NamelingSwipe names

Top 100 baby names in the US, 1897

The 100 names given to the most girls and boys born in the US in 1897, from Social Security card applications.

In 1897, Mary was the most popular girls' name in the US, given to 13,413 girls, and John the most popular boys' name, given to 7,550 boys. New to the top 100 since 1896: Eleanor, Ann, Sallie and Theresa for girls; Norman, Stephen, Alvin, Percy and Ira for boys. The biggest climbers were Ruby for girls, up 9 places to #57, and Cecil for boys, up 13 places to #84.

Girls, 1897

  1. 1Mary13,413
  2. 2Anna5,429
  3. 3Helen4,519
  4. 4Margaret4,146
  5. 5Ruth3,878
  6. 6Elizabethup 13,442
  7. 7Florenceup 13,369
  8. 8Etheldown 23,182
  9. 9Marie3,078
  10. 10Emma2,698
  11. 11Lillian2,683
  12. 12Ednaup 12,567
  13. 13Berthaup 22,502
  14. 14Graceup 32,458
  15. 15Claradown 12,454
  16. 16Alicedown 42,431
  17. 17Bessieup 12,407
  18. 18Hazelup 42,339
  19. 19Roseup 12,316
  20. 20Anniedown 12,307
  21. 21Minniedown 52,284
  22. 22Mabeldown 12,222
  23. 23Gertrude2,135
  24. 24Ida2,108
  25. 25Pearl2,076
  26. 26Martha1,990
  27. 27Frances1,975
  28. 28Estherdown 11,911
  29. 29Myrtleup 11,833
  30. 30Edithdown 11,823
  31. 31Elsie1,763
  32. 32Gladysup 11,737
  33. 33Mildredup 61,723
  34. 34Sarahup 11,713
  35. 35Evadown 31,709
  36. 36Ella1,708
  37. 37Nelliedown 31,693
  38. 38Ireneup 31,587
  39. 39Lauradown 21,585
  40. 40Agnesdown 21,579
  41. 41Louiseup 11,563
  42. 42Catherinedown 21,511
  43. 43Dorothyup 31,472
  44. 44Lilliedown 11,401
  45. 45Juliadown 11,380
  46. 46Carriedown 11,365
  47. 47Josephineup 31,267
  48. 48Hattiedown 11,251
  49. 49Coraup 31,246
  50. 50Lenadown 21,239
  51. 51Alma1,213
  52. 52Jessieup 51,191
  53. 53Mattiedown 41,181
  54. 54Maeup 11,144
  55. 55Blanchedown 11,092
  56. 56Jenniedown 31,074
  57. 57Rubyup 91,025
  58. 58Violaup 31,017
  59. 59Mamiedown 11,006
  60. 60Marionup 7994
  61. 61Lucydown 2984
  62. 61Maudedown 5984
  63. 63Lulaup 1971
  64. 64Stelladown 4966
  65. 65Katherinedown 4962
  66. 66Adadown 3956
  67. 66Fanniedown 1956
  68. 68Beatriceup 2942
  69. 69Doradown 1862
  70. 70Willieup 6818
  71. 71Nora812
  72. 72Paulineup 3777
  73. 73Veraup 8776
  74. 74Rosa770
  75. 75Maggiedown 6760
  76. 76Sadiedown 4757
  77. 77Ellendown 4733
  78. 78Marguerite728
  79. 79Effieup 1698
  80. 80Evelynup 4690
  81. 81Beulahdown 4688
  82. 82Lucilleup 4648
  83. 83Lydiaup 8642
  84. 84Virginiaup 5638
  85. 85Susiedown 6626
  86. 86Daisydown 3624
  87. 86Delladown 1624
  88. 88Emilyup 8619
  89. 88Leonaup 6619
  90. 90Nettiedown 3614
  91. 91Maydown 9595
  92. 92Olivedown 2583
  93. 93Kathryndown 5570
  94. 94Hildaup 1561
  95. 95Eleanornew559
  96. 96Nancy553
  97. 97Annnew545
  98. 97Sallienew545
  99. 99Lizzieup 1543
  100. 100Theresanew533

Boys, 1897

  1. 1John7,550
  2. 2William7,198
  3. 3James5,113
  4. 4George4,078
  5. 5Charles3,341
  6. 6Joseph2,827
  7. 7Frank2,726
  8. 8Robert2,701
  9. 9Edward2,121
  10. 10Henry1,994
  11. 11Thomasup 11,980
  12. 12Walterup 11,895
  13. 13Harrydown 21,879
  14. 14Arthur1,647
  15. 15Albert1,377
  16. 16Fred1,301
  17. 17Clarence1,201
  18. 18Willie1,151
  19. 19Roy999
  20. 20Paul923
  21. 21Haroldup 2860
  22. 22Raymondup 2837
  23. 23Louisdown 1831
  24. 24Earldown 3829
  25. 25Carl828
  26. 26Joeup 1798
  27. 27Ernestup 2785
  28. 28Samuelup 3759
  29. 29Daviddown 1730
  30. 30Charlieup 2714
  31. 31Richarddown 5702
  32. 32Ralphdown 2697
  33. 33Howard634
  34. 34Elmerup 2587
  35. 35Herbertdown 1565
  36. 36Andrewup 1555
  37. 37Oscarup 3543
  38. 38Jessedown 3529
  39. 39Danieldown 1520
  40. 40Alfredup 2513
  41. 41Lawrenceup 5505
  42. 42Jackdown 2497
  43. 43Francisdown 4496
  44. 44Will491
  45. 45Samdown 2478
  46. 46Leoup 1462
  47. 47Leeup 1453
  48. 48Floydup 7451
  49. 49Eugenedown 4447
  50. 50Hermandown 1412
  51. 51Peterup 1397
  52. 51Raydown 1397
  53. 53Edwinup 6380
  54. 54Benjamindown 3378
  55. 54Lewisup 2378
  56. 56Frederickup 1369
  57. 57Michaeldown 4368
  58. 58Clyde359
  59. 59Claudedown 5345
  60. 60Martinup 1312
  61. 61Leonarddown 1310
  62. 61Lesterup 4310
  63. 63Tomdown 1298
  64. 64Russell295
  65. 65Benup 4291
  66. 65Leroyup 7291
  67. 67Chesterdown 4290
  68. 68Clifforddown 2285
  69. 69Edgardown 1278
  70. 69Homerup 10278
  71. 71Lutherup 3271
  72. 72Harveydown 2268
  73. 73Eddieup 3263
  74. 74Lloyddown 7258
  75. 75Jimdown 4252
  76. 76Anthonydown 3249
  77. 77Stanleyup 1240
  78. 78Bernardup 4234
  79. 78Jessieup 11234
  80. 78Ottoup 2234
  81. 81Leonup 5229
  82. 82Allenup 9226
  83. 83Leslieup 2222
  84. 84Cecilup 13216
  85. 85Theodoredown 3215
  86. 86Hughdown 11213
  87. 87Patrickup 6210
  88. 88Jacobdown 6204
  89. 89Philipup 3200
  90. 90Eddown 9198
  91. 91Normannew197
  92. 92Donaldup 2195
  93. 92Guydown 16195
  94. 94Stephennew194
  95. 95Archiedown 7190
  96. 95Victorup 1190
  97. 97Alvinnew186
  98. 98Percynew183
  99. 99Iranew180
  100. 100Everettdown 10179

With how many babies were given each name, and how its rank changed since 1896. 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, 1897”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/top/us/1897, updated 20 October 2026.