Most Popular Baby Names of 1900: Top Boy and Girl Names

In the early 1900s, the most popular baby names for boys were John, William, and James, while for girls they were Mary, Helen, and Anna. These names reflect the cultural and regional influences of the time. John, William, and James were traditional English and Scottish names that had been popular for centuries. They were seen as strong, masculine names that conveyed a sense of stability and tradition. These names were common across the United States, with little regional variation. Mary, Helen, and Anna, on the other hand, had more diverse cultural origins. Mary was a biblical name with strong Christian associations, while Helen and Anna had Greek and Hebrew roots, respectively. These names were popular among immigrant communities, particularly those from Europe, and reflected the growing diversity of the American population. Overall, the naming patterns of the early 1900s were relatively stable, with little significant shift in the most popular names. However, the increasing diversity of the American population began to influence naming trends, foreshadowing the more varied and dynamic naming patterns that would emerge in the later 20th century.