Is it surprising to you that certain popular baby names have steadily held the test of time? Names like Michael, Jacob, Christopher, and Joshua have consistently been favorites for little baby boys. How many Michaels do you know? You know a ton because that name was number one for 44 years out of the last 100!

Popular baby girl names that have held the top spots have been names like Emily, Emma, and Olivia.

The most popular baby names of 2018 haven't been released yet so we can't speak to those yet. But the most popular names of the 2010s are pretty consistent.

Check these lists out and comment with any you have used, or better yet, are considering using.

Anyone carrying a Michael Jr or an Emily?

Why I am here and who I am:

Hey mama, I am Trish— AKA Labor Nurse Mama. I am a labor and delivery nurse with over 15 years of high-risk OB experience. I am also a mama to 7 kids and have given birth to 6. This means I am quite familiar with the postpartum period and how to navigate it. I am the online birth class educator for Calm Labor Confident Birth and The VBAC Lab birth classes and the mama expert inside our Calm Mama Society a pregnancy & postpartum membership community! I am passionate about your birth and motherhood journey! You can find me over on IG teaching over 230k mamas daily. I am passionate about your birth and motherhood journey!

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The most popular baby names of the 90s

The most popular baby names for Boys in the 90's:

• Michael ~ means who is like God

• Christopher ~ means Bearer of Christ 

• Matthew ~ means Gift from God

• Joshua ~ means Jehovah is Generous

• Jacob ~ means supplanter 

• Nicholas ~ means Victory of people

• Andrew ~ means manly, masculine

• Daniel ~ means God is my judge

• Tyler ~ means tile maker

• Joseph ~ means may Jehovah give increase 

• Brandon ~ means hill covered with broom

• David ~ means beloved

• James ~ means also means supplanter

• Ryan ~ means little king

• John ~ means Jehovah has been gracious

• Zachary ~ means remembrance of the Lord

• Justin ~ means upright, righteous

• William ~ means resolute protector

• Anthony ~ means highly praiseworthy

• Robert ~ means bright fame

Read this list too: The Perfect List of Old Fashioned Baby Boy Names 

The most popular baby names for girls in the 90's

• Jessica ~ means Rich

• Ashley ~ means Lives in the ash tree grove 

• Emily ~ means Industrious; striving 

• Sarah ~ means Princess 

• Samantha ~ means God Heard 

• Amanda ~ means deserving to be loved 

• Brittany ~ means Originally the ancient duchy of Bretagne in France 

• Elizabeth ~ means the oath of God or God is satisfaction 

• Taylor ~ means tailor 

• Megan ~ means strong, capable 

• Hannah ~ means favor, grace 

• Kayla ~ means Variants of Kay: keeper of the keys; pure 

• Lauren ~ means From the place of laurel trees 

• Stephanie ~ means crown 

• Rachel ~ means ewe, female sheep 

• Jennifer ~ means the fair one 

• Nicole ~ means the victory of the people 

• Alexis ~ means helper 

• Victoria ~ means victorious 

• Amber ~ means a yellow substance 

Check out our list of Baby Girl Names from the Bible

Be sure to start budgeting for your new little one: The fear of Budgeting is real for New Parents

The Most Popular Baby Names in the 2000s

The Most Popular Baby Boy names during the 2000s:

• Jacob ~ means supplanter

• Michael ~ means who is like God

• Joshua ~ means Jehovah is Generous

• Matthew ~ means Gift from God

• Daniel ~ means God is my judge

• Christopher ~ means Bearer of Christ

• Andrew ~ means manly, masculine

• Ethan ~ firm, strong, and long-lived

• Joseph ~ means may Jehovah give increase

• William ~ means resolute protector

• Anthony ~ means highly praiseworthy

• David ~ means beloved

• Alexander ~ means defender of men

• Nicholas ~ means Victory of people

• Ryan ~ means little king

• Tyler ~ means tile maker

• James ~ means also means supplanter

• John ~ means Jehovah has been gracious

• Jonathan ~ Jehovah has given

• Noah ~ means rest, repose

You should check this baby boy name list out: 20 Unique Baby Boy Names for the Millennial Mom

The Most Popular Baby Girl names during the 2000s:

• Emily ~ means Industrious; striving

• Madison ~ means gift of God

• Emma~ means whole or universal 

• Olivia ~ means Olive branch 

• Hannah ~ means favor, grace 

• Abigail ~ means Father rejoiced, or father's joy 

• Isabella ~ means devoted to God

 

• Samantha ~ means God Heard 

• Elizabeth ~ means the oath of God or God is satisfaction 

• Ashley ~ means Lives in the ash tree grove 

• Alexis ~ means helper 

• Sarah ~ means Princess 

• Sophia ~ means wisdom

• Alyssa ~ means logical or rational

• Grace ~ means simple elegance or refinement of movement

• Ava ~ means bird, life

• Taylor ~ means tailor

• Brianna ~ means Strong

• Lauren ~ means From the place of laurel trees

• Chloe ~ means blooming

While you are at it read 20 Unique Baby Girl Names to make You swoon!  and this one too: Baby Girl Names from Another Era

The Most Popular Baby Names in the 2010s

The Most Popular Baby Boy names during the 2010s:

• Noah ~ means rest, repose

• Jacob ~ means supplanter

• Mason ~ means one who works with stone 

• Liam ~ means helmet of will 

• William ~ means resolute protector

• Ethan ~ means firm, strong, and long-lived

• Michael ~ means who is like God

• Alexander ~ means defender of men

• James ~ means also means supplanter 

• Daniel ~ means God is my judge

• Elijah ~ means My God is Yahweh

• Aiden ~ means Little fire

• Jayden ~ means thankful

• Benjamin ~ means Son of my right hand

• Matthew ~ means gift from God

• Logan ~ means hollow

• David ~ means beloved

• Joseph ~ means may Jehovah give increase

• Anthony ~ means highly praiseworthy

• Jackson ~ means God has been gracious

If you are looking for a list of unique strong boy names read this list: French Baby Boy Names Millenial Moms will Cherish

The Most Popular Baby Girl names during the 2010s:

• Emma ~ means whole or universal

• Sophia ~ means wisdom 

• Olivia ~ means an olive branch

• Isabella ~ means devoted to God

• Ava ~ means bird, life 

• Mia ~ means mine or wished for child

• Emily ~ means Industrious; striving

• Abigail ~ means Father rejoiced, or father's joy

• Madison ~ means gift of God

• Elizabeth ~ means the oath of God or God is satisfaction

• Charlotte ~ means free man

• Chloe ~ means blooming

• Ella ~ means light, a beautiful fairy woman

• Amelia ~ means work

• Avery ~ means wise

• Sofia ~ means wisdom, skill

• Evelyn ~ means beauty, radiance, hazelnut

• Harper ~ means someone who plays the harp

• Addison ~ means son of Adam

• Grace ~ means simple elegance or refinement of movement

Another sweet list of baby girl names: French Baby Girl Names that Steal your Heart

I hope you had as much fun reading these popular baby names throughout the last few decades. I was really surprised how many have held the test of time.

Which names have threaded themselves through your family history? Share them with us and tell us your stories!

As always, we are super stoked about Pregnancy, Birth, and beyond. Our blog has a wealth of insider tips from your friendly neighborhood labor nurse! Yep, that's me.