Most Popular Baby Names in 1908

In this article we'll look at what the most popular baby names were for the year 1908. 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 1908, 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 9,342 Mary 18,665
2 William 7,529 Helen 8,439
3 James 7,012 Margaret 6,976
4 George 4,584 Ruth 6,180
5 Robert 4,219 Anna 5,860
6 Joseph 4,162 Dorothy 5,703
7 Charles 3,929 Elizabeth 4,904
8 Frank 3,146 Mildred 4,624
9 Edward 2,707 Alice 4,270
10 Thomas 2,301 Marie 4,076
11 Henry 2,283 Florence 3,883
12 Walter 2,192 Ethel 3,786
13 Willie 1,964 Lillian 3,634
14 Harry 1,934 Frances 3,593
15 Albert 1,642 Gladys 3,580
16 Arthur 1,601 Rose 3,382
17 Harold 1,542 Edna 3,365
18 Paul 1,478 Louise 2,937
19 Clarence 1,428 Grace 2,901
20 Fred 1,381 Evelyn 2,857
21 Raymond 1,381 Annie 2,820
22 Louis 1,317 Catherine 2,750
23 Richard 1,244 Irene 2,732
24 Joe 1,209 Hazel 2,698
25 Ralph 1,138 Gertrude 2,562
26 Roy 1,097 Thelma 2,526
27 Jack 1,086 Edith 2,410
28 Howard 1,078 Josephine 2,389
29 Carl 1,074 Bertha 2,384
30 David 1,016 Emma 2,357
31 Ernest 1,000 Clara 2,352
32 Earl 999 Martha 2,324
33 Samuel 960 Ruby 2,229
34 Francis 853 Bessie 2,201
35 Lawrence 815 Virginia 2,195
36 Herbert 759 Esther 2,187
37 Charlie 740 Mabel 2,096
38 Alfred 739 Lucille 2,080
39 Andrew 722 Pearl 2,075
40 Kenneth 692 Beatrice 1,997
41 Anthony 690 Elsie 1,983
42 Elmer 689 Viola 1,964
43 Eugene 689 Ida 1,952
44 Michael 688 Myrtle 1,952
45 Donald 664 Agnes 1,934
46 Sam 644 Eva 1,930
47 Theodore 643 Minnie 1,817
48 Leonard 614 Sarah 1,814
49 Leo 584 Nellie 1,757
50 Herman 562 Julia 1,749
51 Lee 553 Pauline 1,702
52 Stanley 547 Laura 1,558
53 Peter 542 Alma 1,474
54 Daniel 530 Lillie 1,471
55 Floyd 529 Katherine 1,430
56 Leroy 523 Ella 1,428
57 Russell 523 Mae 1,384
58 Clifford 515 Jessie 1,382
59 Clyde 511 Willie 1,371
60 Lester 509 Mattie 1,364
61 Lewis 489 Bernice 1,363
62 Jesse 482 Ann 1,354
63 Benjamin 480 Marion 1,349
64 Edwin 477 Lena 1,331
65 Oscar 476 Eleanor 1,302
66 Chester 461 Carrie 1,239
67 Ray 446 Stella 1,216
68 Frederick 438 Vera 1,204
69 Claude 428 Blanche 1,162
70 Bernard 414 Doris 1,155
71 Eddie 413 Hattie 1,137
72 Cecil 397 Betty 1,128
73 Lloyd 394 Leona 1,118
74 Norman 374 Lucy 1,118
75 Melvin 366 Anne 1,088
76 Edgar 360 Fannie 1,085
77 Jessie 355 Kathryn 1,058
78 Ben 353 Jennie 1,038
79 Milton 346 Mamie 1,028
80 Homer 340 Lois 1,023
81 Tom 340 Violet 1,017
82 Harvey 339 Beulah 1,015
83 Martin 331 Cora 962
84 Leon 327 Opal 955
85 Johnnie 321 Marjorie 942
86 Philip 319 Rosa 941
87 Marvin 311 Ada 922
88 Victor 308 Marguerite 913
89 Alvin 307 Lula 892
90 Everett 294 Velma 860
91 Luther 292 Jean 852
92 Allen 287 Ellen 848
93 Vernon 285 Dora 806
94 Stephen 280 Theresa 795
95 Leslie 279 Maggie 772
96 Will 274 Sadie 770
97 Gerald 270 Georgia 768
98 Morris 269 Charlotte 766
99 Julius 263 Daisy 765
100 Virgil 258 Inez 757
101 Sidney 253 Sylvia 748
102 Vincent 250 Hilda 735
103 Glenn 247 Emily 732
104 Alexander 246 Susie 698
105 Otis 243 Flora 677
106 Maurice 241 Eunice 676
107 Horace 235 Estelle 675
108 Jacob 235 Genevieve 654
109 Marion 233 Nancy 651
110 Wilbur 233 Nora 648
111 Earnest 230 Olive 648
112 Willard 229 Alberta 641
113 Nicholas 226 Wilma 630
114 Irving 225 Lola 623
115 Archie 223 Lucile 592
116 Gilbert 223 Lottie 580
117 Jim 220 Marian 579
118 Manuel 220 Juanita 572
119 Max 218 Loretta 566
120 Patrick 216 Mable 566
121 Hugh 215 Vivian 561
122 Oliver 207 Eula 558
123 Curtis 203 Della 549
124 Hubert 203 Effie 549
125 Arnold 202 Verna 549
126 Guy 200 Harriet 548
127 Alex 199 Sara 546
128 Jerry 198 Nettie 543
129 Gordon 196 Goldie 538
130 Ira 196 Jane 531
131 Roosevelt 194 Katie 531
132 Warren 194 Kathleen 527
133 Jose 192 Sophie 523
134 Wallace 190 May 515
135 Wesley 185 Barbara 514
136 Mack 183 Geneva 511
137 Nathan 178 Maude 510
138 Wayne 178 Christine 504
139 Otto 177 Rosie 502
140 Rudolph 173 Lydia 499
141 Johnie 172 Sallie 489
142 Lonnie 169 Maria 480
143 Sylvester 166 Irma 478
144 Bill 164 Erma 477
145 Isaac 162 Henrietta 468
146 Willis 161 Naomi 458
147 Jimmie 160 Madeline 457
148 Marshall 160 Essie 451
149 Bennie 158 Rebecca 451
150 Glen 158 Caroline 449
151 Roland 156 Nina 449
152 Rufus 156 Ollie 447
153 Charley 155 Addie 445
154 Orville 153 Sally 443
155 Dan 152 Lizzie 436
156 Ed 152 Victoria 435
157 Matthew 152 Norma 430
158 Percy 151 Ora 426
159 Abraham 150 Rachel 425
160 Nathaniel 150 Iva 418
161 Steve 149 Lela 411
162 Clifton 143 Etta 400
163 Tony 142 Amelia 370
164 Edmund 141 Audrey 370
165 Emil 141 Ola 368
166 Clinton 140 Fern 364
167 Mike 139 Geraldine 362
168 August 138 Celia 351
169 Calvin 135 Isabel 351
170 Clayton 134 Susan 350
171 Franklin 133 Freda 349
172 Perry 133 Adeline 346
173 Pete 131 Olga 345
174 Phillip 131 Miriam 342
175 Jerome 127 Mollie 341
176 Emmett 126 Flossie 340
177 Ellis 123 Luella 336
178 Elbert 121 Cecelia 325
179 Bert 120 Leola 321
180 Alton 119 Estella 317
181 Amos 119 Frieda 317
182 Felix 118 Alta 313
183 Sherman 118 Nannie 313
184 Dave 116 Faye 311
185 Jake 115 Isabelle 308
186 Roger 115 Jeanette 304
187 Aaron 114 Virgie 302
188 Ted 113 Bonnie 299
189 Nelson 112 Ina 299
190 Booker 111 Roberta 296
191 Douglas 111 Cleo 290
192 Adam 109 Jewell 288
193 Don 107 Nell 288
194 Johnny 107 Phyllis 288
195 Tommie 106 Veronica 286
196 Forrest 105 Janie 284
197 Owen 105 Matilda 284
198 Irvin 104 Shirley 284
199 Reuben 102 Winifred 281
200 Juan 101 Carolyn 280
201 Wilbert 101 Elva 279
202 Dennis 101 Anita 277
203 Dale 100 Sophia 276
204 Bruce 99 Fay 267
205 Antonio 99 Antoinette 266
206 Ross 99 Cecilia 263
207 Dewey 99 Muriel 262
208 Wilfred 98 Amanda 260
209 Ervin 97 Jeannette 260
210 Karl 97 Selma 257
211 Roscoe 97 Regina 256
212 Adolph 96 Rita 255
213 Grady 96 Lila 254
214 Ivan 95 Lorraine 253
215 Salvatore 95 Angelina 251
216 Delbert 92 Marcella 248
217 Laurence 91 Dorothea 246
218 Jay 89 Allie 245
219 Edmond 88 Amy 245
220 Jess 88 Jewel 244
221 Julian 88 Eliza 243
222 Preston 88 Margie 243
223 Troy 87 Hannah 240
224 Cornelius 86 Claire 235
225 Grover 85 Teresa 233
226 Simon 85 Janet 231
227 Austin 84 Wanda 226
228 Nick 84 Maxine 220
229 Ollie 84 Lorene 218
230 Angelo 82 Callie 214
231 Moses 82 Constance 214
232 Monroe 81 Gussie 213
233 Gus 80 Dolores 212
234 Millard 80 Elma 208
235 Grant 79 Josie 207
236 Mary 79 June 206
237 Wilson 79 Sue 206
238 Gene 78 Patricia 205
239 Jasper 78 Eloise 201
240 Leland 78 Rena 201
241 Malcolm 78 Madge 200
242 Bob 77 Zelma 199
243 Carroll 77 Eileen 199
244 Merle 76 Letha 198
245 Levi 75 Tillie 198
246 Lyle 75 Winnie 197
247 Ronald 75 Lee 197
248 Freddie 72 Ila 196
249 Murray 72 Leah 194
250 Buster 71 Adele 192

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 'Levi' or 'Winnie', 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 'Mildred' 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 'Helens' 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 'Robert' or 'Elizabeth' 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 'Joseph' or 'Alice' 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 'Thomas' or 'Ruth' are on repeat, you'll likely see them in the baby name charts.

Family Tradition

Some names like 'Charles' or 'Lillian' 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 'Frank' or 'Dorothy' show the lasting impact of religion and politics on baby names.

So, while we can't always predict why a name like 'Edward' or 'Thelma' 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 1908". NameCensus.com. Accessed on March 28, 2024. https://namecensus.com/baby-names/popular-baby-names-in-1908/.

  • "Most Popular Baby Names in 1908". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/baby-names/popular-baby-names-in-1908/. Accessed 28 March, 2024

  • Most Popular Baby Names in 1908. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from https://namecensus.com/baby-names/popular-baby-names-in-1908/.