The nursery is complete. Outfitted in the perfect theme, with pops of this year’s trendiest of colors. The baby shower was pure bliss, and all of those thank-yous were placed promptly in the mailbox. Meal prep was a success and there are currently ten meals stocked in your freezer. The house appears spotless and your overnight bag has been sitting by the door for the past two weeks.
The list is completed, with the exception of one minor detail…
Baby’s Name
For some, this process comes easily, with no real bumps in the road. But for others it’s an agonizing process. Selecting the perfect name can feel overwhelming. Do you go traditional, classic, unique, or maybe something with a hint of pizazz?
Maybe you begin your search the traditional way, by busting out an encyclopedia-sized book of baby names. Ugh! That feels so 1985! Instead you scour Pinterest for every baby name post imaginable. But that feels too trendy. So instead you hop on ancestry.com and begin creating your family tree. Certainly there you will find a name with the perfect combination of classy and that special family touch.
Growing up with lots of cousins, I have seen the name game play out all sorts of ways. A few of my relatives went the traditional route, choosing family names. Some laid out a map of the U.S., circling their favorite cities. Others drew names out of a hat to narrow down their favorites, and a few waited patiently to see their little one before selecting the perfect name.
Selecting the perfect name can feel overwhelming. Do you go traditional, classic, unique, or maybe something with a hint of pizazz?
Personally for me, the process was a bit more agonizing the second time around. Not because we couldn’t agree. No, in fact, we had both our daughter’s names selected quite easily before our first was even born. My hesitation came when the second name had risen in popularity since that time. For some this would be a small detail or just a blip on the radar. My husband remained unfazed. Me, well, I blame the hormones. In the end, our original choice was the right one. It just took me a bit longer to get there.
Truthfully, I love searching for baby names. Although it can be a bit agonizing at times, it’s one of the best parts of growing your family. It was my love of looking through names and their meanings that inspired me to take you on a stroll through the most popular names of the last century by decade.
Popular Baby Names of the Last Century by Decade
1920’s – The Roaring Twenties
Boy Girl
1. Robert 1. Mary
2. John 2. Dorothy
3. James 3. Helen
4. William 4. Betty
5. Charles 5. Margaret
1930’s – The Turbulent Thirties
Boy Girl
1. Robert 1. Mary
2. James 2. Betty
3. John 3. Barbara
4. William 4. Shirley
5. Richard 5. Patricia
1940’s – The Flying Forties
Boy Girl
1. James 1. Mary
2. Robert 2. Linda
3. John 3. Barbara
4. William 4. Patricia
5. Richard 5. Carol
1950’s – The Fabulous Fifties
Boy Girl
1. James 1. Mary
2. Michael 2. Linda
3. Robert 3. Patricia
4. John 4. Susan
5. David 5. Deborah
1960’s – The Swingin’ Sixties
Boy Girl
1. Michael 1. Lisa
2. David 2. Mary
3. John 3. Susan
4. James 4. Karen
5. Robert 5. Kimberly
1970’s – The Disco Era
Boy Girl
1. Michael 1. Jennifer
2. Christopher 2. Amy
3. Jason 3. Melissa
4. David 4. Michelle
5. James 5. Kimberly
1980’s – The Decade of Decadence
Boy Girl
1. Michael 1. Jessica
2. Christopher 2. Jennifer
3. Matthew 3. Amanda
4. Joshua 4. Ashley
5. David 5. Sarah
1990’s – The Naughty Nineties
Boy Girl
1. Michael 1. Jessica
2. Christopher 2. Ashley
3. Matthew 3. Emily
4. Joshua 4. Sarah
5. Jacob 5. Samantha
2000’s – The OO’s
Boy Girl
1. Jacob 1. Emily
2. Michael 2. Madison
3. Joshua 3. Emma
4. Matthew 4. Olivia
5. Daniel 5. Hannah
2010’s – The Tensies
Boy Girl
1. Jacob 1. Emma
2. Noah 2. Sophia
3. Mason 3. Olivia
4. William 4. Isabella
5. Liam 5. Ava
What’s in a name? Whether you are choosing a name to represent family or give your child their own unique flair, one thing is for certain. There is nothing but love and joy put into it. So, roll out that map or power up that laptop and enjoy the process.
