Most popular baby names of 1912

The top three baby names for both boys and girls showed remarkable consistency between 1911 and 1912. For girls, Mary and Helen maintained their reign as the #1 and #2 names respectively, while Dorothy rose to claim the third spot, displacing Margaret which fell to fourth place. On the boys' side, the trio of John, William, and James held steady at the top, demonstrating their enduring popularity among American parents during this period. This stability in the top ranks reflects the traditional naming patterns that characterized the early 20th century.

Looking at the top 10 girls' names in 1912, traditional choices continued to dominate. Mary, Helen, Dorothy, Margaret, and Ruth formed a solid top five, with Mildred rising two positions from 1911 to claim the 6th spot. Anna dropped slightly from 6th to 7th, while Elizabeth remained stable at 8th. Frances moved into the top 10 at 9th place, and Marie rounded out the list at 10th. Notably, names with softer endings like Mary, Dorothy, and Marie remained highly favored, suggesting a preference for feminine-sounding names with melodic qualities.

For boys, the top 10 names of 1912 showcased biblical and traditional English choices. John, William, James, Robert, and Joseph composed the top five, with Robert climbing one position from 1911 to claim 4th place, pushing George down to 6th. Charles, Edward, Frank, and Thomas completed the top 10, maintaining relatively steady positions compared to the previous year. The consistency in these rankings demonstrates the strong cultural preference for classic masculine names that had been popular for generations, particularly those with biblical origins.

The broader naming landscape of 1912 reveals several distinctive patterns. Two-syllable names dominated both gender lists, with Mary, Helen, Anna and John, William, James exemplifying this trend. Biblical names remained particularly strong for boys, including John, James, Joseph, and Thomas, while girls' names often featured softer sounds with "-ie" and "-a" endings like Marie, Annie, and Martha. The prevalence of traditional English and Christian names reflects the predominantly Anglo-American cultural influences of the era. Interestingly, vowel-heavy names like Edward, Alice, and Helen maintained their appeal, showcasing an enduring preference for names with fluid, elegant sounds.

Top baby names of 1912