Most Popular Baby Names in 1887

In this article we'll look at what the most popular baby names were for the year 1887. These names are taken directly from the Social Security card applications for births that occurred in the United States.

The table below shows the top 250 most popular baby names in 1887, with a total count for the number of births registered with that given name.

You can also use the links below to research more about the most popular baby names.

Top 1000 most popular boy names: 1-250 | 251-500 | 501-750 | 751-1000

Top 1000 most popular girl names: 1-250 | 251-500 | 501-750 | 751-1000

Boys Girls
Rank Name Count Name Count
1 John 8,110 Mary 9,888
2 William 7,470 Anna 4,227
3 James 4,768 Elizabeth 2,681
4 George 4,284 Emma 2,647
5 Charles 4,031 Margaret 2,419
6 Frank 2,883 Minnie 2,215
7 Joseph 2,456 Bertha 2,037
8 Henry 2,228 Clara 1,984
9 Thomas 2,151 Florence 1,964
10 Edward 2,125 Ida 1,929
11 Robert 2,125 Ethel 1,907
12 Harry 2,057 Annie 1,844
13 Walter 1,704 Bessie 1,838
14 Arthur 1,489 Alice 1,819
15 Fred 1,454 Grace 1,692
16 Albert 1,294 Ella 1,521
17 Clarence 892 Martha 1,504
18 Samuel 802 Mabel 1,494
19 Louis 791 Nellie 1,457
20 Roy 726 Sarah 1,436
21 Joe 685 Helen 1,405
22 David 673 Laura 1,364
23 Ernest 653 Carrie 1,344
24 Charlie 642 Edna 1,339
25 Richard 622 Pearl 1,316
26 Jesse 601 Lillian 1,308
27 Willie 590 Cora 1,257
28 Carl 588 Gertrude 1,251
29 Oscar 574 Edith 1,243
30 Will 561 Rose 1,242
31 Daniel 556 Maude 1,162
32 Earl 537 Hattie 1,135
33 Andrew 520 Eva 1,125
34 Benjamin 473 Frances 1,105
35 Alfred 468 Louise 1,088
36 Elmer 467 Myrtle 1,087
37 Frederick 464 Lillie 1,072
38 Ralph 463 Jennie 1,047
39 Sam 463 Julia 1,043
40 Paul 449 Mattie 1,031
41 Herbert 445 Jessie 1,012
42 Howard 429 Lena 1,004
43 Peter 421 Marie 994
44 Lee 400 Catherine 967
45 Herman 394 Ada 910
46 Claude 375 Agnes 896
47 Raymond 372 Lula 891
48 Michael 344 Dora 842
49 Lewis 343 Elsie 833
50 Jim 339 Josephine 815
51 Martin 331 Lucy 811
52 Tom 329 Fannie 798
53 Eugene 327 Katherine 794
54 Francis 327 Blanche 763
55 Clyde 320 Maggie 740
56 Jacob 317 Nora 735
57 Edwin 310 Mamie 716
58 Ben 305 Mae 680
59 Grover 290 Stella 664
60 Lawrence 283 Rosa 659
61 Harold 279 May 648
62 Ed 275 Ruth 627
63 Luther 267 Alma 623
64 Edgar 266 Effie 615
65 Harvey 262 Nettie 595
66 Ray 258 Ellen 579
67 Otto 253 Daisy 532
68 Jack 251 Lizzie 525
69 Hugh 250 Sallie 525
70 Homer 248 Sadie 519
71 Guy 238 Nancy 511
72 Bert 237 Hazel 504
73 Floyd 232 Irene 504
74 Leo 232 Della 496
75 Charley 221 Susie 485
76 Patrick 218 Lydia 448
77 Ira 215 Katie 440
78 Chester 207 Etta 437
79 Leonard 207 Esther 431
80 Oliver 203 Viola 420
81 Allen 202 Lottie 414
82 Theodore 201 Flora 408
83 August 194 Maud 402
84 Isaac 194 Caroline 398
85 Archie 184 Olive 394
86 Jessie 182 Addie 393
87 Alexander 180 Kathryn 384
88 Leroy 177 Willie 379
89 Lester 168 Mildred 373
90 Leslie 166 Beulah 355
91 Clifford 165 Charlotte 351
92 Stephen 165 Georgia 351
93 Julius 164 Amelia 344
94 Warren 163 Harriet 342
95 Philip 161 Nannie 340
96 Horace 160 Amanda 338
97 Bernard 159 Ollie 338
98 Anthony 153 Emily 335
99 Leon 147 Susan 335
100 Emil 146 Mollie 333
101 Sidney 144 Virginia 332
102 Dan 140 Kate 331
103 Everett 140 Lulu 322
104 Alex 136 Pauline 314
105 Marion 131 Ruby 309
106 Eddie 129 Eliza 290
107 Alvin 128 Jane 288
108 Lloyd 127 Theresa 284
109 Jess 124 Hannah 279
110 Percy 123 Rebecca 275
111 Calvin 122 Belle 272
112 Milton 122 Dorothy 272
113 Norman 119 Henrietta 269
114 Rufus 119 Matilda 266
115 Victor 119 Nina 266
116 Wesley 115 Beatrice 262
117 Willis 113 Estella 260
118 Perry 112 Marion 254
119 Wilbur 112 Iva 253
120 Dave 111 Amy 251
121 Stanley 110 Anne 249
122 Mack 109 Eleanor 247
123 Matthew 108 Lola 246
124 Jay 106 Ann 239
125 Nathan 106 Ora 231
126 Amos 104 Rachel 226
127 Gilbert 102 Augusta 221
128 Roscoe 102 Mayme 214
129 Earnest 99 Sara 214
130 Harrison 99 Leona 208
131 Jerry 98 Lela 207
132 Otis 97 Barbara 204
133 Russell 96 Maria 203
134 Jose 95 Gladys 201
135 Melvin 95 Evelyn 194
136 Morris 95 Josie 192
137 Willard 95 Sophia 192
138 Noah 94 Eula 188
139 Dennis 93 Alta 187
140 Adolph 90 Essie 185
141 Emmett 90 Allie 183
142 Jake 90 Mable 182
143 Franklin 89 Inez 180
144 Alonzo 88 Betty 178
145 Maurice 88 Ina 178
146 Wallace 88 Marguerite 178
147 Moses 87 Estelle 170
148 Glenn 86 Ola 170
149 Ross 85 Millie 168
150 Adam 84 Callie 167
151 Elbert 82 Vera 167
152 Felix 82 Rosie 162
153 Fredrick 82 Christine 161
154 Gus 82 Goldie 159
155 Cecil 80 Victoria 157
156 Phillip 80 Hilda 156
157 Cornelius 79 Bess 155
158 Nicholas 79 Janie 155
159 Vernon 79 Rena 155
160 Aaron 78 Celia 154
161 Hubert 78 Winifred 154
162 Sherman 78 Olga 153
163 Claud 77 Delia 150
164 Harley 77 Lucille 149
165 Virgil 77 Sophie 149
166 Lonnie 76 Genevieve 149
167 Mark 76 Lou 147
168 Abraham 75 Nell 146
169 Elijah 75 Tillie 140
170 Hiram 75 Louisa 138
171 Levi 75 Mathilda 138
172 Bob 74 Eunice 136
173 Clayton 74 Sylvia 135
174 Max 73 Loretta 134
175 Mike 73 Birdie 133
176 Manuel 72 Lois 129
177 Clinton 71 Verna 129
178 Rudolph 71 Bernice 127
179 Sylvester 71 Luella 127
180 Jeff 70 Flossie 123
181 Marvin 70 Frieda 123
182 Marshall 69 Sue 123
183 Ollie 68 Bettie 117
184 Owen 68 Alberta 116
185 Anton 67 Winnie 114
186 Millard 67 Cornelia 112
187 Simon 67 Jean 112
188 Ellis 66 Leila 112
189 Wiley 66 Sally 112
190 Jasper 65 Roxie 111
191 Pearl 64 Katharine 110
192 Silas 64 Isabel 109
193 Bill 63 Bertie 108
194 Ora 63 Hulda 108
195 Nelson 62 Isabelle 108
196 Curtis 61 Teresa 107
197 Edmund 61 Abbie 104
198 Donald 60 Adelaide 104
199 Edd 60 Rhoda 104
200 Johnnie 59 Adeline 103
201 Alva 58 Dollie 103
202 Barney 58 Lelia 102
203 Juan 57 Nelle 100
204 Nathaniel 57 Virgie 100
205 Christopher 56 Elva 99
206 Monroe 56 Lenora 98
207 Irvin 55 Lettie 98
208 Irving 55 Carolyn 97
209 Mose 55 Selma 97
210 Andy 54 Violet 97
211 Clark 54 Geneva 95
212 Cleveland 54 Gertie 95
213 Orville 54 Jeannette 95
214 Reuben 54 Myra 95
215 Steve 54 Hallie 93
216 Timothy 54 Cecelia 92
217 Dock 53 Christina 92
218 Glen 52 Lucinda 92
219 Vincent 52 Irma 90
220 Wilson 52 Lora 90
221 Asa 51 Harriett 89
222 Augustus 51 Hester 89
223 Eli 51 Lura 87
224 Karl 49 Johanna 86
225 Lon 49 Jeanette 85
226 Roland 49 Lucile 85
227 Bennie 48 Marian 85
228 Grant 48 Cecilia 83
229 Joel 48 Fanny 83
230 Austin 47 Hettie 83
231 Pete 47 Leah 83
232 Mary 47 Lilly 83
233 Luke 47 Myrtie 83
234 Gustave 47 Francis 82
235 Christian 47 Gussie 82
236 Byron 47 Linnie 82
237 Arch 47 Adele 80
238 Gordon 47 Freda 80
239 Chris 46 Helena 78
240 Riley 46 Norma 77
241 Bruce 44 Wilhelmina 77
242 Ike 44 Naomi 76
243 Preston 44 Maudie 74
244 Clifton 43 Claudia 74
245 Ferdinand 43 Lila 74
246 Emanuel 42 Marjorie 73
247 Spencer 41 Elma 73
248 Joshua 41 Lida 72
249 Newton 41 Elnora 71
250 Tony 40 Meta 71

What's in a (Popular) Name?

How do we know which baby names are hot each year? It's simple! The Social Security Administration collects data as parents register their newborns for a Social Security card. So, instead of waiting for the 10-year census, we get an annual update on the trending names!

Popular Baby Names vs. Popular First Names: Any Differences?

If you're wondering why the most popular baby names and the most popular first names aren't the same, remember: first names include everyone, not just babies. With 16.5% of the population over 65, names popular in their generation, like 'Ferdinand' or 'Marjorie', still top the charts. As the birth rate declines, we won't see baby names like 'John' or 'Mary' topping the overall popular names list until the Baby Boomer generation decreases significantly.

What Factors Influence Baby Name Popularity?

Ever wondered how a name like 'George' or 'Clara' hits the charts? It's not an exact science, but here are some cool factors:

Celebrity Influence

Americans adore their stars! A favorite celeb can influence baby names, so if you see more little 'Jamess' or 'Annas' running around, you might have a Hollywood A-lister to thank!

Character-Inspired Names

Bookworms and movie buffs often name their kids after beloved characters. If 'Charles' or 'Bertha' sound familiar, check out the latest bestseller or box-office hit!

Following the Trend

We humans are trend-followers. So, if a friend's baby 'Frank' or 'Florence' has a cute ring to it, don't be surprised if it catches on!

The Power of Recall

Names heard repeatedly stick in our minds. So if 'Edward' or 'Emma' are on repeat, you'll likely see them in the baby name charts.

Family Tradition

Some names like 'Joseph' or 'Bessie' stand the test of time, thanks to the tradition of naming babies after older relatives.

Religion and Politics

Religious texts and political figures inspire many parents. Evergreen choices like 'Henry' or 'Minnie' show the lasting impact of religion and politics on baby names.

So, while we can't always predict why a name like 'Thomas' or 'Lillian' becomes popular, these factors give us some fun insights into the ever-changing landscape of baby names!

Historical Data for Baby Names

If you're interested to see how the trends and popularity of baby names have changed, you can use the links below to view the historical data by decade.

Most popular first names, 1880-present | since 1950 | since 1960 | since 1970 | since 1980 | since 1990 | since 2000 | since 2010

Most popular boy names, 1880-present | since 1950 | since 1960 | since 1970 | since 1980 | since 1990 | since 2000 | since 2010

Most popular girl names, 1880-present | since 1950 | since 1960 | since 1970 | since 1980 | since 1990 | since 2000 | since 2010

Data Source(s)

All of the data on this page is sourced from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and excludes any names with fewer than 5 occurrences in any geographic area.

Link To or Reference This Page

We spent a lot of time downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

  • "Most Popular Baby Names in 1887". NameCensus.com. Accessed on March 29, 2024. https://namecensus.com/baby-names/popular-baby-names-in-1887/.

  • "Most Popular Baby Names in 1887". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/baby-names/popular-baby-names-in-1887/. Accessed 29 March, 2024

  • Most Popular Baby Names in 1887. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from https://namecensus.com/baby-names/popular-baby-names-in-1887/.