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Top 100 baby names in the US, 1917

The 100 names given to the most girls and boys born in the US in 1917, from Social Security card applications.

In 1917, Mary was the most popular girls' name in the US, given to 64,280 girls, and John the most popular boys' name, given to 51,852 boys. New to the top 100 since 1916: Nancy and Sophie for girls; Warren and Allen for boys. The biggest climbers were June for girls, up 13 places to #73, and Gerald for boys, up 7 places to #69.

Girls, 1917

  1. 1Mary64,280
  2. 2Helen34,251
  3. 3Dorothy28,852
  4. 4Margaret25,560
  5. 5Ruth23,568
  6. 6Mildred16,256
  7. 7Anna15,160
  8. 8Elizabeth15,131
  9. 9Frances14,363
  10. 10Virginia14,261
  11. 11Evelyn12,532
  12. 12Marie11,813
  13. 13Alice10,990
  14. 14Florence10,538
  15. 15Lillianup 19,843
  16. 16Rosedown 19,783
  17. 17Irene9,163
  18. 18Catherineup 28,689
  19. 19Louisedown 18,584
  20. 20Ednadown 18,422
  21. 21Josephine8,326
  22. 22Marthaup 28,261
  23. 23Gladysdown 18,075
  24. 24Ethelup 17,865
  25. 25Dorisup 77,819
  26. 26Eleanorup 17,669
  27. 27Rubydown 47,662
  28. 28Edith7,532
  29. 29Lucilleup 17,529
  30. 30Gracedown 47,373
  31. 31Hazel7,285
  32. 32Thelmadown 37,245
  33. 33Pauline6,896
  34. 34Bettyup 106,639
  35. 35Annieup 16,404
  36. 36Marjorieup 16,399
  37. 37Gertrudedown 26,300
  38. 38Estherdown 46,281
  39. 39Beatricedown 15,839
  40. 40Jeanup 55,692
  41. 41Claradown 25,626
  42. 42Bernice5,546
  43. 43Lois5,485
  44. 44Anndown 45,455
  45. 45Marionup 25,371
  46. 46Emmadown 55,121
  47. 47Juliadown 15,078
  48. 48Agnesup 25,066
  49. 49Katherineup 24,956
  50. 50Elsiedown 24,939
  51. 51Berthadown 24,881
  52. 52Sarah4,766
  53. 53Anne4,603
  54. 54Evaup 14,286
  55. 55Janeup 74,258
  56. 56Idadown 24,247
  57. 57Pearl4,232
  58. 58Myrtle4,046
  59. 59Viola4,040
  60. 60Kathryn3,984
  61. 61Bessiedown 53,927
  62. 62Stellaup 13,872
  63. 63Ritaup 43,870
  64. 64Nelliedown 33,808
  65. 65Lauradown 13,807
  66. 66Vera3,714
  67. 67Barbaraup 73,535
  68. 68Mabeldown 33,499
  69. 69Sylviadown 13,469
  70. 70Jessiedown 23,465
  71. 71Almadown 13,407
  72. 72Willieup 13,381
  73. 73Juneup 133,370
  74. 74Mariandown 23,267
  75. 75Minniedown 43,262
  76. 76Charlotteup 43,229
  77. 77Genevievedown 13,192
  78. 78Marguerite3,161
  79. 79Viviandown 23,119
  80. 80Leonadown 53,115
  81. 81Jenniedown 23,109
  82. 82Wilma3,071
  83. 83Elladown 23,054
  84. 84Violetdown 13,026
  85. 85Lena3,004
  86. 86Lillieup 22,931
  87. 87Juanitaup 32,929
  88. 87Lucydown 32,929
  89. 89Geraldineup 52,897
  90. 90Ellendown 32,855
  91. 91Blanchedown 22,836
  92. 92Phyllisup 32,696
  93. 93Maxineup 32,647
  94. 94Mattiedown 12,572
  95. 95Opaldown 42,541
  96. 96Maedown 42,507
  97. 97Theresaup 12,490
  98. 98Nancynew2,411
  99. 98Velmaup 12,411
  100. 100Sophienew2,382

Boys, 1917

  1. 1John51,852
  2. 2William42,422
  3. 3James37,337
  4. 4Robert35,220
  5. 5Joseph24,761
  6. 6Georgeup 124,196
  7. 7Charlesdown 124,143
  8. 8Edward17,501
  9. 9Frank15,768
  10. 10Thomas12,611
  11. 11Walter12,582
  12. 12Haroldup 111,194
  13. 13Pauldown 111,156
  14. 14Richardup 110,914
  15. 15Henrydown 110,696
  16. 16Raymond9,956
  17. 17Arthurup 19,282
  18. 18Albertdown 19,157
  19. 19Harry8,856
  20. 20Donald8,729
  21. 21Ralph7,391
  22. 22Jackup 46,875
  23. 23Louisdown 16,771
  24. 24Carldown 16,699
  25. 25Clarencedown 16,587
  26. 26Howarddown 16,410
  27. 27Kenneth6,141
  28. 28David6,099
  29. 29Fred5,986
  30. 30Francisup 15,801
  31. 31Williedown 15,751
  32. 32Earl5,632
  33. 33Roy5,586
  34. 34Stanley5,186
  35. 35Joe5,142
  36. 36Lawrenceup 25,094
  37. 37Ernestdown 15,055
  38. 38Anthonydown 15,027
  39. 39Eugene4,873
  40. 40Herbert4,745
  41. 41Leonardup 14,694
  42. 42Samueldown 14,490
  43. 43Alfred4,424
  44. 44Michael4,288
  45. 45Elmer3,812
  46. 46Normanup 23,788
  47. 47Leo3,779
  48. 48Andrewdown 23,752
  49. 49Bernard3,711
  50. 50Peter3,464
  51. 51Frederickup 13,455
  52. 52Russelldown 13,436
  53. 53Lloydup 53,417
  54. 54Danielup 13,360
  55. 55Edwindown 23,346
  56. 56Chesterdown 23,338
  57. 57Melvin3,155
  58. 58Hermandown 22,974
  59. 59Cliffordup 22,969
  60. 60Leroyup 32,951
  61. 61Lesterdown 22,854
  62. 62Floyddown 22,820
  63. 63Theodoreup 22,809
  64. 64Clydedown 22,719
  65. 65Vincentup 22,636
  66. 66Philipup 42,544
  67. 67Charlieup 12,536
  68. 68Marvindown 22,517
  69. 69Geraldup 72,486
  70. 70Lewisup 12,477
  71. 71Vernonup 42,463
  72. 72Samup 22,454
  73. 73Woodrowdown 92,428
  74. 74Raydown 12,426
  75. 75Miltondown 32,394
  76. 76Benjaminup 32,386
  77. 77Martinup 42,336
  78. 78Victor2,207
  79. 79Jessedown 22,200
  80. 80Willarddown 112,188
  81. 81Alvinup 12,142
  82. 82Leonup 32,102
  83. 83Cecildown 32,101
  84. 84Gordonup 62,019
  85. 85Leedown 22,004
  86. 86Glenndown 21,997
  87. 87Oscardown 11,961
  88. 88Edgar1,920
  89. 89Stephendown 21,892
  90. 90Harveyup 21,808
  91. 91Arnolddown 21,781
  92. 92Wilburup 21,749
  93. 93Warrennew1,743
  94. 94Everettdown 31,734
  95. 95Sidney1,727
  96. 96Wayneup 21,715
  97. 97Alexanderup 21,664
  98. 98Claudedown 51,625
  99. 99Morrisdown 21,624
  100. 100Allennew1,592

With how many babies were given each name, and how its rank changed since 1916. 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, 1917”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/top/us/1917, updated 20 October 2026.