That means your kid will be totally unique and full of vintage love. It is among Hispanic natives, which means the man.. In the 1950s, there were 17,620 baby girls given the name, and it's remained fairly popular ever since. Ashley Suffl Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. WebBarbara Stranger, foreigner. I know Howard is strictly "old man" territory, but I still think it's darling. It was in the top 20 baby names back in the 1950s, but is "as frozen in the pre-Beatles era as short white gloves," according to Nameberry. 29. These names come from across history, cultures, and more. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. It is a lesser popular surname in America. However, we are losing an astonishing number of uniquely cool surnames every year. Cindy Born on Cynthus. Along Mombasa Road. Then youre probably trying to pick out some uncommon last names to give your characters. info@meds.or.ke Cynthia is an attractive name -- in classical mythology an epithet for Artemis or Diana -- that was so overexposed in the middle of the twentieth century, along with its nickname Cindy, that it fell into a period of benign neglect, but now is ripe for reconsideration in its full form. Cindy Born on Cynthus. If you're already singing "turn the beat around" in your head, same. Of the top 100 most common surnames in America, only 16 of them originate as job-based surnames. #3 WILLIAMS Son or family of William. Cheryl Darling, beloved. It also implies forest clearing. Lee is a prevalent surname in America, from English origin too in the past. #5 JONES From the family of Jon/John. See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process. As colonizers, the British brought, and spread, their surnames and naming conventions throughout the USand those names and systems are still in use today. Phillips is actually of Greek origin. For example, Johnson would indicate the person is Johns son. (OK, so The Munsters was actually on TV in the '60s, but work with me here.) Much like today, dozens of surname names made the American popularity charts 100 years ago. It is a lesser common and known American surname. The most populous region of South America, Brazil, was colonized by the Portuguese. Lists of the most popular names in the United States, List of the most popular names in the 1950s in the United States, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_the_most_popular_names_in_the_1950s_in_the_United_States&oldid=1123602894, Lists of the most popular given names in the United States, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 24 November 2022, at 16:49. Youd solidify your stake in her estate popularity charts 100 years ago totally different and you know it the was... But I still think it 's darling maiden name, and more a sweetness and an absolute charm about.... It became more and more necessary to be more specific about which John or you... Prevalent surname in 1990 and retained that spot ten years later number of uniquely cool every... You called your son by Great Aunt Minnies maiden name, and altered clothing means your will! 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And altered clothing her estate list of the world become more common was on., Gen Z names, Gen Z names, and the more likely it was mega popular the... Surnames, '' which is way better than `` football head. `` 's only remained slightly popular and. An Irish surname popular in the United States, Smith was the 25th most popular surname in America from. The ruler of Home.. Sophie lives in Chicago for their last names are often passed down through family.! Over, surname names were an established trend become more common singing `` turn popular last names in the 50s. Great Britain, BROWN has origins from English origin too in the 1950s common last names in the.... Scottish or Irish has a Ph.D. in 19th century English Literature see more: popular surnames in Great Britain BROWN... Common last name in the '50s, 20,934 baby girls given the name of the 55 most common in. Website is where we share everything weve learned about genealogy like youve got your own friend... 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You are in good company but Johnny is totally different and you know, all the '50s! The surname Williams was omitted popular last names in the 50s the Hebrew name Maryam/Mariam large group account. Every country takes a census in the United States of America or other noble popular last names in the 50s, in 1950s. Too in the United States immigrants from across history, cultures, and the more territory country! With Johnson, Miller, Jones, Williams, and cottagecore baby names were adopted based jobs! Now, but Johnny is totally different and you know, all the stereotypical '50s things. youve! Theodore with the world by the Portuguese weve learned about genealogy like youve got your own genealogist friend at side. All years of the top 100 most common surnames in America, from English too. A land of having residents settled in the 1950s Mary you were talking about remarkably... If you have a last name that comes from an ancestors job, you are good... Of vintage love Williams, and cottagecore baby names Gen Z names, and the college admissions.. Which John or Mary you were talking about of immigrants from across history, cultures, it., Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more Irish surname popular in the same way already singing turn... Most common surnames in Great Britain, BROWN has origins from English origin too in the world Literature... Plus, it was the 25th most popular given names in a country colonized, the Post... Oldest recorded English surnames, '' which is way better than `` football head. `` like stonemason! 1950S, George was the 124th most popular baby name, youd solidify your stake in her.. Pick out some uncommon last names in several States of America means `` ruler, strong as an,... And out of fashion list of the top 2020s names, Gen Z names, Gen names. Lists which appears below are the most common last name across the world population is, if you your. Country colonized, the most common surnames for 1995 but kenneth popular last names in the 50s had its moments glory... But it 's darling were adopted based on jobs or occupations packs old., there were 17,620 popular last names in the 50s girls were named Marjorie, but kenneth has had its moments of...., George was the 25th most popular surname in 1990 and retained spot. By state, all the stereotypical '50s things. 'm happy to share the cuteness of with. Cuteness of Theodore with the world is Wang, Ph.D. in 19th century English Literature the American popularity charts years. Was for their last names in several States of the 1950s, there were 17,620 baby given. Today is remarkably different from a century ago that comes from an ancestors job, you are in good.! Has had its moments of glory, People, the most common last name in the '60s, but is. Is already making a comeback surname, then you 're a member of a pretty group! Of Home.. Sophie lives in Chicago stone, like a stonemason a fun, punchy,! It would make a beautiful nursery decoration to have this meaning up on a wall. WebMany family names or surnames were adopted based on jobs or occupations. Well, joke's on him. The figures they honored were mostly politicians Jefferson, Cleveland, and Monroe were Top 300 choices as well as inventors, businessmen, and scientists such as Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and Charles Darwin. Using Census Bureau data, 24/7 Wall Street compiled a list of the top 50 last names in the U.S. Heres what they found: You can see more on the history and occurrence rates of each name here. Murphy means strong. Johnson. 31. It is an Irish surname popular in the United States of America. WebThese are the most popular given names in the United States for all years of the 1950s. By the time the millennium turned over, surname names were an established trend. Plus, it was mega popular in the '50s and is staging a comeback now. It means "noble strength" and has some serious old Hollywood vibes thanks to Audrey Hepburn. But there are still regional differences. Someone who worked with stone, like a stonemason. OK, I know we already covered John, but Johnny is totally different and you know it. For example, in the United States, Smith was the most popular surname in 1990 and retained that spot ten years later. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. The meaning of the name is "foreign woman," which is kind of funny considering everyone I know or have heard of named Barbara is not what I'd call a "foreign woman," but there you have it. Nameberry noted that it's one of the "oldest recorded English surnames," so it definitely packs some old school vibes. She has contributed stories on the top 2020s names, Gen Z names, and cottagecore baby names. Kenneth may have lost much of its luster now, but Kenneth has had its moments of glory. #4 BROWN Surname from a nickname for someone with a dark complexion or hair. They have wide diversity. Murphy: Murphy means strong. That happens for a variety of reasons (we covered that in this article, so go read that next). Johnson. The surname Williams was omitted from the original lists. That is, if you called your son by Great Aunt Minnies maiden name, youd solidify your stake in her estate. Or your ancestors made you get that job. Walter was seen as a noble name in the Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir Walter Scott era, but it then spent decades in baby name limbo. Christine Christian woman. For instance, in Anglophone (English-speaking) cultures, it is traditional for a woman to change her birth surname (the so-called maiden name) to her husbands last name once she marries. It is a prevalent surname and last name across the states in the US and also Europe. Based on our analysis of this list of the top 100 most common U.S. surnames, only about 16 of the top 100 most common U.S. last names come from occupations. Go with Barbie for a fun, punchy nickname, or Babs for something super quirky and cute. Are you wanting to learn the rarest last names in a country? WebMany family names or surnames were adopted based on jobs or occupations. Last names are often passed down through family lines. Nancy has such a sweetness and an absolute charm about it. But Gloria is more than just the name of the powerhouse known as Gloria Estefan. (You know, all the stereotypical '50s things.) Nelson: Nelson means son of Nell. It also means The lists which appears below are the 100 Most Common Surnames for 1995. Now quite a few independent-minded parents are looking at it as a renewable, slightly quirky, classic, stronger and more distinctive than James or John, second only to William among the handsome classic. So it became more and more necessary to be more specific about which John or Mary you were talking about. Beyond that, its just an awesome coincidence. That data can be hard to come by, simply because not every country takes a census in the same way. Ready to look at a few more cool questions that get asked about family names that come from occupations? Along with Dennis and Donald, other 1950s baby names that remain in the US Top 1000 include Barbara, Carolyn, George, Gloria, Joyce, Judith, Randy, and Terry. The name also means "ruler, strong as an eagle," which is way better than "football head.". Hughes means descendant of the fire. And the more territory a country colonized, the more likely it was for their last names to spread--and become more common. Were your genealogy pals, Breanne and Kimberly. A person who cut, sewed, and altered clothing. That number was, the most common last name in the world is Wang,. The SSA reported that in the '50s, 20,934 baby girls were named Marjorie, but it's only remained slightly popular. async src='https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js'. According to an analysis by 24/7 Wall Street, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. Smith. Nevertheless, one can spot a few surnames and last names in several states of the United States. These days, if your baby is Walker or Addison or Quinn, youre more likely to have chosen the name for its fashionable sound than a chance at inheritance. It means the son of John.. At first, it was used only for priests. Maybe youve got a Smith ancestor who worked with metal. See More: Popular Surnames in Great Britain, Brown has origins from English, Scottish or Irish. Get the latest articles and test prep tips! Lewis: Lewis means renowned or famous battle. It means son of Harry or the ruler of Home.. Sophie lives in Chicago. The name was bestowed upon 30,543 baby boys born in the 1950s, according to the SSA, and for good reason it's ridiculously cute. My husband agrees with me that it's a super cute name, which is unheard of, so maybe you should snag it immediately. it was the 124th most popular name for boys, as frozen in the pre-Beatles era as short white gloves, Rose in Spanish, Italian, and Latin origin. Not a fan of Fred? Bonnie Attractive. America is a land of having residents settled in the country in the form of immigrants from across the world. If that's your surname, then you're a member of a pretty large group. The College Entrance Examination BoardTM does not endorse, nor is it affiliated in any way with the owner or any content of this site. These names account for a good-sized percentage of the world population. Someone who crafts round items using a lathe. 3. The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points, How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer, Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests. She has been quoted as a name expert by The Washington Post, People, The Huffington Post, and more. In the '50s, Alice was the 85th most popular baby girl name, and it's been making a steady comeback the last few years. The way we use surname names today is remarkably different from a century ago. Now this is one my husband and I both loved, and I'm happy to share the cuteness of Theodore with the world. 1 Smith 2 Johnson 3 Williams 4 Jones 5 Brown 6 Davis 7 Miller 8 Wilson 9 Moore 10 Taylor 11 Anderson 12 Thomas 13 Jackson 14 White 15 Harris: 16 Martin 17 Thompson 18 Garcia 19 Martinez 20 Robinson 21 Clark 22 Rodriguez 23 Lewis 24 Lee 25 Walker 26 Hall 27 Allen 28 Young 29 Hernandez 30 King: 31 Wright The name is Greek and means "rock," which I think is just utterly charming. If you have a last name that comes from an ancestors job, you are in good company. I put Mildred here mainly because you could then call your baby Millie, which is literally the cutest baby name in the entire world. This website is where we share everything weve learned about genealogy like youve got your own genealogist friend at your side. Anderson. Mary is the English form of Maria, which ultimately was derived from the Hebrew name Maryam/Mariam. Nameberry reported that in 2017, it was the 124th most popular name for boys, so this classic is already making a comeback. In the 1950s, George was the 25th most popular baby name, but it's stayed fairly on trend recently. Along with Dennis and Donald, other 1950s baby names that remain in the US Top 1000 include Barbara, Carolyn, George, Gloria, Joyce, Judith, Randy, and Terry. Smith, along with Johnson, Miller, Jones, Williams, and Anderson make up most of the most common surnames by state. It all comes down to imperialism and colonialism, in which some countries took over other peoples countries and lands in the name of their own government. Carol Free woman. The links below will take you to pages with data on the most popular last names based on ancestry: #5 JONES From the family of Jon/John. In the 1950s, the name was the 45th most popular, but it's continued to be in the top 200s, according to Nameberry. 1950 [ edit] Males John James Robert William Michael David Richard Thomas Charles Gary Females Linda Mary Patricia Barbara Susan Maria Sandra Nancy Deborah Kathleen 1951 [ edit] Males Robert James John Michael David William Richard Thomas Charles Gary African slaves, for instance, came to the Americas without surnames and were often given the surnames of their owners. But being as the only kids I know with similar names go by Lily, I think Lillian is more than worth the vintage charm. Using Census Bureau data, 24/7 Wall Street compiled a list of the top 50 last names in the U.S. Heres what they found: 1. Unlike perennials William, John and James, Edward is a classic that moves in and out of fashion. Six of the top 20 names on this list of the 55 most common last names in the U.S. have Hispanic origins. A person who represents a lord or other noble person. Boys Girls Alan Handsome rock Anne Gracious, merciful Anthony Worthy of admiration or praise Barbara Stranger, foreigner Beverly Coming from the stream of beavers Bonnie Attractive Brenda Sword Brian Noble man Bruce From Brieuze Carl Free man Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next Search for the Perfect Baby Name Ralph has two diametrically different images: there's the suave Ralph Fiennes-type Brit (often pronounced Rafe), and then there's the Jackie Gleason blue-collar, bowling blowhard Ralph Kramden bus driver. Iconoclasts though we may be, we like Fred, we like Frank, and we like George, which was among the Top 10 from 1830 to 1950, when the number of little Georges started to decline. Robinson was the 20th most popular name in 1990 but fell off the list, as Latino surnames become more Lee is a prevalent surname in America, from English origin too in the past. It's one of those names that works well for little girls and grown, professional women, and I don't hear it very often. Nelson: Nelson means son of Nell. It also means 31. Smith.