NamelingSwipe names

Top 100 baby names in the US, 1886

The 100 names given to the most girls and boys born in the US in 1886, from Social Security card applications.

In 1886, Mary was the most popular girls' name in the US, given to 9,889 girls, and John the most popular boys' name, given to 9,026 boys. New to the top 100 since 1885: Hazel, Virginia and Nannie for girls; Eddie, Marion, Clifford, Norman and Lester for boys. The biggest climbers were Viola for girls, up 11 places to #77, and Theodore for boys, up 14 places to #69.

Girls, 1886

  1. 1Mary9,889
  2. 2Anna4,283
  3. 3Emma2,764
  4. 4Elizabeth2,680
  5. 5Minnieup 12,372
  6. 6Margaretdown 12,275
  7. 7Idaup 22,049
  8. 8Bertha2,001
  9. 9Claradown 21,916
  10. 10Florenceup 21,860
  11. 11Alice1,811
  12. 12Bessieup 11,791
  13. 13Anniedown 31,765
  14. 14Grace1,723
  15. 15Ethel1,699
  16. 16Sarahup 21,569
  17. 17Nelliedown 11,492
  18. 18Marthadown 11,491
  19. 19Ella1,464
  20. 20Mabel1,422
  21. 21Carrieup 11,396
  22. 22Lauradown 11,372
  23. 23Ednaup 71,314
  24. 24Lillianup 31,282
  25. 25Helenup 31,267
  26. 26Rosedown 11,261
  27. 27Gertrudeup 21,249
  28. 28Coradown 51,231
  29. 29Pearldown 31,204
  30. 30Maudedown 61,189
  31. 31Edith1,184
  32. 32Evaup 61,155
  33. 33Hattieup 31,139
  34. 34Jenniedown 11,100
  35. 35Myrtledown 11,094
  36. 36Juliadown 41,061
  37. 36Louiseup 31,061
  38. 38Francesup 81,059
  39. 39Mattiedown 41,044
  40. 40Lulaup 11,040
  41. 41Jessiedown 11,003
  42. 42Lilliedown 5995
  43. 43Lena992
  44. 44Mariedown 2988
  45. 45Catherine916
  46. 46Adadown 3915
  47. 47Josephine844
  48. 48Fanniedown 1837
  49. 49Dora827
  50. 50Lucyup 2817
  51. 51Blancheup 2787
  52. 52Agnesup 2779
  53. 53Maggiedown 2756
  54. 54Katherinedown 4744
  55. 55Mamieup 7712
  56. 56Nora708
  57. 57Stella702
  58. 58Elsiedown 3698
  59. 59Rosadown 1673
  60. 60Effiedown 1672
  61. 61Maeup 2641
  62. 62Almaup 6603
  63. 63Daisydown 3602
  64. 63Maydown 3602
  65. 65Nettieup 1591
  66. 66Ruthup 4581
  67. 67Dellaup 4565
  68. 68Sadieup 1562
  69. 69Susieup 3559
  70. 70Ellendown 6551
  71. 71Lizziedown 6512
  72. 72Nancydown 5492
  73. 73Sallie490
  74. 74Maudup 1478
  75. 75Lottieup 5450
  76. 76Floradown 2443
  77. 77Violaup 11440
  78. 78Ireneup 4437
  79. 79Ettaup 4433
  80. 80Katieup 1431
  81. 81Hazelnew429
  82. 82Molliedown 3421
  83. 83Addiedown 7417
  84. 84Oliveup 2404
  85. 85Estherup 7396
  86. 86Georgiadown 2395
  87. 87Lydiadown 10392
  88. 88Willieup 7388
  89. 89Kathrynup 3383
  90. 90Luludown 5376
  91. 91Amandadown 1370
  92. 91Carolinedown 13370
  93. 93Emilydown 6369
  94. 94Charlotte368
  95. 95Rebeccaup 4355
  96. 96Virginianew353
  97. 97Nannienew347
  98. 98Beulahdown 2345
  99. 99Harrietdown 10341
  100. 100Katedown 4335

Boys, 1886

  1. 1John9,026
  2. 2William8,252
  3. 3James5,355
  4. 4George4,671
  5. 5Charles4,533
  6. 6Frank3,127
  7. 7Joseph2,594
  8. 8Robertup 12,443
  9. 9Henrydown 12,404
  10. 10Thomas2,337
  11. 11Edward2,312
  12. 12Harry2,257
  13. 13Walter1,880
  14. 14Arthurup 11,656
  15. 15Freddown 11,599
  16. 16Albert1,488
  17. 17Clarence995
  18. 18Samuel870
  19. 19Louis846
  20. 20Royup 4767
  21. 21Joeup 4759
  22. 22Charlieup 1723
  23. 23Richardup 3720
  24. 24Daviddown 2674
  25. 25Ernestdown 4668
  26. 26Oscarup 2645
  27. 27Will642
  28. 28Willieup 1641
  29. 29Andrewup 1614
  30. 29Jesseup 2614
  31. 31Earlup 5570
  32. 32Carlup 2556
  33. 33Danieldown 1555
  34. 34Samup 1519
  35. 35Elmerup 5485
  36. 36Alfredup 3480
  37. 37Howardup 4467
  38. 38Paulup 5466
  39. 39Benjamindown 1463
  40. 40Frederickdown 3461
  41. 41Ralphup 3440
  42. 42Peterdown 9437
  43. 43Lewisdown 1431
  44. 44Hermanup 11418
  45. 45Groverdown 25407
  46. 46Herbertdown 1400
  47. 47Leeup 3399
  48. 48Claudeup 4391
  49. 49Jimdown 3389
  50. 50Tomdown 2383
  51. 51Eugene362
  52. 52Raymondup 6353
  53. 53Michaeldown 7348
  54. 54Jacobdown 2346
  55. 55Francisup 1344
  56. 56Benup 6335
  57. 57Lawrenceup 7331
  58. 58Martindown 9329
  59. 59Edwinup 4313
  60. 60Harveydown 1310
  61. 61Edgardown 1309
  62. 62Clydedown 5307
  63. 63Eddown 9303
  64. 64Jackdown 3299
  65. 65Chesterup 2287
  66. 66Floydup 4275
  67. 67Rayup 7271
  68. 68Ottoup 1270
  69. 69Theodoreup 14258
  70. 70Guydown 2255
  71. 71Lutherdown 1253
  72. 72Patrickup 5249
  73. 73Leoup 10240
  74. 74Leonardup 5236
  75. 75Oliverdown 3230
  76. 76Bertdown 10228
  77. 77Hughdown 4227
  78. 78Haroldup 4224
  79. 78Homerdown 2224
  80. 78Isaacup 1224
  81. 81Charleydown 16214
  82. 82Allenup 5211
  83. 83Alexanderdown 5206
  84. 84Augustup 2203
  85. 85Iradown 10198
  86. 86Eddienew197
  87. 87Philipup 2187
  88. 88Marionnew182
  89. 89Jessiedown 8181
  90. 89Stephenup 4181
  91. 91Bernard180
  92. 92Archiedown 7175
  93. 93Anthonyup 2174
  94. 94Juliusup 3173
  95. 95Cliffordnew172
  96. 96Alexdown 4161
  97. 96Normannew161
  98. 98Lesternew160
  99. 99Horacedown 5156
  100. 100Leroydown 10155
  101. 100Sidneydown 12155

With how many babies were given each name, and how its rank changed since 1885. 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, 1886”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/top/us/1886, updated 20 October 2026.