These Were the Most Popular Baby Names the Year You Were Born

A century ago, the most popular names for boys were classic choices John, William, and James. For girls, it was Mary, Helen, and Dorothy. These names continued to stay at the top of the charts for years to come.

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The top names — John, William, James, Mary, Helen, and Dorothy — didn't budge the following year.

In 1917, the movie Cleopatra, with lavish sets and costumes, became one of the most elaborate Hollywood films ever produced at the time. Dorothy Drake (bearing the year's No. 3 baby name, after Mary and Helen) starred as Charmian. The title role was played by Theda Bara, whose name surged in popularity, albeit to the 343rd spot, around that time. (John, William, and James remained in their spots, too.)

As World War I raged, Ernest Hemingway joined the Red Cross. The day he arrived, a munitions factory exploded and he had to carry mutilated bodies to a makeshift morgue; the horrors of war inspired many of his later novels. His name was No. 37 that year. John, William, and James continued their streak — as did Mary, Helen, and Dorothy.

Part of the name Mary's continued popularity? Actress Mary Pickford was known as America's Sweetheart and "the girl with curls." (That year, along with D.W. Griffith, Charlie Chaplin, and Douglas Fairbanks, she formed the independent film production company, United Artists.) As for baby names, Helen, Dorothy, John, William, and James stayed in the top spots, too.

In 1920, Woodrow Wilson was President and the First Lady's name was Edith, whose pretty name was on the charts at No. 32. Still at the top? Usual suspects Mary, Dorothy, Helen, John, William, and Robert (surpassing James).

This year, silent film star Charlie Chaplin released the first-ever full-length comedy, The Kid. While the film was the second-highest grossing movie that year, the creator's name was the fifth most popular for boys. (The boys' top trio merely shuffled around: John, Robert, and William. And Mary, Dorothy, and Helen were the picks for girls.)

Josephine Baker sashayed onto a Paris stage during the 1920s with a comic, yet sensual appeal that took Europe by storm. Famous for barely-there dresses and no-holds-barred dance routines, her exotic beauty generated nicknames like "Black Venus" and "Creole Goddess." Her name was equally beloved, taking the No. 27 spot on the charts. The top three for boys and girls? Unsurprisingly, they held fast: John, Robert, William, Mary, Helen, and Dorothy.

Oldies but goodies! Robert, John, William, Mary, Dorothy, and Helen were still crowd pleasers. American tennis player Helen Wills Roark, who later became famous for holding the top position in women's tennis for a total of nine years, won her first women's national title in 1923 at the age of 17.

The Roaring '20s ushered in an era of prosperity, new social freedoms, and innovation. What didn't change? The top baby names John, Robert, William, Mary, Dorothy, and Helen.

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An iconic version of The Phantom of the Opera hit the silver screen, starring Mary Philbon as Christine Daae. Mary was the No. 1 name for girls all through the 1920s — and the actress only made it more popular. That year, Betty dethroned Helen to take the No. 3 spot, while Dorothy held steady. Boys' picks were still Robert, John, and William.

Calvin Coolidge was in the middle of his tenure as President of the United States. His name was also in the middle of an upswing, coming in at No. 65. Favorites Robert, John, James, Mary, Dorothy, and Betty were all still in the top three spots for boys and girls.

Legendary Yankees like Babe Ruth and Lou Gerhig were stealing bases and American hearts that year. Ruth's real first name, George, was the No. 7 pick for boys, while Ruth was the No. 6 for girls. The top three? Still Robert, John, James, Mary, Dorothy, and Betty.

Charlie Chaplin continued his winning streak, writing and starring in the silent film, The Circus. Charles kept up its streak, too, at as the No. 5 for boys (along with Robert, James, and John.) Mary, Betty, and newcomer Barbara were the top three names for girls.

As the Roaring '20s crashed to a halt, parents opted for consistency: Robert, James, John, Mary, Betty, and Barbara were the top three names for each gender.

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As Betty continued to hold the No. 2 spot, the cartoon Betty Boop made her big debut. (Rounding out the top three were still Mary and Barbara). Robert, John, and James were the top boys' names.

James Cagney's Chicago gangster film The Public Enemy came out this year — and was nominated for an Oscar. The popular actor's name continued its reign on the boys' charts, along with Robert and John. Mary, Betty, and Dorothy held their ranks for girls.

Hot cartoon Betty Boop remained a big deal in 1932 — as did her name. Mary, Barbara, Robert, James, and John rounded out that year's top rankings.

Robert, James, and John were the most popular boys names — and prevalent girls' picks were still Mary, Betty, and Barbara. But Helen remained in the top 10, possibly spurred by the renown of women like Helen Keller, who was active politically and culturally at the time. In May of that year, Americans learned that students in German universities planned to burn a long list of books deemed "un-German" — and Keller's essay "How I Became a Socialist" was on this list. In response, Keller penned a popular letter (the 1933 equivalent of a viral blog post) letting the students know exactly how she felt.

Both Anna and Ann hit the top 100 for girls' names. This year, an early adaptation of Ann of Green Gables came out in theaters. Fun fact: The actress who played the heroine adopted her name, Ann Shirley, after playing the part. At the top of the charts: Mary, Betty, Barbara, Robert, James, and John.

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