, a few years after he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Shari, meaning “princess,” draws its roots as a diminutive of the Hebrew name Sharon, and the uptick in the name’s usage could coincide with Jewish migration to escape Nazi Germany.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Colin (gained 389 places)
--- Rank in 1941: #712 (75 babies born)
--- Rank in 1942: #323 (348 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Jerilynn (gained 394 places)
--- Rank in 1941: #975 (56 babies born)
--- Rank in 1942: #581 (162 babies born)

National pride possibly accounted for the rise of the name Colin, as Colin Kelly Jr. was one of the first American heroes of World War II. Kelly was a pilot who died in 1941 in the Philippines a few days following the attack on Pearl Harbor, ordering his crew to bail out of the bomber shortly before it blew up. 1941 and 1942 were the only two years Jerilynn reached the top 1,000, which is a combination of the names Jeri and Lynn, meaning “rules with a spear.”

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Rick (gained 252 places)
--- Rank in 1942: #651 (96 babies born)
--- Rank in 1943: #399 (237 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Nikki (gained 286 places)
--- Rank in 1942: #829 (85 babies born)
--- Rank in 1943: #543 (190 babies born)

Here’s looking at Rick Blaine, the fictional nightclub owner portrayed by Humphrey Bogart in the 1942 movie “Casablanca.” The character helped give a rapid rise to the adaptation of the name Richard, meaning “brave ruler.” Nikki has French-Greek roots as a diminutive of Nicole, meaning “people of victory.” Prince’s “Darling Nikki” would help the name temporarily move up the list again in 1984–85 before falling out of favor in 2006.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Ismael (gained 257 places)
--- Rank in 1943: #955 (49 babies born)
--- Rank in 1944: #698 (79 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Cheryle (gained 326 places)
--- Rank in 1943: #870 (80 babies born)
--- Rank in 1944: #544 (176 babies born)

A Spanish adaptation of the name Ishmael, the son of Abraham in the Bible, the success of Spanish actor Ismael Merlo and Mexican director Ismael Rodriguez may account for a spike in 1944. Derived from the French Cherie meaning "darling," Cheryle spent 21 years on the SSA list before ultimately falling off in 1964. The name may have gained traction in 1942 in part from Hollywood actress Lana Turner, who named her daughter Cheryl in 1943.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Franklyn (gained 280 places)
--- Rank in 1944: #972 (44 babies born)
--- Rank in 1945: #692 (77 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Candy (gained 284 places)
--- Rank in 1944: #801 (91 babies born)
--- Rank in 1945: #517 (198 babies born)

Franklyn’s temporary resurgence in 1945 could perhaps be an alternate spelling in homage to President Franklin Roosevelt, who died in April of that year. Candy entered the top 1,000 names in 1943 and rose quickly through the ranks thanks to Candy Jones, one of the prime pin-up girls of the World War II era. She appeared on as many as 11 magazine covers in a single month in 1943. Later she controversially claimed to have worked for the CIA and undergone mind control.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Drew (gained 230 places)
--- Rank in 1945: #645 (88 babies born)
--- Rank in 1946: #415 (234 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Gilda (gained 471 places)
--- Rank in 1945: #913 (68 babies born)
--- Rank in 1946: #442 (305 babies born)

A shortened form of the English name Andrew, from Greek meaning “manly,” Drew rose as a girl’s name as well in 1994 as actress Drew Barrymore’s fame began to grow. Gilda jumped nearly 500 places thanks to Rita Hayworth’s portrayal (and hair flip) as the title character in the film “Gilda” in 1946. Coincidentally, the most famous real-life Gilda, Gilda Radner of Saturday Night Live fame, was one of the 305 Gildas born in 1946.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Jody (gained 357 places)
--- Rank in 1946: #935 (51 babies born)
--- Rank in 1947: #578 (137 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Carlotta (gained 384 places)
--- Rank in 1946: #997 (71 babies born)
--- Rank in 1947: #613 (188 babies born)

The film adaptation of the 1938 novel “The Yearling” hit movie theaters at the end of 1946, with Claude Jarman Jr. winning the Juvenile Academy Award as the film’s young protagonist, Jody. Carlotta finds its origins as an Italian form of Charlotte, meaning “free man,” and had fallen out of favor as a name by 1960.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Shawn (gained 363 places)
--- Rank in 1947: #923 (57 babies born)
--- Rank in 1948: #560 (143 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Coleen (gained 284 places)
--- Rank in 1947: #803 (118 babies born)
--- Rank in 1948: #519 (252 babies born)

An alternate spelling of the Irish name Sean, Shawn even premiered in the top 1,000 as a girls name in 1948, to go along with the 363 spots gained for boys. Also stemming from Irish, from the word cailin meaning “girl,” Coleen saw rise thanks partially to actress Coleen Gray, who starred as the love interest opposite John Wayne in 1948’s “Red River.”

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Derek (gained 222 places)
--- Rank in 1948: #862 (63 babies born)
--- Rank in 1949: #640 (114 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Shelly (gained 248 places)
--- Rank in 1948: #862 (102 babies born)
--- Rank in 1949: #614 (181 babies born)

Adapted from German, meaning "people's ruler," Derek was a popular British name, and possibly picked up ground after Derek Bond's portrayal of the title character in "Nicholas Nickleby." Shelly is adapted from a surname meaning "clearing on a bank," and saw success as an alternate spelling to Shelley, which was rising to fame in 1949 along with actress Shelley Winters.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Derrick (gained 242 places)
--- Rank in 1949: #754 (83 babies born)
--- Rank in 1950: #512 (171 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Roxann (gained 322 places)
--- Rank in 1949: #974 (84 babies born)
--- Rank in 1950: #652 (171 babies born)

Derived from Persian meaning “dawn,” Roxann jumped 322 spots from 1949 to 1950, but only lasted on the list until 1970, while it’s alternate spelling, Roxanne, made it to 2,000 thanks in part to the Police song of the same name. One year after Derek made the biggest leap Derrick emerged as a variant, gaining 242 places to kick off the 1950s.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Ritchie (gained 246 places)
--- Rank in 1950: #978 (50 babies born)
--- Rank in 1951: #732 (90 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Mindy (gained 292 places)
--- Rank in 1950: #768 (127 babies born)
--- Rank in 1951: #476 (306 babies born)

A variant of Richie and short for Richard, meaning “brave ruler,” Ritchie was up and down on the list before falling out of the top 1,000 in 1974. Mindy Carson helped give rise to her name in the late 1940s and early '50s as a pop singer, and was the youngest to headline the famed Copacabana Club in 1949.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Beverly (gained 204 places)
--- Rank in 1951: #971 (52 babies born)
--- Rank in 1952: #767 (84 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Vanessa (gained 354 places)
--- Rank in 1951: #656 (176 babies born)
--- Rank in 1952: #302 (697 babies born)

Beverly began to give way to being a girls name and only would spend two more years on the Social Security’s boys' name list before leaving. As a name, Vanessa was invented by Jonathan Swift for a 1726 poem to his lover, Esther Vanhomrigh, by using the syllables from her first and last names. Vanessa Redgrave would help her the name reach the top 100 by 1977.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Mikel (gained 174 places)
--- Rank in 1952: #683 (104 babies born)
--- Rank in 1953: #509 (190 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Luann (gained 386 places)
--- Rank in 1952: #616 (202 babies born)
--- Rank in 1953: #230 (1,195 babies born)

Singer Lu Ann Simms spent three years on the Arthur Godfrey TV show starting in 1952, bringing much attention to the mashup of the names Lou and Ann. She was so popular, Lu Ann Simms dolls were a best-seller. Stemming from French and Spanish origins, Mikel is an alternate form of Michael and was popular among Spanish athletes.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Cory (gained 273 places)
--- Rank in 1953: #900 (63 babies born)
--- Rank in 1954: #627 (139 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Kimberlee (gained 229 places)
--- Rank in 1953: #987 (94 babies born)
--- Rank in 1954: #758 (151 babies born)

Cory stems from Irish origins as an alternate spelling of Corey, meaning "from the hollow." Actress Kim Novak was beginning her rise to success in 1954 and may have brought some attention to the name Kimberlee as an alternate spelling. The name Kimberley comes from a town in South Africa, named after Lord Kimberley.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Wyatt (gained 327 places)
--- Rank in 1954: #984 (57 babies born)
--- Rank in 1955: #657 (124 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Desiree (gained 675 places)
--- Rank in 1954: #984 (98 babies born)
--- Rank in 1955: #309 (768 babies born)

From English origins, meaning “brave in war,” Wyatt may have gotten a slight bump from Wyatt Emory Cooper, an author and actor in the early '50s—25 years after the death of a well-known Wyatt, lawman Wyatt Earp. Desiree jumped up 675 spots on the Social Security list on the back of the 1954 release of a hit movie of the same name. Derived from French, meaning “desire,” Jean Simmons portrayed Desiree Cleary in the film, the love interest of fame ruler Napoleon, played by Marlon Brando.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Elvis (gained 554 places)
--- Rank in 1955: #913 (66 babies born)
--- Rank in 1956: #359 (419 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Cindi (gained 282 places)
--- Rank in 1955: #903 (118 babies born)
--- Rank in 1956: #621 (239 babies born)

It isn’t difficult to surmise why the name Elvis shot up in popularity in 1956, as the “King of Rock and Roll” was skyrocketing to fame in early 1956. The release of “Heartbreak Hotel” in early 1956 saw Elvis hold the #1 song, #1 album, and a fresh new Hollywood contract. Cindi is derived from the name Cynthia, Greek for a “woman from Kynthos.”

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Mitch (gained 325 places)
--- Rank in 1956: #863 (75 babies born)
--- Rank in 1957: #538 (208 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Tami (gained 565 places)
--- Rank in 1956: #880 (128 babies born)
--- Rank in 1957: #315 (851 babies born)

A shortened form of Mitchell, Mitch drew some attention as one of the principal characters in the Broadway play and 1951 film, “A Streetcar Named Desire.” A variant of Tammy and Tamara, Tami spiked 565 places in 1957, perhaps on the back of the song “Tammy,” which won an Academy Award for Best Song in 1957 from the movie “Tammy and the Bachelor” starring Debbie Reynolds.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Darren (gained 506 places)
--- Rank in 1957: #885 (73 babies born)
--- Rank in 1958: #379 (418 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Justine (gained 368 places)
--- Rank in 1957: #988 (110 babies born)
--- Rank in 1958: #620 (253 babies born)

Darren McGavin was rising to stardom in the late 1950s, lending credit to the name, which is of Irish origins, meaning “little great one.” McGavin’s role in the hit show “Mike Hammer” helped the spike in Darrens, though he is best remembered as the surly father from “A Christmas Story.” A feminized form of Justin, meaning “fair, righteous,” Justine rose to fame in 1957 as the name of the first of four novels in Lawrence Durrell’s “The Alexandria Quartet.”

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Ty (gained 260 places)
--- Rank in 1958: #827 (82 babies born)
--- Rank in 1959: #567 (188 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Gigi (gained 296 places)
--- Rank in 1958: #925 (124 babies born)
--- Rank in 1959: #629 (251 babies born)

The 1958 musical film "Gigi" received strong reviews and is considered the last great musical, winning a then-record nine Academy Awards in 1959. French in origin, Gigi would fall out of the top 1000 names altogether by 1966. Ty crosses multiple names as a shortened form of Tyson, Tyler or Tyrone, the name is probably most notoriously remembered for professional baseball player Ty Cobb.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Darin (gained 328 places)
--- Rank in 1959: #776 (97 babies born)
--- Rank in 1960: #448 (324 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Alesia (gained 382 places)
--- Rank in 1959: #894 (135 babies born)
--- Rank in 1960: #512 (352 babies born)

“Splish Splash” in 1958 began to push the name Darin up the boys’ list, while follow up hits from singer Bobby Darin making it the fastest mover in 1960. Bobby Darin would be the youngest performer to headline in Las Vegas. A derivative of Alice, the name Alesia spiked from 1959–66 when it disappeared from the charts altogether, minus a one-year return in 1984.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Lars (gained 238 places)
--- Rank in 1960: #974 (61 babies born)
--- Rank in 1961: #736 (110 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Kara (gained 358 places)
--- Rank in 1960: #910 (135 babies born)
--- Rank in 1961: #552 (319 babies born)

A Scandanavian form of Laurence, Lars today is associated with Metallica rocker Lars Ulrich, who was born in 1963, two years after Lars’ big bump. Kara is an adaptation of Cara, meaning “love,” with roots in Irish and Latin. In Norse mythology, though, Kara takes on a different meaning, “stormy one,” as one of the Valkyrie that escorts the dead to Valhalla.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Pernell (gained 244 places)
--- Rank in 1961: #928 (68 babies born)
--- Rank in 1962: #684 (128 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Lolita (gained 407 places)
--- Rank in 1961: #977 (122 babies born)
--- Rank in 1962: #570 (298 babies born)

Actor Pernell Roberts helped his name rise on the list, starring in the hit TV show “Bonanza” beginning in 1959 before leaving the show in 1965. The 1962 Stanley Kubrick film “Lolita,” starring James Mason and Peter Sellers, partially helped precipitate a 400-plus spot rise for the name. The book of the same name, on which Kubrick’s movie was based, also contributed by rising to classic status shortly after its 1955 release.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Kennedy (gained 204 places)
--- Rank in 1962: #825 (85 babies born)
--- Rank in 1963: #621 (158 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Zina (gained 622 places)
--- Rank in 1962: #992 (117 babies born)
--- Rank in 1963: #370 (678 babies born)

The assassination of President John F. Kennedy on Nov. 22, 1963, undoubtedly spurred a late-year push in the name Kennedy. His death in Dallas, Texas, was the fourth murder of a president while in office. Zina Bethune brought attention to the Russian name Zina in the early 1960s as a child star, with future famous Zina, tennis player Garrison, joining the world in 1963.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Lyndon (gained 246 places)
--- Rank in 1963: #593 (176 babies born)
--- Rank in 1964: #347 (514 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Vonda (gained 372 places)
--- Rank in 1963: #769 (180 babies born)
--- Rank in 1964: #397 (602 babies born)

JFK's assassination also helped Lyndon make the list for the second time (1941), as Vice President Lyndon Johnson assumed the presidency following Kennedy's death. Johnson was popular when he first took office, but his approval ratings faded, similarly to the name's usage in the late 1960s. Vonda, the Polish form of Wanda, spiked in the mid-60s after actress and beauty queen Vonda Kay Van Dyke was rising to win the Miss America title in 1965.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Jayson (gained 219 places)
--- Rank in 1964: #992 (58 babies born)
--- Rank in 1965: #773 (91 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Mia (gained 302 places)
--- Rank in 1964: #568 (300 babies born)
--- Rank in 1965: #266 (1,053 babies born)

Mia finds its origins in Italian and Scandinavian, meaning “mine,” and has been in the top 10 since 2011. Its increase in 1965 coincided with the stardom of actress Mia Farrow, who exploded in fame as Allison MacKenzie from the prime time soap “Peyton Place.” An alternate spelling for Jason, derived from Greek for “healer,” Jayson didn’t enter name hood until 1963, but remains in the top 500 to this day.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Jared (gained 270 places)
--- Rank in 1965: #746 (99 babies born)
--- Rank in 1966: #476 (259 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Mechelle (gained 356 places)
--- Rank in 1965: #939 (118 babies born)
--- Rank in 1966: #583 (262 babies born)

Jared, from Hebrew descent, rose in usage in 1966 as an alternate spelling for Jarrod. The name was made famous by Jarrod Barkley, one of the main characters on the ABC television show “The Big Valley.” Mechelle probably saw a spike courtesy of the Beatles, who sang a portion of their 1965 single “Michelle” in French. Derived from Michelle, and meaning “who is like God,” Mechelle had fallen out of favor completely by 1975.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Jamey (gained 196 places)
--- Rank in 1966: #900 (64 babies born)
--- Rank in 1967: #704 (110 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Lara (gained 339 places)
--- Rank in 1966: #616 (237 babies born)
--- Rank in 1967: #277 (945 babies born)

The 1965 hit movie “Doctor Zhivago” brought Lara much attention, as the love interest of the title character. The anti-Soviet film is among the highest grossing films of all time. A variant of James or Jamie, which come from Hebrew-Scottish origins, Jamey would reach its peak in 1976, the only year it appeared as a girl’s name as well.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Robb (gained 251 places)
--- Rank in 1967: #768 (90 babies born)
--- Rank in 1968: #517 (214 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Angelique (gained 402 places)
--- Rank in 1967: #716 (186 babies born)
--- Rank in 1968: #314 (764 babies born)

Angelique draws its roots from Dutch and French, and was ultimately derived from the Latin word for angelic. The popular movie “Angelique and the Sultan” debuted in 1968 as the fifth and final movie stemming from the “Angelique” French novel series. The rise of Robb may have been in homage to Capt. Charles Robb, a company commander in Vietnam and future son-in-law of President Lyndon Johnson.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Darian (gained 358 places)
--- Rank in 1968: #989 (56 babies born)
--- Rank in 1969: #631 (157 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Nichole (gained 383 places)
--- Rank in 1968: #696 (194 babies born)
--- Rank in 1969: #313 (816 babies born)

An Eastern European take on the name Nicole, meaning "victory of the people," Nichole reached the top 100 in the early 1980s before falling off the list completely in 2007. Meaning "upholder of the good," Darian draws its roots from Persian as a nickname for the ancient king Darius.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Jade (gained 228 places)
--- Rank in 1969: #988 (60 babies born)
--- Rank in 1970: #760 (118 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Misti (gained 235 places)
--- Rank in 1969: #836 (153 babies born)
--- Rank in 1970: #601 (290 babies born)

Misti may have gained ground as an alternate spelling to Misty, which was popularized in the mid-50s through a jazz song by Errol Garner. Jade, the name created after a stone of the same name, has morphed into a mostly feminine one today.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Jermaine (gained 387 places)
--- Rank in 1970: #620 (171 babies born)
--- Rank in 1971: #233 (1,015 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Tanisha (gained 468 places)
--- Rank in 1970: #974 (129 babies born)
--- Rank in 1971: #506 (374 babies born)

Jermaine moved its way up the list in 1971 thanks to the wild popularity of the Jackson 5, and co-lead singer Jermaine Jackson. The group’s first four singles all hit #1 on the Billboard charts, with Jermaine going on to find solo success later in the '70s. Actress Ta-Tanisha appeared in the comedy-drama “Room 222” for three seasons from 1970–72, giving rise to the Sanskrit-based name among the African American community.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Toriano (gained 241 places)
--- Rank in 1971: #928 (77 babies born)
--- Rank in 1972: #687 (135 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Latoya (gained 346 places)
--- Rank in 1971: #905 (145 babies born)
--- Rank in 1972: #559 (296 babies born)

The Jackson 5 helped another name dance up the charts in 1972, as sister La Toya brought attention to the name even though she wouldn’t enter show business until 1974. A variation of Torin, an Irish name meaning “chief,” Toriano spent a grand total of three years in the Social Security Top 1,000 names, falling out in 1974.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Rahsaan (gained 213 places)
--- Rank in 1972: #958 (71 babies born)
--- Rank in 1973: #745 (116 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Tracee (gained 435 places)
--- Rank in 1972: #970 (124 babies born)
--- Rank in 1973: #535 (313 babies born)

Rahsaan Roland Kirk was an influential blind jazz performer whose career began in the late '50s, and who later became an activist in the early '70s. The birth of one Tracee in 1972, Tracee Ellis Ross, to megastar Diana Ross, set off a surge in the name in 1973. Tracee Ellis Ross would win her first Golden Globe in 2017, for Best Actress while starring in the television show “Black-ish.”

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Landon (gained 165 places)
--- Rank in 1973: #878 (82 babies born)
--- Rank in 1974: #713 (133 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Jolene (gained 317 places)
--- Rank in 1973: #562 (293 babies born)
--- Rank in 1974: #245 (1,052 babies born)

"Little House on the Prairie" premiered in 1974, and its leading man, Michael Landon, who had previously found TV fame in "Bonanza," helped bring attention to Landon as a first name. Dolly Parton inspired the use of the name Jolene, after her song of the same name hit the airwaves at the end of 1973.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Abdul (gained 240 places)
--- Rank in 1974: #897 (81 babies born)
--- Rank in 1975: #657 (157 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Mandi (gained 635 places)
--- Rank in 1974: #967 (127 babies born)
--- Rank in 1975: #332 (669 babies born)

Abdul finds its roots in Arabic, meaning “servant of Allah,” and has strong roots in Islam as the father of the Prophet Mohammed. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s trade from Minnesota to Los Angeles in 1975 may have given the name a slight bump as well. A variation of Amanda and Mandy, meaning “worthy of love,” climbed the charts along with Barry Manilow’s first #1 hit “Mandy” in late 1974.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Deangelo (gained 185 places)
--- Rank in 1975: #951 (74 babies born)
--- Rank in 1976: #766 (117 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Jayme (gained 283 places)
--- Rank in 1975: #702 (211 babies born)
--- Rank in 1976: #419 (480 babies born)

Derived from Italian meaning “from the angel,” the singer D’Angelo is probably the most recognizable personality to sport the name, though he was born in 1974, one year before it made the top 1,000. A Spanish-Hebrew variation of James, Jayme gained traction in 1976 thanks to “The Bionic Woman,” whose character Jaime Sommers, portrayed by Lindsay Wagner, helped give the name a bump.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Rashad (gained 328 places)
--- Rank in 1976: #781 (112 babies born)
--- Rank in 1977: #453 (311 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Sommer (gained 408 places)
--- Rank in 1976: #849 (161 babies born)
--- Rank in 1977: #441 (464 babies born)

“The Bionic Woman” may have struck again in 1977, as Sommer rose, perhaps again as the last name of character Jaime Sommers. Meaning “summer” in Dutch and German, Sommer had faded out of use by the early '80s, only to pop up for one more year in the mid-90s. Rashad is one of the more popular Arabic names, meaning “having good judgment,” and a number of well-known athletes have helped keep the name relevant today: UFC fighter Rashad Evans and footballer Rashad Jennings.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Conor (gained 254 places)
--- Rank in 1977: #938 (82 babies born)
--- Rank in 1978: #684 (150 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Lacy (gained 450 places)
--- Rank in 1977: #891 (159 babies born)
--- Rank in 1978: #441 (453 babies born)

Steeped in Irish roots, Conor translates to “lover of hounds,” the name possibly got a bump from the novel “Trinity” in 1976, as the name of the main character, Conor Larkin. It could have also been in relation to two famous men with a variation as their surname: tennis legend Jimmy Connors and “All in the Family” actor Carroll O’Connor. Lacy is derived from a town in Normandy, France and was primarily a male name until the mid-70s.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Jonah (gained 244 places)
--- Rank in 1978: #647 (168 babies born)
--- Rank in 1979: #403 (391 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Brianne (gained 593 places)
--- Rank in 1978: #761 (202 babies born)
--- Rank in 1979: #168 (1,662 babies born)

The made-for-TV movie "And Your Name is Jonah," starring Sally Struthers and James Woods hit the airwaves 1979 and helped the biblical name more than double in usage. Brianne, a feminine form of Brian, exploded in popularity, with an additional 1,460 babies born in 1979. Actress Brianne Leary, who got her start as a contestant and later a celebrity panelist on "Match Game" and would have a recurring role as Officer Sindy Cahill on the show "CHiPS" in 1979, is likely to have contributed to the name's surge in popularity.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Bo (gained 297 places)
--- Rank in 1979: #864 (101 babies born)
--- Rank in 1980: #567 (232 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Loni (gained 415 places)
--- Rank in 1979: #985 (145 babies born)
--- Rank in 1980: #570 (325 babies born)

The Duke boys helped drive the name Bo up the list in 1980, as the show “The Dukes of Hazzard” was in its second season following the exploits of Bo and Luke Duke. A female Bo, Bo Derek was coming off the success of the 1979 movie “10” and posed for Playboy in 1980. Loni Anderson was starring in “WKRP Cincinnati” from 1978–82, earning her multiple Golden Globe and Emmy nominations as receptionist Jennifer Marlow.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Tristan (gained 186 places)
--- Rank in 1980: #601 (209 babies born)
--- Rank in 1981: #415 (399 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Blair (gained 369 places)
--- Rank in 1980: #893 (170 babies born)
--- Rank in 1981: #524 (372 babies born)

Actors Christopher Waltz starred in the 1981 romantic drama “Tristan and Isolde” bringing notice to the Irish name, which means “noise or sorrowful.” Following a rough start from 1979–80, “The Facts of Life,” along with Blair Warner as one of the main characters, began to take off in 1981, lending increased popularity to the name. The Gaelic name, meaning “plain, battlefield,” became primarily a feminine name after that.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Chase (gained 365 places)
--- Rank in 1981: #610 (196 babies born)
--- Rank in 1982: #245 (937 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Kayla (gained 448 places)
--- Rank in 1981: #581 (318 babies born)
--- Rank in 1982: #133 (2,274 babies born)

A fictional character on the soap opera “Days of Our Lives” spurred the bump in Kaylas in 1982. Kayla Brady, the good girl in the series, made her debut in 1982 and is still a main character in the show today, portrayed by Mary Beth Evans since 1986. Originally a nickname for a hunter in Middle English, Chase may have gotten a bump from actor Chevy Chase, who starred in “Caddyshack” the year prior.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Jameson (gained 303 places)
--- Rank in 1982: #765 (131 babies born)
--- Rank in 1983: #462 (328 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Trista (gained 681 places)
--- Rank in 1982: #966 (153 babies born)
--- Rank in 1983: #285 (822 babies born)

Trista Evans Bradford was murdered by the Salem Slasher on the hit television soap opera “Days of Our Lives” in 1983. The feminine version of Tristan, meaning “sorrowful,” peaked in 1984 before gradually fading out of use. From English meaning “son of James,” Jameson moved into the top 100 in 2018.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Shea (gained 312 places)
--- Rank in 1983: #849 (106 babies born)
--- Rank in 1984: #537 (257 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Jena (gained 433 places)
--- Rank in 1983: #860 (177 babies born)
--- Rank in 1984: #427 (492 babies born)

The "stately, dauntless one" Shea draws its roots from Ireland, and actor John Shea may have helped contribute to the name's success with his breakthrough role in "Windy City" in 1984. Jena can be used as a diminutive of Jennifer but also has Arabic roots meaning "paradise." "Hunger Games" actress Jena Malone was among the additional 315 Jenas born in 1984.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Griffin (gained 261 places)
--- Rank in 1984: #986 (81 babies born)
--- Rank in 1985: #725 (148 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Sierra (gained 503 places)
--- Rank in 1984: #717 (230 babies born)
--- Rank in 1985: #214 (1,200 babies born)

Griffin, meaning “strong lord” in its Latin roots, possibly gained attention from actor Griffin Dunne, who starred in the 1985 Martin Scorsese film “After Hours.” Dunne currently is a featured character in the NBC show “This Is Us” as Nicky Pearson. Spanish meaning both “saw” and “mountain range,” Sierra is still in use today after reaching the top 100 in the early 1990s.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Dakota (gained 369 places)
--- Rank in 1985: #857 (110 babies born)
--- Rank in 1986: #488 (320 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Nikita (gained 706 places)
--- Rank in 1985: #956 (162 babies born)
--- Rank in 1986: #250 (1,034 babies born)

Dakota, meaning “friendly one,” traces its roots to the Native American people that inhabited the northern Mississippi valley. The name joined the SSA list in 1985 and remained in the top 400 as both a boys and girls name from 1988–2018. The 1985 Elton John song “Nikita” helped spur the Russian name, meaning “victor,” to add over 800 babies to its ranks that year.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Spenser (gained 370 places)
--- Rank in 1986: #947 (93 babies born)
--- Rank in 1987: #577 (248 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Kaila (gained 302 places)
--- Rank in 1986: #909 (177 babies born)
--- Rank in 1987: #607 (318 babies born)

The television show “Spenser: For Hire” starring Robert Urich was critically acclaimed but had only average ratings during its three-year stint on TV from 1985–88. Likewise, the name Spenser had a short run, falling out of favor altogether by 1997. Meaning “laurel,” Kaila jumped 302 spots in 1987, perhaps as an alternate spelling for the “Days of Our Lives” favorite Kayla Brady, who reappeared on the series in 1986 after a four-year hiatus.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Irving (gained 375 places)
--- Rank in 1987: #897 (109 babies born)
--- Rank in 1988: #522 (304 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Jerica (gained 235 places)
--- Rank in 1987: #826 (211 babies born)
--- Rank in 1988: #591 (341 babies born)

From a Scottish surname meaning “green river,” Irving was a top 100 name in the early 1900s. The name was reinvigorated in 1988 after an Emmy-winning special featuring Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles celebrated renowned songwriter Irving Berlin’s 100th birthday. The name Jerica, a mashup of Jeri and Erica, spent just seven years in the top 1,000, but may have gotten a boost as an alternate spelling to the main character in the show “Jem and the Holograms,” Jerrica Benton.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Nico (gained 440 places)
--- Rank in 1988: #986 (96 babies born)
--- Rank in 1989: #546 (314 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Kiara (gained 704 places)
--- Rank in 1988: #818 (222 babies born)
--- Rank in 1989: #114 (2,624 babies born)

Steven Seagal made his film debut in 1988 as former CIA agent-turned-Chicago cop Nico Toscani in “Above the Law,” perhaps prompting a 440-spot spike in usage. The name Kiara came into existence as a name in 1988, and saw nearly 2,500 babies added to its ranks in 1989 after the song “This Time” by the R&B duo Kiara featuring Shanice hit #2 on the charts.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Gage (gained 395 places)
--- Rank in 1989: #755 (171 babies born)
--- Rank in 1990: #360 (666 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Shaniqua (gained 623 places)
--- Rank in 1989: #950 (186 babies born)
--- Rank in 1990: #327 (842 babies born)

The 1989 film adaptation of Stephen King’s “Pet Sematary” helped spur the name Gage’s success in 1990. Miko Hughes portrayed 3-year-old Gage Creed, the adorable-turned-nightmarish character at the center of the story. The 1990 release of the single “Shaniqua” by Oran “Juice” Jones helped spur the use of the name, although its popularity would fade by 1995.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Codie (gained 232 places)
--- Rank in 1990: #933 (122 babies born)
--- Rank in 1991: #701 (208 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Iesha (gained 574 places)
--- Rank in 1990: #731 (285 babies born)
--- Rank in 1991: #157 (1,896 babies born)

Codie may have gotten a boost off the success of variant Cody, which climbed into the top 25 names for boys in 1991. Cody Lambert was a character on the show “Step by Step,” which premiered in 1991. The group Another Bad Creation was the object of many young girls’ affections and made the name Iesha jump nearly 600 spots with their soulful love song of the same name.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Devante (gained 720 places)
--- Rank in 1991: #919 (131 babies born)
--- Rank in 1992: #199 (1,565 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Bria (gained 654 places)
--- Rank in 1991: #988 (190 babies born)
--- Rank in 1992: #334 (801 babies born)

DeVante Swing was one of the founding members of the group Jodeci, which found success with their debut album, “Forever My Lady” in 1991. From Italian origin, meaning “liveliness,” Bria jumped over 600 spots perhaps as a result of comedian Eddie Murphy and his wife choosing this name for their daughter a few years earlier.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Juwan (gained 285 places)
--- Rank in 1992: #961 (125 babies born)
--- Rank in 1993: #676 (230 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Anissa (gained 438 places)
--- Rank in 1992: #852 (233 babies born)
--- Rank in 1993: #414 (601 babies born)

The University of Michigan men’s basketball team received a lot of attention for their NCAA Tournament finals appearance in 1993. One of the leaders of the “Fab Five” was Juwan Howard, one of the top players in the nation, and future #5 pick in the 1994 NBA Draft. Anissa Ayala, a young girl diagnosed with leukemia, brought the name recognition with the 1993 TV movie “For the Love of my Child" in which her parents have another child for the purpose of bone marrow donation.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Shaquan (gained 243 places)
--- Rank in 1993: #905 (141 babies born)
--- Rank in 1994: #662 (244 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Khadijah (gained 360 places)
--- Rank in 1993: #544 (435 babies born)
--- Rank in 1994: #184 (1,615 babies born)

Rap produced another popular name in 1994, and while the Wu-Tang Clan was revolutionizing music with the release of “Enter the Wu-Tang,” main member Method Man, aka Shaquan, was pushing the name up the charts. The name Khadijah has a rich history as an Arabic name as the first wife and convert of the Prophet Muhammad. It spiked in popularity in 1994 thanks to the show “Living Single,” and its main character, Khadijah James, portrayed by Queen Latifah.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Bailey (gained 492 places)
--- Rank in 1994: #769 (187 babies born)
--- Rank in 1995: #277 (1,010 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Deja (gained 619 places)
--- Rank in 1994: #824 (245 babies born)
--- Rank in 1995: #205 (1,420 babies born)

Actor Scott Wolf brought vast attention to the name Bailey in 1995, starring in the hit television show “Party of Five” as Bailey Salinger. Pop culture struck again that year, as supermodel Tyra Banks made her acting debut in a supporting role for the 1995 John Singleton film “Higher Learning,” playing the part of Deja.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Dangelo (gained 350 places)
--- Rank in 1995: #740 (211 babies born)
--- Rank in 1996: #390 (604 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Keely (gained 401 places)
--- Rank in 1995: #919 (205 babies born)
--- Rank in 1996: #518 (454 babies born)

Rap and R&B played an influential role in the 1990s naming books, with singer D’Angelo popularizing the name after the release of his multi-platinum record “Brown Sugar” in 1995. Keely Shaye Smith may have nudged her name northward on the list as a correspondent for the show “Unsolved Mysteries” and the then-girlfriend and future wife to Pierce Brosnan, who had been cast as James Bond the year before.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Jarod (gained 376 places)
--- Rank in 1996: #723 (216 babies born)
--- Rank in 1997: #347 (738 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Julissa (gained 564 places)
--- Rank in 1996: #783 (265 babies born)
--- Rank in 1997: #219 (1,355 babies born)

The television series “The Pretender” featured a young genius named Jarod who could adapt quickly to his surroundings. While the show would last four years, the name Jarod, which debuted in 1971, would get canceled itself in 2004. A mashup of Julie and Lisa, Julissa bumped up the charts in 1997 thanks to success in Texas, possibly from its Latin American roots.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Dawson (gained 559 places)
--- Rank in 1997: #734 (209 babies born)
--- Rank in 1998: #175 (1,895 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Mya (gained 755 places)
--- Rank in 1997: #993 (196 babies born)
--- Rank in 1998: #238 (1,284 babies born)

Meaning “son of David,” Dawson shot up the list as the title character from the smash television show “Dawson’s Creek,” which premiered in 1998. James van der Beek portrayed Dawson, while the show also helped launch the careers of Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, and future Oscar nominee Michelle Williams. Singer Mýa did even more for her name, as her eponymous album went platinum in 1998, likely inspiring at least some of the 1,000 new Myas to the world in the process.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Zion (gained 420 places)
--- Rank in 1998: #694 (242 babies born)
--- Rank in 1999: #274 (1,070 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Felicity (gained 428 places)
--- Rank in 1998: #818 (260 babies born)
--- Rank in 1999: #390 (717 babies born)

With origins in Hebrew, Zion got a big boost from rapper Lauryn Hill, who named her son Zion in 1997, and featured the song “To Zion” on her 1997 album “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.” Basketball superstar Zion Williamson is probably the most recognizable person with the name today, though he was born in 2000, one year after the Zion push. The television show “Felicity” starring Keri Russell premiered in 1998 and helped push the name, meaning “happiness,” up the list in 1999.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Axel (gained 438 places)
--- Rank in 1999: #799 (191 babies born)
--- Rank in 2000: #361 (732 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Layla (gained 247 places)
--- Rank in 1999: #654 (351 babies born)
--- Rank in 2000: #407 (697 babies born)

Meaning “father of peace,” Axel draws its roots from Danish and Hebrew as an alternate for Absalom, the son of King David in the Old Testament. From Arabic for “night,” Layla had taken a few years off the list since Eric Clapton made it a household name in the early 1970s with a song of the same name.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Maximus (gained 538 places)
--- Rank in 2000: #849 (188 babies born)
--- Rank in 2001: #311 (892 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Nayeli (gained 430 places)
--- Rank in 2000: #605 (418 babies born)
--- Rank in 2001: #175 (1,845 babies born)

Derived from a Roman surname, meaning “greatest,” Maximus Decimus Meridius inspired a slew of new little warriors after Russell Crowe’s protagonist from the 2000 hit movie “Gladiator.” Nayeli gets its roots from Zapotec culture in Mexico, meaning “I love you,” and was a popular name among the growing Mexican population in the Southwest.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Caiden (gained 296 places)
--- Rank in 2001: #978 (157 babies born)
--- Rank in 2002: #682 (269 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Ashanti (gained 710 places)
--- Rank in 2001: #825 (281 babies born)
--- Rank in 2002: #115 (2,945 babies born)

Ashanti took the world by storm in 2002, shortly after the singer of the same name dropped her self-titled album. From Ghanian for “warlike,” Ashanti’s album had the best-selling opening of any female artist to that point. Caiden is an American take on the Irish surname Caden, meaning “son of Caden,” and capitalized on the popularity of such names as Aiden and Jayden.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Yahir (gained 346 places)
--- Rank in 2002: #604 (334 babies born)
--- Rank in 2003: #258 (1,274 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Cadence (gained 482 places)
--- Rank in 2002: #958 (232 babies born)
--- Rank in 2003: #476 (620 babies born)

Mexican pop singer and telenovela star Yahir had a #1 hit in Mexico with “Alucinado” in 2003, inspiring hundreds of Mexican American parents to choose the name. The “American Pie” series helped give rise to the musical name Cadence, meaning “rhythm, flow,” in 2003 with the movie “American Wedding.” Actress January Jones portrayed Cadence Flaherty in the film.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Jase (gained 351 places)
--- Rank in 2003: #971 (165 babies born)
--- Rank in 2004: #620 (344 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Kaydence (gained 607 places)
--- Rank in 2003: #984 (234 babies born)
--- Rank in 2004: #377 (830 babies born)

A spelling variant of Cadence, Kaydence took off one year later, perhaps inspired by the same January Jones character in “American Wedding.” Jase works as a shortened version of Jason, Hebrew for “healer,” and caught on in 2004, doubling the propensity toward the name.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Braylon (gained 345 places)
--- Rank in 2004: #705 (272 babies born)
--- Rank in 2005: #360 (816 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Emerson (gained 461 places)
--- Rank in 2004: #903 (268 babies born)
--- Rank in 2005: #442 (683 babies born)

University of Michigan wide receiver Braylon Edwards was the #3 pick in the 2005 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns, helping his name reach the charts for the first time in 2004. From German for “son of Emery,” the name drew popularity in 2005, perhaps in part as the name of “Desperate Housewives” actress Teri Hatcher’s daughter, Emerson Tenney.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Cash (gained 299 places)
--- Rank in 2005: #679 (308 babies born)
--- Rank in 2006: #380 (787 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Ayla (gained 401 places)
--- Rank in 2005: #666 (416 babies born)
--- Rank in 2006: #265 (1,232 babies born)

Johnny Cash inspired increased usage of the name Cash, with Joaquin Phoenix portraying the black-clad singer in 2005’s “Walk the Line.” Ayla comes from Turkish-Hebrew, meaning “oak, tree or halo, moonlight” and got a bump in 2006 from Ayla Brown, a popular contestant on the fifth season of "American Idol."

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Kingston (gained 573 places)
--- Rank in 2006: #927 (203 babies born)
--- Rank in 2007: #354 (893 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Abril (gained 411 places)
--- Rank in 2006: #849 (316 babies born)
--- Rank in 2007: #438 (737 babies born)

Mega pop star Gwen Stefani and rocker-husband Gavin Rossdale set off a surge by naming their son Kingston in 2007. Kingston stems from an Old English surname that means “King’s town.” The Spanish and Catalan form of April, Abril emerged in 2006 as a name, perhaps in part to Vanessa Gomez’s character in the Mexican telenovela “Amor Mio.”

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Gauge (gained 253 places)
--- Rank in 2007: #987 (198 babies born)
--- Rank in 2008: #734 (311 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Khloe (gained 467 places)
--- Rank in 2007: #663 (446 babies born)
--- Rank in 2008: #196 (1,711 babies born)

The Kardashian clan worked its way onto the list as inspiration for the name Khloe gaining such traction in 2008. The wildly popular “Keeping up with the Kardashians” premiered in 2007 with youngest sister Khloe playing a starring role. Gauge, taken from the tool for measuring, saw a little spurt as an alternate spelling for Gage, which was in the top 150 names for boys that year as well.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Bentley (gained 425 places)
--- Rank in 2008: #939 (216 babies born)
--- Rank in 2009: #514 (522 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Maliyah (gained 344 places)
--- Rank in 2008: #640 (481 babies born)
--- Rank in 2009: #296 (1,116 babies born)

Maliyah may have gotten a bump as an alternate spelling to Malia after the daughter of President Barack Obama, who was sworn into office in 2009. Bentley kicked off a quick ascension up the naming charts thanks to the premiere of the MTV show “16 and Pregnant.” The show followed expectant mother Maci Bookout and the birth of her son, Bentley.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Bentley (gained 414 places)
--- Rank in 2009: #514 (522 babies born)
--- Rank in 2010: #100 (3,769 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Maci (gained 426 places)
--- Rank in 2009: #657 (450 babies born)
--- Rank in 2010: #231 (1,354 babies born)

MTV accounted for both names moving up the list, with “Teen Mom” picking up where “16 and Pregnant” left off. The show continued to follow 19-year-old Maci Bookout and ex Ryan Edwards as they co-exist while co-parenting their 2-year-old son, Bentley. The two-year run for the name Bentley saw an additional 3,553 baby boys added to its total.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Brantley (gained 414 places)
--- Rank in 2010: #735 (311 babies born)
--- Rank in 2011: #321 (988 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Briella (gained 395 places)
--- Rank in 2010: #893 (296 babies born)
--- Rank in 2011: #498 (592 babies born)

Country singer Brantley Gilbert had a #1 hit in 2010 with “Country Music Must be Country Wide,” lending a push to the name. He followed with another chart-topping hit, “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do,” in December. From Hebrew meaning “God is my strength,” the shortened form of Gabriella, hairdresser Briella Calafiore brought recognition to the name after the premiere of the Style Network’s “Jerseylicious” in 2010.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Major (gained 503 places)
--- Rank in 2011: #989 (197 babies born)
--- Rank in 2012: #486 (555 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Malaysia (gained 389 places)
--- Rank in 2011: #959 (266 babies born)
--- Rank in 2012: #570 (513 babies born)

Major draws its roots from either the military rank, or the Old French form of the Germanic name Malger, meaning “Council spear.” The death of R&B singer Major Harris, who had a few hits in the '70s, in 2012 may have had a small impact on the name’s popularity, as did football player Major Applewhite. Malaysias get their name from the country of the same name, meaning “to steadily accelerate or run.”

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Thiago (gained 369 places)
--- Rank in 2012: #857 (246 babies born)
--- Rank in 2013: #488 (561 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Everly (gained 523 places)
--- Rank in 2012: #902 (289 babies born)
--- Rank in 2013: #379 (816 babies born)

A variant of Tiago, which is the Portuguese form of James, Thiago has found fame on the soccer pitch. Thiago Silva made a much-publicized transfer between European teams in 2012 and Argentine superstar Lionel Messi used the name for his first son. Meaning “wild boar in woodland clearing,” Everly got a boost as the name chosen by actor Channing Tatum and model Jenna Dewan for their daughter in 2013.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Gannon (gained 425 places)
--- Rank in 2013: #839 (254 babies born)
--- Rank in 2014: #414 (749 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Daleyza (gained 359 places)
--- Rank in 2013: #587 (485 babies born)
--- Rank in 2014: #228 (1,466 babies born)

MTV helped push the name Gannon up the naming charts in 2013, featuring former “16 and Pregnant” star Mackenzie McKee and her son, Gannon, on “Teen Mom 3.” The name Daleyzia was made popular by Mexican American singer Larry Hernandez, the star of “Larrymania” on NBC Universo, who reportedly invented the name for his first daughter.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Kaison (gained 245 places)
--- Rank in 2014: #977 (214 babies born)
--- Rank in 2015: #732 (332 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Ariyah (gained 330 places)
--- Rank in 2014: #937 (287 babies born)
--- Rank in 2015: #607 (478 babies born)

Derived from Hebrew, Ariyah may have gained ground as a spelling variant of Arya, a top-200 name in 2015. The character Arya Stark from HBO’s “Game of Thrones” helped give both names a bump. Kaison is a variant of Cason, tracing back to Old Norse, meaning “enclosure.”

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Adonis (gained 306 places)
--- Rank in 2015: #701 (358 babies born)
--- Rank in 2016: #395 (801 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Ophelia (gained 396 places)
--- Rank in 2015: #976 (276 babies born)
--- Rank in 2016: #580 (532 babies born)

Meaning “lord,” Adonis was the pinnacle of masculine beauty, and is one of many names from Greek mythology on the rise in 2016. Also derived from Greek, Ophelia saw a slight spike thanks in part to the band The Lumineers, who had a hit song in 2015 with “Ophelia.” Rock star Dave Grohl of Nirvana and the Foo Fighters named his daughter Ophelia in 2014.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Kashton (gained 303 places)
--- Rank in 2016: #942 (221 babies born)
--- Rank in 2017: #639 (401 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Kehlani (gained 346 places)
--- Rank in 2016: #868 (322 babies born)
--- Rank in 2017: #522 (596 babies born)

Singer Kehlani brought notice to the name in 2015, earning a Grammy nomination for her second mixtape “You Should Be Here,” and released her first official album in 2017. Kashton saw no change in usage from 2015–16, before jumping in 2017, perhaps with Cash or Kash in mind as a shortened version.

- Boys name that gained the most popularity: Kairo (gained 321 places)
--- Rank in 2017: #803 (282 babies born)
--- Rank in 2018: #482 (605 babies born)
- Girls name that gained the most popularity: Oaklynn (gained 344 places)
--- Rank in 2017: #885 (304 babies born)
--- Rank in 2018: #541 (572 babies born)

A variant of Cairo, the capital city of Egypt, which is Arabic for “the victorious,” Kairo is the third K name in the last five years to claim the top mover spot. Oakley and Oaklyn also made major gains in 2018, but not as much as Oaklynn, which added 268 members to its ranks.