Are You a Millennial With a Gen Alpha Kid? Chances Are You Used One of These Baby Names

You hear a name, or you know someone with a moniker you like. You see a baby name on a list, in a book, or in an article online. There are many ways we potentially come across and settle upon a baby name. But one has to wonder, how do certain baby names become popular?

It’s a phenomenon we may never fully understand, with baby name trends being largely informed by pop culture. Ultimately, each year, particular names rise to the top in the United States, and over the course of a decade, make up the most popular baby names in any given generation.

Just take Liam as an example. According to a new ranking compiled by Word.tips, this short and sweet baby name is the most popular name for boys among Gen Alpha kids in 27 states. 

The site used data from the Social Security Administration to pin down the most popular baby names by state for each generation since 1965 for both boys and girls—and uncovered some very interesting findings.

Consider that Michael is the only name in the top ten most popular that stood the test of time since Gen X, until today. And millennial girls are named Jessica more than any other name in 42 states.

Let’s look at each generation to see what the most popular baby names are.

Gen Alpha (2013–2023)

The current generation of males across the country are most likely to be named Liam, Noah, William, James, or Elijah, while the top five most popular Gen Alpha names for girls are Emma, Olivia, Ava, Sophia, and Isabella.

Here’s an interesting tidbit: Among Gen Alpha, Florida is the only one of the 50 states that claimed a unique top girl’s name, Isabella. Just ask me, I live in the Sunshine State and know about a dozen kids named Izzy.

Gen Z (1997–2012) 

Parents of kids born between 1997 and 2012 favored the boy names Jacob, Michael, Joshua, Matthew, and Daniel, and girl names Emily, Madison, Emma, Olivia, and Hannah. In fact, Jacob is super popular among Gen Z boys, with the moniker rising to the top of the list in 28 states, according to the ranking.

Meanwhile, Emily and Madison are actually tied for first place, claiming dominance in 20 states each. You are more likely to know Madisons in the Southeast, while Emilys are scattered all over the U.S. 

Millennials (1981–1996) 

The popularity of some names for boys in Gen Z took root a generation earlier, with some familiar monikers making up the top five among millennial babies. Michael, Christopher, Matthew, Joshua, and Daniel rose to the top of the list in the ‘80s and ‘90s, while Jessica, Sarah, Amanda, Ashley, and Jennifer were the top choices for girls. Jessica was the most popular in a big way, claiming the top spot in an overwhelming 42 states.

Gen X (1965–1980)

Kids in Gen X seemed to have originated the popularity of the names Michael, David, and Christopher, while James and John also topped the list. Astonishingly, Michael was the most popular moniker for boys in 48 states, save Mississippi and South Carolina. Parents in these Southern states favored James instead.

Finally, as a woman named Melissa, I can report that Jennifer, Michelle, Kimberly, Lisa, Angela, and Melissa made up the top six names for girls born between 1965 and 1980.