Over the past hundred years, baby-naming trends have largely been shaped by family traditions and popular culture.

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The Most Popular Baby Name Every Year of the Last Century

U.S. History

O ver the past hundred years, baby-naming trends have largely been shaped by family traditions and popular culture. Classic names such as Mary, John, Betty, and James often appear repeatedly in family trees, passed down out of respect for previous generations and a desire to keep family legacies alive. By the latter half of the 20th century, pop culture began to leave its mark, too, and names such as Jennifer, Michael, Emily, and Jacob topped the list year after year. Here's a look at the most popular girls' and boys' names of the last century.

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