Names by generation
The most given names of the Baby Boomers were Mary and James; of the Millennials, Jessica and Michael. Each generation’s page lists its most given names, the names most typical of it and how many of its members are alive.
Births: SSA national file, published May 8, 2026. Generations: birth-year bands of the Pew Research Center (Silent 1928-1945 to Gen Z 1997-2012); Generation Alpha, 2013-2025, is NameAlmanac’s own band because Pew has not defined one.
Every generation at a glance
| Generation | Girls’ #1 | Boys’ #1 | Most typical girls’ name | Most typical boys’ name | Alive, estimated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Mary | Robert | Carole | Dick | 10.7 million |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Mary | James | Pam | Rick | 52.9 million |
| Generation X (1965-1980) | Jennifer | Michael | Tricia | Chad | 47.7 million |
| Millennials (1981-1996) | Jessica | Michael | Krystle | Dustin | 56.4 million |
| Generation Z (1997-2012) | Emily | Jacob | Makayla | Brayan | 59.6 million |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2025) | Olivia | Liam | Kehlani | Kairo | 45.1 million |
Births: SSA national file; alive: SSA’s cohort life tables.