Most popular first and last names in US, according to Census Bureau data
If you’re expecting a baby and looking for the "perfect" name, you might want to look at what everyone else is – or isn’t – choosing.
New data from the 2020 U.S. Census Bureau is revealing the most popular first and last names across the nation. While the bureau has tracked surnames since 1990, this marks the first time in 30 years they’ve released a deep dive into first names.
Most popular first names, according to data
By the numbers:
Even though the number of women exceeded men in the U.S. in 2020, the top five most common first names were all predominantly male.
According to the Census Bureau, the findings reveal that female names tend to have more variety than male names.
FILE: Person writes their full name on printed form. (Credit: Getty Images)
Joshua Comenetz, a senior geographer at the Census Bureau and manager of the Census Names Project noted the stark contrast, saying in a statement, "Sixteen percent of men have one of the top 10 male names. For women, it’s only a little under 8%."
Of the top 10 frequently occurring names in 2020, eight were male (led by Michael, John, and James), while only two – Mary and Maria – were female.
Newborns vs. the nation
Dig deeper:
But the census warns not to confuse "popular names" with "popular baby names."
According to the agency, the census acts as a snapshot of everyone currently living, whereas Social Security Administration (SSA) data tracks what parents are choosing right now.
There is surprisingly little overlap between the two; while the census reflects a lifetime of tradition, baby names change with what is popular at the moment.
"The census represents a kind of average of everybody currently living here," Comenetz continued. "There’s so much variety in how people name their kids that a single year does not fit the average."
Most popular last names
Dig deeper:
The data also found that little has changed 230 years later when it comes to last names.
Despite a more than 84-fold increase in the population, eight last names have remained among the top 15 since 1790.
The names are Brown, Davis, Johnson, Jones, Miller, Smith, Williams and Wilson.
The list also reveals an increase in Hispanic names, along with Asian influence.
Since 2000, six Hispanic surnames have moved into the top 15, including Garcia, Rodriguez, and Martinez. By 2020, Rodriguez climbed to 8th place, officially bumping Davis down a notch.
In addition, between 2010 and 2020, all but one of the fastest-growing surnames in the top 1,000 were predominantly Asian, reflecting a shift in immigration patterns.
The bottom line
Big picture view:
While trends in first names may fade, the American surname appears remarkably resilient.
Whether it's the result of deep-rooted history or the consolidation of language origins, some names simply don't budge.
"Despite all the changes in population, I suspect Smith would still be the most popular last name in 2075," said Comenetz. "I’d be surprised if it isn’t."
The Source: The information for this story was provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. This story was reported from Los Angeles.