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Top 100 baby names in the US, 1881

The 100 names given to the most girls and boys born in the US in 1881, from Social Security card applications.

In 1881, Mary was the most popular girls' name in the US, given to 6,919 girls, and John the most popular boys' name, given to 8,768 boys. New to the top 100 since 1880: Willie and Kathryn for girls; Garfield, Emil, Dave, Leroy and Anthony for boys. The biggest climbers were Ethel for girls, up 13 places to #25, and Chester for boys, up 26 places to #59.

Girls, 1881

  1. 1Mary6,919
  2. 2Anna2,698
  3. 3Emma2,034
  4. 4Elizabeth1,852
  5. 5Margaretup 11,658
  6. 6Minniedown 11,653
  7. 7Ida1,439
  8. 8Annieup 31,326
  9. 9Bertha1,324
  10. 10Alicedown 21,308
  11. 11Claraup 11,242
  12. 12Sarahdown 21,226
  13. 13Ella1,148
  14. 14Nellieup 41,096
  15. 15Graceup 41,089
  16. 16Florencedown 21,046
  17. 17Marthadown 11,044
  18. 18Coradown 3969
  19. 19Lauradown 2962
  20. 20Carrie958
  21. 21Maude923
  22. 22Bessieup 1903
  23. 23Mabeldown 1893
  24. 24Gertrudeup 1791
  25. 25Ethelup 13788
  26. 26Jenniedown 2784
  27. 27Edithup 1778
  28. 28Hattiedown 1775
  29. 29Mattie754
  30. 30Juliadown 4737
  31. 31Rosedown 1734
  32. 32Lillian723
  33. 33Lillieup 1678
  34. 34Evaup 7661
  35. 34Jessieup 2661
  36. 36Lulaup 3655
  37. 37Myrtleup 3643
  38. 38Pearlup 9641
  39. 39Ednaup 6637
  40. 40Catherinedown 9635
  41. 41Adadown 8628
  42. 42Louisedown 6617
  43. 43Helendown 8612
  44. 44Lucy611
  45. 45Francesdown 3586
  46. 46Doraup 5585
  47. 47Fannieup 2565
  48. 48Josephineup 2563
  49. 49Daisydown 1562
  50. 50Lenadown 7555
  51. 51Maggiedown 5532
  52. 52Katherineup 1504
  53. 53Rosadown 1500
  54. 54Marieup 1499
  55. 55Nora498
  56. 56Effieup 7463
  57. 57Blancheup 2456
  58. 58Maydown 1451
  59. 59Nancyup 3429
  60. 60Dellaup 6428
  61. 61Agnesdown 7424
  62. 62Nettieup 3419
  63. 63Sallieup 1416
  64. 63Stelladown 3416
  65. 65Ellendown 4413
  66. 66Mamiedown 8412
  67. 67Lizzie396
  68. 68Susieup 1367
  69. 69Sadieup 5366
  70. 70Elsieup 8344
  71. 71Mauddown 1328
  72. 72Floradown 4317
  73. 73Carolineup 2316
  74. 73Ettadown 1316
  75. 75Maedown 4314
  76. 76Luluup 10313
  77. 77Lydia299
  78. 78Almaup 4293
  79. 79Susanup 1292
  80. 80Lottieup 8289
  81. 81Addieup 2287
  82. 82Molliedown 1281
  83. 83Katiedown 7279
  84. 84Ruthup 9275
  85. 85Harrietdown 12270
  86. 86Katedown 7267
  87. 87Amandaup 2263
  88. 88Nanniedown 1258
  89. 89Georgiadown 5256
  90. 90Emilyup 10244
  91. 91Elizadown 6238
  92. 92Violaup 2237
  93. 93Ameliaup 3235
  94. 94Willienew229
  95. 95Charlottedown 4227
  96. 96Rebeccadown 4226
  97. 97Belledown 7219
  98. 98Kathrynnew218
  99. 99Janedown 1216
  100. 100Olivedown 5211

Boys, 1881

  1. 1John8,768
  2. 2William8,524
  3. 3James5,441
  4. 4Georgeup 14,664
  5. 5Charlesdown 14,636
  6. 6Frank2,834
  7. 7Joseph2,456
  8. 8Henryup 12,339
  9. 9Thomasdown 12,282
  10. 10Edwardup 12,177
  11. 11Robertdown 12,140
  12. 12Harry2,002
  13. 13Walter1,670
  14. 14Arthur1,575
  15. 15Fred1,418
  16. 16Albert1,319
  17. 17Samuel919
  18. 18David750
  19. 19Louis746
  20. 20Charlieup 1668
  21. 20Clarenceup 1668
  22. 22Richardup 1641
  23. 23Joedown 3639
  24. 24Andrew588
  25. 25Ernestup 1571
  26. 26Willup 1550
  27. 27Jesseup 1536
  28. 28Oscarup 1530
  29. 29Danieldown 4527
  30. 30Willieup 4498
  31. 31Benjaminup 1481
  32. 31Samup 5481
  33. 33Alfredup 2466
  34. 34Royup 3440
  35. 35Lewisdown 5439
  36. 36Frederickdown 3433
  37. 37Peterdown 6428
  38. 38Elmerup 3388
  39. 39Jacob381
  40. 40Herbertdown 2369
  41. 41Carlup 1359
  42. 41Howardup 3359
  43. 43Tomdown 3349
  44. 44Leedown 1342
  45. 45Ralphup 9329
  46. 46Martindown 2327
  47. 47Jimup 2323
  48. 48Earlup 4314
  49. 48Eugeneup 5314
  50. 50Bertdown 3312
  51. 50Edgarup 11312
  52. 52Hermandown 4304
  53. 53Claudeup 3302
  54. 54Michaeldown 8298
  55. 55Paulup 5291
  56. 56Benup 2289
  57. 57Iraup 9286
  58. 58Harveydown 8282
  59. 59Chesterup 26274
  60. 59Edwindown 3274
  61. 61Eddown 6272
  62. 62Charleydown 4266
  63. 63Francisdown 13259
  64. 64Isaacdown 2258
  65. 65Lutherdown 1249
  66. 66Lawrencedown 1244
  67. 67Oliverup 2238
  68. 68Clydeup 4232
  69. 69Ottodown 6221
  70. 70Hughup 1219
  71. 71Alexanderup 2209
  72. 72Leonardup 6206
  73. 73Jackup 4197
  74. 74Raymondup 13195
  75. 75Patrickdown 8188
  76. 76Guydown 8186
  77. 77Homerdown 1181
  78. 78Floyddown 3178
  79. 78Theodoredown 8178
  80. 80Allenup 2172
  81. 80Augustdown 6172
  82. 82Mariondown 2162
  83. 83Philipdown 2156
  84. 83Warrenup 6156
  85. 85Horacedown 6152
  86. 86Danup 11148
  87. 86Rayup 9148
  88. 88Garfieldnew147
  89. 88Stephendown 4147
  90. 90Emilnew145
  91. 91Jessiedown 1143
  92. 91Milton143
  93. 93Willisdown 7142
  94. 94Calvinup 6138
  95. 95Davenew135
  96. 96Bernardup 1130
  97. 97Juliusdown 3129
  98. 97Leroynew129
  99. 97Sidneydown 2129
  100. 100Anthonynew128

With how many babies were given each name, and how its rank changed since 1880. Each spelling counts as a separate name, as in the official lists.

Other years in the US

Sources

Figures from Popular Baby Names (US Social Security Administration). Nameling last updated them on 20 October 2026. How the figures are worked out, and the data to download.

To cite this page: Nameling, “Top 100 baby names in the US, 1881”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/top/us/1881, updated 20 October 2026.