NamelingSwipe names

Top 100 baby names in the US, 1885

The 100 names given to the most girls and boys born in the US in 1885, from Social Security card applications.

In 1885, Mary was the most popular girls' name in the US, given to 9,128 girls, and John the most popular boys' name, given to 8,756 boys. New to the top 100 since 1884: Beulah, Ollie and Rebecca for girls; Sidney, Bernard, Alex, Leon and Victor for boys. The biggest climbers were Irene for girls, up 13 places to #82, and Jim for boys, up 9 places to #46.

Girls, 1885

  1. 1Mary9,128
  2. 2Anna3,994
  3. 3Emma2,728
  4. 4Elizabeth2,582
  5. 5Margaretup 12,204
  6. 6Minniedown 12,178
  7. 7Claraup 11,910
  8. 8Berthaup 11,860
  9. 9Idadown 21,854
  10. 10Annie1,703
  11. 11Alice1,681
  12. 12Florence1,667
  13. 13Bessieup 21,588
  14. 14Gracedown 11,575
  15. 15Ethelup 31,495
  16. 16Nellieup 11,432
  17. 17Marthadown 11,425
  18. 18Sarahdown 41,424
  19. 19Ella1,395
  20. 20Mabel1,349
  21. 21Laura1,325
  22. 22Carrie1,283
  23. 23Cora1,253
  24. 24Maude1,222
  25. 25Roseup 51,164
  26. 26Pearldown 11,146
  27. 27Lilliandown 11,143
  28. 28Helenup 51,134
  29. 29Gertrudedown 11,086
  30. 30Ednaup 61,077
  31. 31Edithdown 41,071
  32. 32Juliaup 51,062
  33. 33Jenniedown 51,045
  34. 34Myrtle1,026
  35. 35Mattiedown 41,014
  36. 36Hattiedown 41,008
  37. 37Lillieup 3979
  38. 38Eva971
  39. 39Louisedown 4956
  40. 40Jessieup 2952
  41. 41Luladown 2949
  42. 42Marieup 7885
  43. 43Adaup 1876
  44. 43Lenadown 2876
  45. 45Catherinedown 2846
  46. 46Frances844
  47. 47Fannieup 3783
  48. 47Josephinedown 2783
  49. 49Doraup 2776
  50. 50Katherineup 5751
  51. 51Maggiedown 3716
  52. 52Lucydown 5711
  53. 53Blanchedown 1710
  54. 54Agnesdown 1695
  55. 55Elsieup 8685
  56. 56Nora670
  57. 57Stellaup 3649
  58. 58Rosa623
  59. 59Effieup 3613
  60. 60Daisydown 6607
  61. 60Mayup 1607
  62. 62Mamiedown 5606
  63. 63Maeup 1578
  64. 64Ellendown 5555
  65. 65Lizzieup 1537
  66. 66Nettieup 1536
  67. 67Nancyup 1527
  68. 68Almaup 2515
  69. 69Sadieup 2514
  70. 70Ruthup 4506
  71. 71Delladown 6500
  72. 72Susieup 1477
  73. 73Salliedown 4457
  74. 74Floraup 3445
  75. 75Mauddown 3429
  76. 76Addieup 9406
  77. 77Lydiaup 3404
  78. 78Caroline399
  79. 79Mollie396
  80. 80Lottiedown 4393
  81. 81Katieup 2388
  82. 82Ireneup 13376
  83. 83Ettadown 8372
  84. 84Georgiaup 6371
  85. 85Luluup 1360
  86. 86Olivedown 3349
  87. 87Emilydown 6346
  88. 88Violadown 6345
  89. 89Harrietup 2342
  90. 90Amandaup 2339
  91. 91Janeup 7330
  92. 92Estherup 7320
  93. 92Kathryndown 6320
  94. 94Charlottedown 8317
  95. 95Williedown 2312
  96. 96Beulahnew309
  97. 96Katedown 10309
  98. 98Ollienew305
  99. 99Rebeccanew302
  100. 99Susandown 5302

Boys, 1885

  1. 1John8,756
  2. 2William8,044
  3. 3James5,175
  4. 4George4,674
  5. 5Charles4,599
  6. 6Frank3,067
  7. 7Joseph2,540
  8. 8Henryup 12,406
  9. 9Robertup 12,322
  10. 10Thomasdown 22,266
  11. 11Edward2,220
  12. 12Harry2,198
  13. 13Walter1,808
  14. 14Fredup 11,562
  15. 15Arthurdown 11,516
  16. 16Albert1,429
  17. 17Clarenceup 1906
  18. 18Samueldown 1888
  19. 19Louis809
  20. 20Grover768
  21. 21Ernestup 4718
  22. 22Daviddown 1712
  23. 23Charlieup 1705
  24. 24Royup 2691
  25. 25Joedown 3681
  26. 26Richarddown 3672
  27. 27Willup 1625
  28. 28Oscarup 2623
  29. 29Willieup 2614
  30. 30Andrewdown 1599
  31. 31Jessedown 4556
  32. 32Daniel535
  33. 33Peterup 1516
  34. 34Carlup 2494
  35. 35Samdown 2492
  36. 36Earlup 4481
  37. 37Frederickup 5466
  38. 38Benjamin464
  39. 39Alfreddown 2446
  40. 40Elmerdown 5443
  41. 41Howardup 3438
  42. 42Lewisdown 3437
  43. 43Paulup 2428
  44. 44Ralphdown 4422
  45. 45Herbertup 1388
  46. 46Jimup 9370
  47. 46Michaelup 5370
  48. 48Tomdown 1361
  49. 49Martindown 1357
  50. 50Leedown 7348
  51. 51Eugeneup 8345
  52. 52Claudeup 2343
  53. 52Jacobdown 2343
  54. 54Edup 6328
  55. 55Hermandown 7326
  56. 56Francisup 1319
  57. 57Clydedown 1318
  58. 58Raymondup 4308
  59. 59Harveydown 6304
  60. 60Edgarup 3303
  61. 61Jackup 7295
  62. 62Bendown 10292
  63. 63Edwindown 2289
  64. 64Lawrenceup 7288
  65. 65Charleydown 2285
  66. 66Bertup 1276
  67. 67Chesterdown 9273
  68. 68Guyup 4266
  69. 69Ottodown 4263
  70. 70Floyd259
  71. 70Lutherdown 1259
  72. 72Oliverup 2258
  73. 73Hugh257
  74. 74Rayup 3237
  75. 75Iradown 9235
  76. 76Homerup 3228
  77. 77Patrickup 1217
  78. 78Alexanderdown 2205
  79. 79Isaacdown 4204
  80. 79Leonardup 3204
  81. 81Jessieup 9202
  82. 82Haroldup 3201
  83. 83Leoup 1199
  84. 83Theodoredown 2199
  85. 85Archiedown 3196
  86. 86Augustdown 6193
  87. 87Allen184
  88. 88Sidneynew170
  89. 89Philipup 7163
  90. 90Leroyup 8162
  91. 91Bernardnew160
  92. 92Alexnew159
  93. 93Stephen158
  94. 94Horaceup 4155
  95. 95Anthonydown 7153
  96. 96Warrendown 2151
  97. 97Juliusdown 2150
  98. 98Clevelanddown 6147
  99. 99Leonnew146
  100. 100Victornew143

With how many babies were given each name, and how its rank changed since 1884. 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, 1885”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/top/us/1885, updated 20 October 2026.