
The Top 50 Most Common American Surnames
According to the 2010 Census Bureau, the top five surnames—Smith, Johnson, Williams, Brown, and Jones—have remained unchanged since 2000. These names are a mix of Anglo-Saxon heritage, African American culture, and Hispanic influences. Let’s explore the list in detail:
Table: Top 50 Surnames in the U.S. (2010)
Rank | Surname | Estimated Frequency |
---|---|---|
1 | Smith | 2,442,977 |
2 | Johnson | 1,932,812 |
3 | Williams | 1,625,252 |
4 | Brown | 1,437,026 |
5 | Jones | 1,425,470 |
6 | Garcia | 1,166,120 |
7 | Miller | 1,161,437 |
8 | Davis | 1,116,357 |
9 | Rodriguez | 1,094,924 |
10 | Martinez | 1,060,159 |
11 | Hernandez | 1,043,281 |
12 | Lopez | 874,523 |
13 | Gonzalez | 841,025 |
14 | Wilson | 801,882 |
15 | Anderson | 784,404 |
16 | Thomas | 756,142 |
17 | Taylor | 751,209 |
18 | Moore | 724,374 |
19 | Jackson | 708,099 |
20 | Martin | 702,625 |
21 | Lee | 693,023 |
22 | Perez | 681,645 |
23 | Thompson | 664,644 |
24 | White | 660,491 |
25 | Harris | 624,252 |
26 | Sanchez | 612,752 |
27 | Clark | 562,679 |
28 | Ramirez | 557,423 |
29 | Lewis | 531,781 |
30 | Robinson | 529,821 |
31 | Walker | 523,129 |
32 | Young | 484,447 |
33 | Allen | 482,607 |
34 | King | 465,422 |
35 | Wright | 458,980 |
36 | Scott | 439,530 |
37 | Torres | 437,813 |
38 | Nguyen | 437,645 |
39 | Hill | 434,827 |
40 | Flores | 433,969 |
41 | Green | 430,182 |
42 | Adams | 427,865 |
43 | Nelson | 424,958 |
44 | Baker | 419,586 |
45 | Hall | 407,076 |
46 | Rivera | 391,114 |
47 | Campbell | 386,157 |
48 | Mitchell | 384,486 |
49 | Carter | 376,966 |
50 | Roberts | 376,774 |
Key Observations:
- Diversity in Heritage: Names like Garcia, Rodriguez, and Martinez reflect the growing Hispanic population in the U.S., accounting for over 18% of the total population.
- Historical Roots: Traditional surnames like Smith and Johnson often originated from occupations or familial relationships (e.g., smithing or being John’s son).
- Modern Shifts: With more immigrants bringing unique names, expect future lists to become even more diverse.
Fun Fact: Did you know the name Smith originates from blacksmiths? Imagine how popular this trade must have been to top the charts for centuries!
Ref: American Name Society and US census 2010
25 Most Popular Male Names in America
Top 25 Male Names in America (2023)
Rank | Name | Meaning/Origin |
---|---|---|
1 | Liam | Irish: “Resolute protector” |
2 | Noah | Hebrew: “Rest, comfort” |
3 | Oliver | Latin: “Olive tree” |
4 | James | Hebrew: “Supplanter” |
5 | Elijah | Hebrew: “My God is Yahweh” |
6 | Mateo | Spanish: “Gift of God” |
7 | Theodore | Greek: “Gift of God” |
8 | Henry | Germanic: “Ruler of the home” |
9 | Lucas | Latin: “Light-giving” |
10 | William | Germanic: “Resolute protector” |
11 | Benjamin | Hebrew: “Son of the right hand” |
12 | Mason | English: “Stone worker” |
13 | Alexander | Greek: “Defender of the people” |
14 | Ethan | Hebrew: “Strong, firm” |
15 | Jacob | Hebrew: “Supplanter” |
16 | Michael | Hebrew: “Who is like God?” |
17 | Daniel | Hebrew: “God is my judge” |
18 | Logan | Scottish: “Hollow” |
19 | Jackson | English: “Son of Jack” |
20 | Sebastian | Greek: “Revered” |
21 | Jack | English: “God is gracious” |
22 | Aiden | Irish: “Little fire” |
23 | Owen | Welsh: “Young warrior” |
24 | Wyatt | English: “Brave in war” |
25 | Levi | Hebrew: “Joined in harmony” |
These names reflect modern trends while maintaining connections to timeless roots. Names like Liam, Noah, and Oliver have consistently dominated baby name charts in recent years, with cultural and biblical names like Elijah and Mateo also climbing the ranks.
Top 25 Male Names in America (2010)
Rank | Name | Meaning/Origin |
1 | James | Supplanter (Hebrew) |
2 | John | God is gracious (Hebrew) |
3 | Robert | Bright fame (Germanic) |
4 | Michael | Who is like God? (Hebrew) |
5 | William | Resolute protector (Germanic) |
6 | David | Beloved (Hebrew) |
7 | Richard | Strong ruler (Germanic) |
8 | Charles | Free man (Germanic) |
9 | Joseph | God will add (Hebrew) |
10 | Thomas | Twin (Aramaic) |
11 | Christopher | Christ-bearer (Greek) |
12 | Daniel | God is my judge (Hebrew) |
13 | Paul | Small (Latin) |
14 | Mark | Warlike (Latin) |
15 | Donald | World ruler (Scottish) |
16 | George | Farmer (Greek) |
17 | Kenneth | Handsome (Scottish) |
18 | Steven | Crown, garland (Greek) |
19 | Edward | Wealthy guardian (English) |
20 | Brian | Strong, virtuous (Irish) |
21 | Ronald | Ruler’s counselor (Norse) |
22 | Anthony | Priceless (Latin) |
23 | Kevin | Handsome, gentle birth (Irish) |
24 | Jason | Healer (Greek) |
25 | Jeffrey | God’s peace (Germanic) |
25 Most Popular Female Names in America
Top 25 Female Names in America (2023)
Rank | Name | Meaning/Origin |
---|---|---|
1 | Olivia | Latin: “Olive tree” |
2 | Emma | German: “Universal, whole” |
3 | Charlotte | French: “Free man” |
4 | Amelia | German: “Work, industrious” |
5 | Sophia | Greek: “Wisdom” |
6 | Isabella | Hebrew: “God is my oath” |
7 | Ava | Latin: “Life, bird” |
8 | Mia | Italian: “Mine” |
9 | Evelyn | English: “Wished for child” |
10 | Harper | English: “Harp player” |
11 | Luna | Latin: “Moon” |
12 | Camila | Latin: “Young ceremonial attendant” |
13 | Gianna | Italian: “God is gracious” |
14 | Abigail | Hebrew: “Father’s joy” |
15 | Ella | Greek/Old German: “Light, beautiful fairy woman” |
16 | Elizabeth | Hebrew: “God is my oath” |
17 | Sofia | Greek: “Wisdom” |
18 | Emily | Latin: “Rival, industrious” |
19 | Scarlett | English: “Red” |
20 | Victoria | Latin: “Victory” |
21 | Aria | Italian: “Air, melody” |
22 | Grace | Latin: “Favor, blessing” |
23 | Chloe | Greek: “Blooming, fertility” |
24 | Penelope | Greek: “Weaver” |
25 | Layla | Arabic: “Night, dark beauty” |
Key Observations:
- Nature-Inspired Names: Names like Luna (moon), Olivia (olive tree), and Chloe (blooming) reflect a strong connection to the natural world.
- Timeless Classics: Names such as Elizabeth and Victoria maintain their popularity over generations.
- Modern Trends: Rising names like Harper, Aria, and Layla show how modern parents are exploring unique yet meaningful options.
Top 25 Female Names in America (2010)
Rank | Name | Meaning/Origin |
1 | Mary | Hebrew, “bitter” or “rebellious” |
2 | Patricia | Latin, “noblewoman” |
3 | Linda | Spanish, “beautiful” |
4 | Barbara | Greek, “foreign” |
5 | Elizabeth | Hebrew, “oath of God” |
6 | Jennifer | Welsh, “white wave” |
7 | Maria | Hebrew, “bitter” or “rebellious” |
8 | Susan | Hebrew, “lily” |
9 | Margaret | Greek, “pearl” |
10 | Dorothy | Greek, “gift of God” |
11 | Lisa | Greek, “devotee of Dionysus” |
12 | Nancy | Hebrew, “gracious” |
13 | Karen | Danish, “pure” |
14 | Betty | English, “oath” |
15 | Helen | Greek, “light” |
16 | Sandra | Greek, “defender of humankind” |
17 | Donna | Italian, “lady” |
18 | Carol | Latin, “joyful song” |
19 | Ruth | Hebrew, “friend” or “companion” |
20 | Sharon | Hebrew, “plain” |
21 | Michelle | Hebrew, “who is like God?” |
22 | Laura | Latin, “laurel” |
23 | Sarah | Hebrew, “princess” |
24 | Kimberly | English, “from the meadow of the Cymry” |
25 | Deborah | Hebrew, “bee” |
These names are a mix of tradition and contemporary trends, showcasing America’s evolving cultural influences and timeless naming choices.
The American Name Society, founded in 1951, is a learned society founded “to promote monastics (Study of names), the study of names and naming practices, both in the United States and abroad and to investigate cultural insights, settlement history, and linguistic characteristics revealed in names. Every name is worthy of study, from unique names to Joe Scheider.
The U.S. Census Bureau sent us this fun information about the most popular last names in America, as recorded in the 2010 Census.
Despite the nation’s growing racial and ethnic diversity, the five most frequent American surnames in 2010 remained the same as in 2000 and were mainly reported by whites and blacks.
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