We know which names debuted most impressively in the U.S. baby name data, but what about the baby names that returned most impressively? That is, the names that re-emerged in the data (after an absence of at least one year) with the highest number of babies?
Below are the most popular re-emerging names for every single year on record, after the second.
Here’s the format: Girl names are on the left, boy names are on the right, and the numbers represent single-year usage (following an absence). In 1971, for instance, the girl name Devonia returned to the data with 22 babies, and the boy name Idris returned to the data with 21 babies.
- 1882: Harry, 14; Saul, 15
- 1883: Luna, 17; Anna, 20
- 1884: Eulalia & Margaretta, 15; Billie, 18
- 1885: Philomene, 13; Kirby & Lamar, 14
- 1886: Ammie, Attie, Drusilla, Eulalia & Narcissus, 14; Emmit & Ivy, 15
- 1887: Idell, 12; Benjaman, 13
- 1888: Guadalupe, 18; Hunter, 16
- 1889: Leonie, 21; Leander, 22
- 1890: Delila, Hildegarde & Sabra, 17; Buford, Loyal & Pleasant, 13
- 1891: Marvel, 15; Roswell, 20
- 1892: Jennette, 16; Vernie, 15
- 1893: Byrd & Corda, 16; Salvatore, 14
- 1894: Mozelle, 15; Essie, 18
- 1895: Consuelo, 16; Adelard, 16
- 1896: Dorris, 17; Bertrand & Hilliard, 16
- 1897: Coletta & Marilla, 13; Gale, Harve & Odell, 13
- 1898: Vlasta, 16; Oakley, 16
- 1899: Gwen & Velda, 15; Ivory, 14
- 1900: Ammie, 21; Lonzo, 22
- 1901: Alvera, 17; Ernesto, 11
- 1902: Hermine, 17; Junious, 20
- 1903: Genie, 17: Lesley, 17
- 1904: Laurel & Santa, 16; Caesar, 15
- 1905: Ellar, 15; Cicero & Quincy, 15
- 1906: Osa, 18; Craig & Tracy, 16
- 1907: Joanne, 19; Gale, 15
- 1908: Merna, 18; Andres, 19
- 1909: Aili, 22; Loy, 22
- 1910: Corean, 21; Lou, 18
- 1911: Aune, 17; Ozie, 17
- 1912: Veryl, 21; Arvin, 21
- 1913: Loise, 25; Magnus, 15
- 1914: Rema, 23; Elio, 18
- 1915: Alleyne & Cledith, 20; Reyes, 24
- 1916: Ercelle & Fayette, 14; Pleas, 25
- 1917: Lowell, Mazelle & Patria, 16; Woodruff, 18
- 1918: Victory, 78; Everitt, 19
- 1919: Lanell, 16; Olney, 21
- 1920: Iline & Keitha, 18; Heath, 19
- 1921: Gilberte & Jacklyn, 16; Donold, 16
- 1922: Basilia & Glayds, 15; Jw, 17
- 1923: Marvene, 18; Silvestre, 19
- 1924: Willadeen, 35; Delno, 19
- 1925: Noralee, 20; Primitivo, 16
- 1926: Sondra, 20; Torao, 27
- 1927: Elga & Lindy, 27; Shoji, 81
- 1928: Remona, 22; Windle, 17
- 1929: Darla, 19; Davy, 25
- 1930: Evalene, 17; Anastasio, 17
- 1931: Marilyne, 17; Meliton, 15
- 1932: Maribelle & Wynne, 16; Jacqueline, 18
- 1933: Sheryl, 24; Lanny, 24
- 1934: Carolynne & Viona, 15; Filiberto, 20
- 1935: Vanessa, 32; Kenley, 29
- 1936: Ardene & Lucienne, 18; Domenico, 15
- 1937: Nadeen, 19; Lavell, 19
- 1938: Josette, 44; Bertil & Jerol, 18
- 1939: Charmayne, 18; Wilborn, 15
(The Social Security Administration’s baby name data isn’t perfect, but it does get a lot more accurate starting in the late 1930s because, according to the SSA, “many people born before 1937 never applied for a Social Security card, so their names are not included in our data.”)
- 1940: Wendell, 25; Wilkie, 61
- 1941: Aloma, 47; Maximo, 16
- 1942: Victory, 51; Corey, 27
- 1943: Corliss, 44; Amando & Cheryl, 16
- 1944: Drenda, 50; Ruperto, 16
- 1945: Drena, 37; Arie, 16
- 1946: Cherylene, 56; Cliffton, 17
- 1947: Asenath, 32; Baltazar, 20
- 1948: Valli, 45; Carley, 15
- 1949: Lark, 66; Buel, Dennison & Nehemiah, 18
- 1950: Jasmine, 24; Jory, 52
- 1951: Vendetta, 48; Alfonzia, Clell, Rondy, Ulysee & Vander, 15
- 1952: Whitney, 20; Adlai, 40
- 1953: Lugene, 30; Kervin, 18
- 1954: Jyl, 80; Rahn, 66
- 1955: Danni, 49; Teri, 17
- 1956: Kirsti & Skye, 29; Timonthy, 21
- 1957: Tammara, 38; Creed, 20
- 1958: Elfreda, 33; Yancy, 24
- 1959: Torrie, 42; Kym, 41
- 1960: Pollyanna, 21; Armon & Delray, 20
- 1961: Marnita, 145; Cord, 45
- 1962: Anetta & Colinda, 18; Buckley, 18
- 1963: Michaelann, 30; Georgie & Jerrod, 19
- 1964: Djuana, 190; Destry, 149
- 1965: Virna, 38; Horatio, 17
- 1966: Tamatha, 222; Trevin, 21
- 1967: Millette, 68; Arnel, Keary, Ky & Ricco, 15
- 1968: Neely, 40; Griffith, Kacy & Troyce, 16
- 1969: Francelia, 23; Darrius, 18
- 1970: Telisha & Zenja, 26; Germaine, 29
- 1971: Devonia, 22; Idris, 21
- 1972: Contina, 209; Keelan, 20
- 1973: Shenika, 33; Bram, 19
- 1974: Seandra, 31; Reuven, 18
- 1975: Mandee, 74; Jermale, 19
- 1976: Niya, 97; Askia, 21
- 1977: Kizzie, 286; Kenta, 48
- 1978: Kylene, 88; Kodi, 41
- 1979: Ranada, 37; Emmet, 19
- 1980: Hanni, 34; Lando, 25
- 1981: Jennilee, 37; Tristen, 21
- 1982: Terran, 27; Ryne, 31
- 1983: Yomaira, 45; Drue, 16
- 1984: Leonela, 46; Catlin, 57
- 1985: Sharda, 70; Justn, 23
- 1986: Faren, 85; Adison, 21
- 1987: Conchetta, 42; Najee, 50
- 1988: Brogan, 36; Nikko, 59
- 1989: Kyara, 65; Rishawn, 42
- 1990: Tichina, 25; Telvin, 47
- 1991: Bronte, 48; Dilon, 21
- 1992: Oneisha, 39; Levonte, 32
- 1993: Amairany, 41; Adonnis, 23
- 1994: Marimar, 101; Corliss, 22
- 1995: Shatasha, 26; Tryston, 42
- 1996: Karrington, 34; Tysheem, 20
- 1997: Neyda, 35; Voshon, 32
- 1998: Arrion, 29; Amere, 29
- 1999: Karyme, 40; Neo, 24
- 2000: Laisa, 36; Perrion, 41
- 2001: Torrance, 40; Andrik, 46
- 2002: Naydelin, 58; Bode, 131
- 2003: Princesa, 70; Anden, 41
- 2004: Jenascia, 70; Cabot, 29
- 2005: Jolette, 258; Greco, 40
- 2006: Akeelah, 403; Corde, 51
- 2007: Ambrielle, 46; Osmel, 29
- 2008: Allysson, 61; Rohaan, 18
- 2009: Ailea, 57; Kipton, 60
- 2010: Solara, 40; Dyland, 67
- 2011: Harnoor, 24; Dakhari, 18
- 2012: Hareem, 54; Lio & Wayden, 19
- 2013: Tahiry, 112; Zylen, 27
- 2014: Yazaira, 42; Alyan, 22
- 2015: Pihu, 19; Jonael, 232
- 2016: Yurani, 97; Jru, 31
- 2017: Brennley, 56; Noriel, 50
- 2018: Roselyne, 87; Torryn, 31
- 2019: Yameli, 49; Amyas, 21
- 2020: Elleri, 34; Dutton, 27
- 2021: Josiane, 41; Elkin, 21
- 2022: Thena, 25; Kymeir, 23
- 2023: Lylla, 59; Yamari, 55
- 2024: Niamani, 49; Amai, 38
I’ve already written about some of these names, and I’ll write about others in the future. In the meantime, feel free to beat me to it! Leave a comment and let us know what popularized Jory in 1950, or Marnita in 1961, or Catlin in 1984…
Source: SSA
Image: Adapted from First leaves Novosibirsk Siberia 24.04.2012 by Mikhail Koninin under CC BY 2.0.
[Latest update: May 2025]
