The '100 Year Rule' holds that the style cycle of a name is about 100 years, according to Sophie Kihm, editor-in-chief of baby name resource Nameberry. This framework explains why names like Eleanor, Theodore, and Evelyn are popular today, as they peaked a century ago. Parents avoid names tied to their own generation, such as Lisa, Susan, Jennifer, Jeffrey, Kevin, and Brian from the 1960s and 1970s, or their parents' generation, like Linda, Barbara, Sharon, Ronald, Larry, and Gary from the 1940s.
The reason is simple familiarity. 'Parents are likely to know many people with these dated names, all in a certain age range,' Kihm said. 'If you ask someone to picture a person named Patricia or Carol or Dennis, they are likely to imagine someone older, perhaps based on people they know with these names.'
Names from a Century Ago Feel Fresh
Parents are drawn to names that peaked about 100 years ago, a time period they have no personal connection to. 'Names that peaked 100 years ago belonged to this generation of parents' great-grandparents,' Kihm explained. 'There was not much overlap between these generations, so the younger generation did not have as much exposure to the older generation's names. Current parents mostly lack elderly associations with names that peaked in the 1920s like Evelyn and Arthur and Marjorie.'
Nameberry's co-creators, Linda Rosenkrantz and Pamela Redmond, coined the term in their 1988 book 'Beyond Jennifer & Jason.' 'When they compiled their historical data, they realized that many of the names popular in the 1880s and 1890s sounded fresh and were rising in popularity in the late 1980s,' Kihm said. 'Thus, the 100 Year Rule was born.'
Cultural and Psychological Drivers
The rule goes beyond aesthetics. 'There is a cultural desire to give children names that are congruent with their generation,' Kihm said. 'Psychologically, this may be related to the general distaste of things that are “old.” Parents are drawn to names that feel fresh. These include names that are newer to the lexicon — Nova, Maverick, Wrenley — and names that haven't been trendy in about 100 years.'
There is also a practical appeal for families who want to honor their history. 'Expectant parents may like names that fit the 100 Year Rule because they are traditional, time-honored choices that feel exciting and often unique. For some parents, it is a way to use family names that still give their child their own identity, since the child might be the only living bearer of that name,' Kihm noted.
Current and Upcoming Names in the 100-Year Window
Examples of names currently in their 100-year window include Eloise and Eleanor. Other picks trending up are Marjorie, Winona, June, Maxine, Ramona, Dorothy, Warren, Leon, and Wallace. Names entering their window and expected to gain popularity include Althea, Marcella, Betty, Blossom, Lois, Howard, and Murray. 'These haven't “popped” yet but they will soon,' Kihm said.
Not every name perfectly follows the timeline. Some names are already trending again, like Rosemary (peaked in 1946), Penny (peaked in 1964), Dean (peaked in 1968), Waylon (peaked in 1980), Wyatt (peaked in 1957), and Margot (homonym Margo peaked in 1951). Others resist revival entirely. 'Names that are stubbornly refusing to return are Edna, Nettie, Arnold, Sylvester, Rufus, Mildred and Millicent — which is surprising given the popularity of Millie,' Kihm said.
Classic Names Defy the Rule
Truly classic names exist outside the rule altogether. 'Particularly the classic boy names because they have been in constant use for centuries. The ultra-classics like Elizabeth, Rose, William, Henry and John still go through popularity cycles, but they don't dip as low and reverse course much sooner than non-classics,' Kihm concluded.
