Posted on 03/09/2015 7:42:07 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Well, this is a real head-scratcher — not least because if you want a list of the first and last names of Americans, you'd better have either a lot of time and money or work for the NSA. Unfortunately, I don’t fit either description, so I’m going to try to piece together two separate databases — one for first names and one for surnames. But as I’ll explain, those data sets can’t be stitched together so easily. If they could, we’d be able to say that “John Smith” is the third most common full name in America, but in reality it probably doesn’t even make it into the top 10.
To get you an answer, my colleague Andrew Flowers and I tried a more sophisticated technique that reached a different conclusion: We think the most common name in America might very well be James Smith.
Here’s how we got there.
First off, first names. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has a database of all first names back to 1880. That date should tip you off to a problem — sadly none of the 1,746 babies christened “Minnie” in 1880 is still alive today. To take deaths into account, we looked at the number of babies born each year since 1910 and, using actuarial data on life expectancy, tried to figure out how many of them are still around. (Our boss, Nate Silver, used a similar methodology when he looked at the typical age of Americans with various names.)
Factoring in life expectancy also corrects for the varying popularity of first names over time. For instance, women named Brittany tend to be younger than, say, those named Ethel.
(Excerpt) Read more at fivethirtyeight.com ...
And the most common first name of U.S. Presidents...
James
Nguyen isn’t on the list?
I’ve long been fascinated by the way that fashion changes in picking first names. How many 60 year old Jaidans, or Samanthas, or Brittanys do you know? How many 6 year old Johns, or Marys, or Janes? The pendulum swings wildly here. When I was younger Emily was an old lady’s name. I’ve never known one who is a contemporary (I’m 59). Yet there are many young Emilys out there. Does anybody name their daughter Deborah anymore?
RE: And the most common first name of U.S. Presidents...
James
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Yep, FIVE by my count.
But we haven’t had a President with that name since 1881.
MY favorite has always been Rufus T Firefly
Well, there was James Earl Carter
Garfield could have been a great President but for his anarchist co-assassin and ignorant (is Bliss) Doctor.
no one names their daughter Jezabel
weird because we're not supposed to be a religious culture and that God is not a big part of our lives
When I was younger Emily was an old lady’s name.
That is so true and funny! I remember as a kid the name Abigail being almost “Pioneer” sounding.
Now it’s pretty common!
Gives me hope!
Linda was a name that was extremely popular when I a child in the fifties and sixties. Now I wonder if there is anyone under thirty or forty named Linda.
Or Patel?
soon it will be mohammad and shut-up go sit in the kitchen
soon it will be mohammad and shut-up go sit in the kitchen
But I had aunts named Belle, Maude and Madge.
In high school (1980’s) there was a girl named Pearl. Really weird name for a child in the 80’s. But we had a bunch of Emily’s.
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