NamelingSwipe names

Top 100 baby names in the US, 1888

The 100 names given to the most girls and boys born in the US in 1888, from Social Security card applications.

In 1888, Mary was the most popular girls' name in the US, given to 11,754 girls, and John the most popular boys' name, given to 9,247 boys. New to the top 100 since 1887: Jane, Ruby, Pauline and Virginia for girls; Harrison, Eddie and Lloyd for boys. The biggest climbers were Hazel for girls, up 18 places to #54, and Leo for boys, up 16 places to #57.

Girls, 1888

  1. 1Mary11,754
  2. 2Anna4,982
  3. 3Elizabeth3,224
  4. 4Emma3,087
  5. 5Margaret2,904
  6. 6Minnie2,654
  7. 7Bertha2,450
  8. 8Florenceup 12,444
  9. 9Ethelup 22,374
  10. 10Bessieup 32,278
  11. 11Claradown 32,230
  12. 12Idadown 22,229
  13. 13Aliceup 12,202
  14. 14Anniedown 22,188
  15. 15Grace2,090
  16. 16Helenup 51,847
  17. 17Mabelup 11,830
  18. 18Elladown 21,774
  19. 19Marthadown 21,769
  20. 20Sarah1,755
  21. 21Nelliedown 21,736
  22. 22Ednaup 21,687
  23. 23Lillianup 31,656
  24. 24Carriedown 11,647
  25. 25Lauradown 31,624
  26. 26Pearldown 11,591
  27. 27Roseup 31,590
  28. 28Gertrude1,468
  29. 29Edith1,453
  30. 30Francesup 41,452
  31. 31Coradown 41,433
  32. 32Maudedown 11,396
  33. 33Louiseup 21,334
  34. 34Evadown 11,329
  35. 35Myrtleup 11,310
  36. 36Hattiedown 41,298
  37. 36Jennieup 21,298
  38. 38Juliaup 11,292
  39. 39Mattieup 11,268
  40. 40Marieup 31,258
  41. 41Lilliedown 41,249
  42. 42Catherineup 21,212
  43. 43Jessiedown 21,200
  44. 44Lulaup 31,173
  45. 45Lenadown 31,162
  46. 46Adadown 11,116
  47. 47Elsieup 21,112
  48. 48Agnesdown 21,046
  49. 49Josephineup 11,001
  50. 50Fannieup 2991
  51. 51Lucy964
  52. 52Blancheup 2942
  53. 53Mamieup 4917
  54. 54Doradown 6898
  55. 54Hazelup 18898
  56. 56Katherinedown 3893
  57. 57Maggiedown 2882
  58. 58Almaup 5853
  59. 59Ruthup 3850
  60. 60Maedown 2836
  61. 61Noradown 5832
  62. 61Rosadown 1832
  63. 63Maydown 2782
  64. 64Stelladown 5775
  65. 65Effiedown 1744
  66. 66Ireneup 6722
  67. 67Nettiedown 2692
  68. 68Ellendown 2691
  69. 68Sadieup 2691
  70. 70Salliedown 2633
  71. 71Dellaup 3621
  72. 71Susieup 4621
  73. 73Daisydown 6612
  74. 74Violaup 6596
  75. 75Lizziedown 7593
  76. 76Nancydown 5582
  77. 77Estherup 2572
  78. 78Floraup 4541
  79. 79Willieup 9522
  80. 80Katiedown 3516
  81. 81Lottie511
  82. 82Ettadown 4500
  83. 83Mildredup 6499
  84. 84Georgiaup 7477
  85. 85Lydiadown 9472
  86. 86Mauddown 3469
  87. 87Olivedown 2465
  88. 88Charlotteup 3464
  89. 89Carolinedown 5458
  90. 90Emilyup 8457
  91. 91Addiedown 5455
  92. 92Janenew446
  93. 92Kathryndown 5446
  94. 94Rubynew445
  95. 95Beulahdown 5426
  96. 96Ollie411
  97. 97Amandadown 1404
  98. 98Paulinenew393
  99. 99Harrietdown 5389
  100. 100Virginianew385

Boys, 1888

  1. 1John9,247
  2. 2William8,705
  3. 3James5,562
  4. 4George4,912
  5. 5Charles4,591
  6. 6Frank3,459
  7. 7Joseph2,993
  8. 8Robertup 22,814
  9. 9Harryup 32,759
  10. 10Henrydown 22,596
  11. 11Edwarddown 12,470
  12. 12Thomasdown 32,449
  13. 13Walter2,040
  14. 14Arthur1,710
  15. 15Fred1,665
  16. 16Albert1,569
  17. 17Clarence1,022
  18. 18Samuel931
  19. 19Louis884
  20. 20Roy856
  21. 21Davidup 1801
  22. 22Charlieup 2796
  23. 23Joedown 2789
  24. 24Willieup 3786
  25. 25Benjaminup 9781
  26. 26Richarddown 1772
  27. 27Ernestdown 4766
  28. 28Willup 2707
  29. 29Carldown 1675
  30. 29Earlup 3675
  31. 31Oscardown 2647
  32. 32Jessedown 6637
  33. 33Andrew615
  34. 34Samup 4607
  35. 35Danieldown 4566
  36. 36Ralphup 2547
  37. 37Alfreddown 2536
  38. 38Paulup 2529
  39. 39Elmerdown 3527
  40. 40Howardup 2513
  41. 41Peterup 2498
  42. 42Frederickdown 5496
  43. 43Herbertdown 2485
  44. 44Groverup 15474
  45. 45Raymondup 2469
  46. 46Michaelup 2466
  47. 47Benup 11463
  48. 48Leedown 4430
  49. 49Tomup 3416
  50. 50Lewisdown 1412
  51. 51Hermandown 6403
  52. 52Harrisonnew400
  53. 53Eugene398
  54. 54Martindown 3378
  55. 55Claudedown 9374
  56. 56Jimdown 6362
  57. 57Francisdown 4353
  58. 57Jacobdown 1353
  59. 57Leoup 16353
  60. 60Clydedown 5344
  61. 61Lawrencedown 1343
  62. 62Harveyup 3334
  63. 63Rayup 3331
  64. 64Jackup 4329
  65. 65Edgardown 1321
  66. 66Ottoup 1312
  67. 67Floydup 6302
  68. 68Eddown 6301
  69. 69Edwindown 12298
  70. 69Harolddown 8298
  71. 71Guy297
  72. 72Chesterup 6288
  73. 73Bertdown 1282
  74. 74Lutherdown 11275
  75. 75Allenup 6260
  76. 76Homerdown 6256
  77. 77Charleydown 2254
  78. 77Jessieup 9254
  79. 79Hughdown 10253
  80. 80Theodoreup 2249
  81. 81Patrickdown 5245
  82. 82Alexanderup 5237
  83. 83Leonarddown 5225
  84. 84Iradown 7222
  85. 85Isaacdown 2221
  86. 86Augustdown 3213
  87. 87Bernardup 10207
  88. 88Oliverdown 8206
  89. 89Juliusup 4197
  90. 90Leonup 9196
  91. 90Philipup 5196
  92. 92Clifforddown 1194
  93. 93Anthonyup 5193
  94. 93Eddienew193
  95. 95Leroydown 7192
  96. 96Archiedown 11191
  97. 97Lesterdown 8189
  98. 98Stephendown 7187
  99. 99Lesliedown 9175
  100. 99Lloydnew175

With how many babies were given each name, and how its rank changed since 1887. 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, 1888”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/top/us/1888, updated 20 October 2026.