The 1888 Baby Name Report

299,474 babies, 2,454 unique names — the risers, fallers, and brand-new arrivals of 1888

👑 #1 girls: Mary (9 years running) 👑 #1 boys: John (9 years running) 201 debuts

Top girls

  1. Mary11,754
  2. Anna4,982
  3. Elizabeth3,224
  4. Emma3,087
  5. Margaret2,904
  6. Minnie2,654
  7. Bertha2,450
  8. Florence2,444
  9. Ethel2,374
  10. Bessie2,278

Top boys

  1. John9,247
  2. William8,705
  3. James5,562
  4. George4,912
  5. Charles4,591
  6. Frank3,459
  7. Joseph2,993
  8. Robert2,814
  9. Harry2,759
  10. Henry2,596

Full top-50 rankings for 1888 →

🚀 Fastest risers

  1. Harrison #130 → #52 (+78)
  2. Goldie #154 → #133 (+21)
  3. Vera #151 → #132 (+19)
  4. Hazel #72 → #55 (+17)
  5. Gladys #134 → #117 (+17)
  6. Estelle #147 → #130 (+17)
  7. Grover #59 → #44 (+15)
  8. Jane #107 → #92 (+15)
  9. Leo #74 → #59 (+15)
  10. Ora #125 → #113 (+12)

📉 Biggest fallers

  1. Amy #120 → #140 (−20)
  2. Amelia #93 → #108 (−15)
  3. Hannah #109 → #124 (−15)
  4. Edwin #57 → #69 (−12)
  5. Luther #63 → #74 (−11)
  6. Hugh #69 → #79 (−10)
  7. Lydia #76 → #85 (−9)
  8. Claude #46 → #55 (−9)
  9. Nannie #95 → #104 (−9)
  10. Harold #61 → #70 (−9)

✨ Never recorded before 1888

Ebba (18) Arlene (9) Dellia (9) Carlisle (9) Hughie (9) Orvel (9) Milda (8) Neola (8) Zennie (8) Angel (8)

201 names appeared in SSA records for the first time ever in 1888.

Expecting in 2027?
From shortlist to first steps — track your baby's growth and milestones with MyBadak. Free to start.
Start with MyBadak →
What were the most popular baby names in 1888?
Mary was the #1 girl name and John the #1 boy name in 1888, out of 299,474 recorded births.
What baby name rose fastest in 1888?
Harrison made the biggest jump in 1888, climbing 78 spots to #52.
How many new baby names appeared in 1888?
201 names were recorded by the SSA for the first time ever in 1888.