The most common names the year you were born: Gen Z edition
Generation Z was born between 1997 and 2012, and the naming landscape of their generation tells a story of transition. It opens with Emily and Jacob holding the dominant positions inherited from the late Millennial era and closes with Sophia, Emma, Ava and Noah establishing the lineup that would define the 2010s.
All top five names for each year come directly from the SSA’s official records, a trusted source for American naming data. Find your year below.
Born in 1997: Hannah
Hannah entered the girls’ top five for the first time in 1997, joining Emily, Jessica, Ashley and Sarah. According to SSA records, Michael led the boys for the final time as the generation’s dominant name.
(Pictured: Miley Cyrus as Hannah Montana)
Born in 1998: Samantha
Samantha returned to the girls’ top five in 1998, landing at number three alongside Emily, Hannah, Sarah and Ashley. According to SSA records, Jacob had climbed to number two for boys, with Matthew, Joshua and Christopher completing the five.
(Pictured: Samantha Mathis)
Born in 1999: Alexis
Jacob reached number one for boys for the first time in 1999, beginning a run that would last through most of the following decade. According to SSA records, the boys’ top five was Jacob, Michael, Matthew, Joshua and Nicholas. Alexis entered the girls’ top five alongside Emily, Hannah, Sarah and Samantha.
Pictured: Alexis Knapp in The Anomaly (2014)
Born in 2000: Madison
Madison entered the girls’ top three in 2000, reflecting a name that had climbed steadily since the mid-1990s. According to SSA records, the top five girls’ names were Emily, Hannah, Madison, Ashley and Sarah, while Jacob held number one for boys for the second consecutive year.
Pictured: Madison Cunningham
Born in 2001: Ashley’s exit
Ashley dropped to number four for girls in 2001, beginning a slow exit from the top five she had occupied for two decades. According to SSA records, the girls’ top five were Emily, Madison, Hannah, Ashley and Alexis.
Pictured: Ashley Olsen
Born in 2002: Ethan arrives
Ethan and Emma both entered their respective top fives for the first time in 2002, and both names would define the decade that followed. SSA records show the boys’ top five as Jacob, Michael, Joshua, Matthew and Ethan.
Pictured: Ethan Hawke
Born in 2003: Olivia arrives
Olivia entered the girls’ top five in 2003 at number five, beginning the long ascent that would eventually carry her to a sustained number one. According to SSA records, the girls’ top five were Emily, Emma, Madison, Hannah and Olivia.
Pictured: Olivia Rodrigo
Born in 2004: Hannah’s farewell
Hannah appeared in the girls’ top five for the last time in 2004, completing nearly a decade in the rankings before making room for a new wave of names. SSA records show Emily, Emma, Madison, Olivia and Hannah for girls.
Pictured: Hannah Waddingham
Born in 2005: Abigail
Abigail entered the girls’ top five in 2005 at number four, joining Emily, Emma, Madison and Olivia as the dominant names of the mid-decade. According to SSA records, Jacob led the boys for the seventh consecutive year.
Pictured: Abigail Breslin
Born in 2006: Isabella’s arrival
Isabella and Ava both entered the girls’ top five in the same year, two names that would anchor the rankings for the rest of the decade. According to SSA records, the girls’ top five were Emily, Emma, Madison, Isabella and Ava. Isabella entered at number four and was already climbing.
Pictured: Isabella Rossellini
Born in 2007: Emily’s final year
Emily held the number one spot for girls for the last time in 2007, ending an 11-year run that had begun in 1996. SSA records show the girls’ top five as Emily, Isabella, Emma, Ava and Madison, with Isabella closing the gap at number two.
Pictured: Emily Blunt
Born in 2008: Emma takes over
Emma displaced Emily at number one for girls in 2008, ending the longest reign any girl’s name had enjoyed since Jessica dominated the late 1980s and early 1990s. According to SSA records, the top five girls’ names were Emma, Isabella, Emily, Olivia and Ava.
Pictured: Emma Stone
Born in 2009: Isabella
Isabella reached number one for girls in 2009 and Sophia entered the top five for the first time, a name that would eventually displace Isabella entirely. SSA records show Isabella, Emma, Olivia, Sophia and Ava for girls.
Pictured: Isabella Amara
Born in 2010: Jayden
Jayden entered the boys’ top five in 2010, one of the first genuinely new boys’ names to break through in years. According to SSA records, the boys’ top five was Jacob, Ethan, Michael, Jayden and William.
Pictured: Jaden Smith
Born in 2011: Mason and Noah
Mason debuted at number two for boys in 2011 and Noah entered the top five for the first time, signaling the complete reshaping of boys’ naming that would define the following decade. According to SSA records, the boys’ top five was Jacob, Mason, William, Jayden and Noah. Sophia led the girls.
Pictured: Noah Wyle
Born in 2012: Sophia and Jacob close it out
Jacob held number one for boys for the final time in 2012, ending a 14-year run that made him one of the longest-reigning boys’ names in SSA history. SSA records show Jacob, Mason, Ethan, Noah and William for boys, and Sophia, Emma, Isabella, Olivia and Ava for girls.
Pictured: Jacob Collier
The bottom line
Sixteen years and a complete reinvention. The Gen Z naming era opened with Emily and Jacob and closed with Sophia and Noah, with an entirely different cast filling the spaces between. The transition from one generation’s naming identity to another happened in real time and in full view. Which name was yours?
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