Names are Convenient
Let's use names!

My name is R. J. Blair = Richard Jeffrey Blair. Like many Americans I have three names: a family name and two given names.

Rather complicated noun phrases can be used to identify individual people, but ...

... using names is much, much easier:

Juan, Yancy, Bobbie Jo, Cane, and Candy.


Here are lists of the most popular names for boys and girls born in the United States at various times. Can you guess the names from the first letters?

Top Ten Boys' Names

1950s 1970s 1990s 2013
1 J 1 M 1 M 1 N
2 R 2 J2 Chr 2 L
3 J 3 D 3 M 3 J
4 M 4 J4 J 4 M
5 D 5 R 5 D 5 W
6 W6 Chr 6 D 6 E
7 R 7 W7 A 7 M
8 T8 Br8 J 8 A
9 Ch9 M9 J 9 J
10 G 10 R 10 J 10 D

Top Ten Girls' Names

1950s 1970s 1990s 2013
1 L 1 J 1 J 1 S
2 M2 L2 A 2 E
3 P3 K3 Br 3 O
4 B4 M4 A 4 I
5 S5 A5 S 5 A
6 N 6 A6 S 6 M
7 D 7 M 7 St 7 E
8 S8 T 8 J 8 A
9 C9 M9 E 9 M
10 K10 Tr10 L 10 E

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Top Ten Boys' Names

1950s 1970s 1990s 2013
1 James1 Michael1 Michael1 Noah
2 Robert2 James2 Christopher2 Liam
3 John3 David3 Matthew3 Jacob
4 Michael4 John4 Joshua4 Mason
5 David5 Robert5 Daniel5 William
6 William6 Christopher6 David6 Ethan
7 Richard7 William7 Andrew7 Michael
8 Thomas8 Brian8 James8 Alexander
9 Chharles9 Mark9 Justin9 Jayden
10 Gary10 Richard10 Joseph10 Daniel

Top Ten Girls' Names

1950s 1970s 1990s 2013
1 Linda1 Jennifer1 Jessica1 Sophia
2 Mary2 Lisa2 Ashley2 Emma
3 Patricia3 Kimberly3 Brittany3 Olivia
4 Barbara4 Michelle4 Amanda4 Isabella
5 Susan5 Amy5 Samantha5 Ava
6 Nancy6 Angela6 Sarah6 Mia
7 Deborah7 Melissa7 Stephanie7 Emily
8 Sandra8 Tammy8 Jennifer8 Abigail
9 Carol9 Mary9 Elizabeth9 Madison
10 Kathleen10 Tracy10 Lauren10 Elizabeth


Last updated March 2020
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