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    [OC] 50 US names highly concentrated within a single generation
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    [OC] 50 US names highly concentrated within a single generation

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    1. MurphGH on

      **Data source:** U.S. Social Security Administration (2024)

      **Tools:** Python / SQL / Hex / Figma

      Out of 1,087 names with over 50k lifetime births, I used a rolling 20-year window to find the maximum concentration of births for each name, calculated separately by gender. These 50 were selected from the 169 names that crossed the 75% threshold, prioritizing lifetime volume and names with exceptionally high spikes.

      A few things to keep in mind:

      * Just because a large share of births fell within the window doesn’t mean the name wasn’t also common outside it. For the most popular names, even <25% could be hundreds of thousands of babies.
      * Many popular names were spread across longer periods and just missed the threshold, like Jennifer (23 years), Jason (23 years), or Susan (24 years).
      * Newer names haven’t had as much time to spread across multiple generations, so it makes sense that their concentration scores would be higher. If Aiden becomes as timeless as Michael or James, it could fall off this list in a few decades.

      Happy to pull stats on any specific names not on this list if you’re curious.

    3. AMWJ on

      I think this is a really interesting question, but it also seems like “concentrated names” are names with a tail, which leads to the most recent names being more concentrated than any previous.

    5. SevenCedarJelly on

      Weird that so many would be named “Kathy”. It’s a nickname. No Katherines or Catherines or Kathryns, etc…..just Kathy. Odd.

    8. Low_Cut_368 on

      Modern American names are absolutely brain dead and you can’t change my mind. Who tf names their child Nevaeh

    17. ThatNextAggravation on

      Oh you looking for Aiden? I saw him earlier over there talking to Braiden, Jayden and Kayden.

    19. wastedpixls on

      Quite surprised to not see Jason on this list. White guys between 40 and 50 are either named Jason or know two guys who are.

    20. ChefW03 on

      I thought I was pretty good understanding numbers but I am at a loss with the chart. I understand that you methodology – but the percentages do not make sense to me.

      Paisley, Aria, Harper, and Isla are all above 95% for the same period. The explanation of the percentage is that it represent the number of times that name was given during that time period. If one name was given 97% – shouldn’t that only allow 3% remaining?

      Please explain further? What am I missing?

    24. KudosOfTheFroond on

      Aiden/Jayden/Kayden/Brayden. What the hell, crazy lack of creativity there.

    25. miclugo on

      It’s amazing how you can read down this list and picture the people getting younger.

    26. miclugo on

      I wonder if the names at the very bottom will still be on this list if someone reran this in, say, 2050. Maybe people will keep on naming their kids Harper or Liam.

    27. joestaff on

      Ex-sister-in-law named her daughter Harper and asked what I thought of it. It’s hard to nod yes while thinking it sounds like the verb version of Harpy. Which when used derogatorily, is a shrewish or nagging woman.

    28. PigSnerv on

      I’m surprised Megan/Meghan isn’t on that list. I’ve known so many in my life.

    30. SilverParty on

      Isabella was already a popular name, but Twilight caused it to skyrocket.

      Sooooo many little Bellas, I feel bad for the teachers that have more than two in their class.