Most popular baby names of 1911

The naming landscape shows remarkable stability at the top of the charts between 1910 and 1911. Mary, Helen, and Margaret maintained their reign as the top three girls' names in the United States, showing American parents' continued affection for these classic choices. Similarly, the boys' side experienced only a slight shuffle among the favorites. John remained firmly in the #1 position, while William and James swapped places - William moved up to claim the second spot, pushing James down to third. This minor adjustment reflects the enduring appeal of traditional male names during this period.

Looking at the top 10 girls' names of 1911, we see remarkable consistency with the previous year. Mary's dominance as the quintessential female name continued uncontested. Interestingly, Frances climbed one position from #11 in 1910 to #10 in 1911, displacing Alice who dropped just outside the top 10. The collection shows a preference for names ending in soft sounds, with many featuring the popular "-ie" (Marie), "-y" (Mary), "-th" (Ruth), and "-a" (Anna) endings. The enduring popularity of these classic feminine choices suggests parents were drawn to names with traditional, gentle sounds.

For boys in 1911, the top 10 maintained its traditional character with minimal changes. Robert solidified its position at #5, while Thomas moved up to claim the #10 spot, pushing Henry just outside the elite group. The top 10 featured predominantly biblical and royal names - John, William, James, George, and Thomas all having strong historical and religious connections. These choices reflect the continued American preference for strong, established male names with clear cultural roots. Traditional single-syllable nicknames were also readily available for most of these formal names (Jim, Bill, Bob), offering flexibility for everyday use.

Overall naming patterns in 1911 reveal American parents' strong preference for traditional, established names with historical significance. Female names frequently featured soft endings and melodious sounds, while male names tended toward strength and brevity. Interestingly, the data shows little regional variation in top name choices across the country. Names with religious connections remained extremely popular for both genders, reflecting the strong cultural influence of Christianity. The stability between these consecutive years suggests that naming trends evolved gradually during this era, unlike the rapid shifts we sometimes see in modern naming patterns.

Top baby names of 1911