20 Most Popular Baby Names of 1880

The year 1880 began on a Thursday. It was a time of innovation. On February 2^nd, in Wabash, Indiana, the first electrical streetlight was installed. The following month, Wabash became the first city in the world to be lighted by electricity. In Menlo Park, Thomas Edison was testing his electric railway. The University of Southern California opened the doors on its first day of classes. In politics, William Ewart Gladstone won a second term as Prime Minister in the United Kingdom. In the United States, James Garfield was elected President. In Afghanistan, Rahman Khan became Emir.

Popular Girl Baby Names

In the United States, as everywhere, babies were being born. The most popular name for baby girls born this year was Mary, a name that would remain as the most popular name for baby girls for many years to come. Looking at the list 128 years later, Emma has finally moved from its number three position when the list debuted, to first place for the first time in 2008. Here is a list of the other most popular names for baby girls that year:

1. Mary

2. Anna

3. Emma

4. Elizabeth

5. Minnie

6. Margaret

7. Ida

8. Alice

9. Bertha

10. Sarah

11. Annie

12. Clara

13. Ella

14. Florence

15. Cora

16. Martha

17. Laura

18. Nellie

19. Grace

20. Carrie

A notable Sarah that was born this year was Sarah Knauss. Aside from having one of the most popular baby names of the year she was born, Sarah held the title of being America's oldest living woman after the death of Canadian Marie-Louise Meilleur, who was also born in 1880. Sarah passed away in 1999. While she was alive, Sarah Knauss was older than the Statue of Liberty.

Popular Boy Baby Names

The most popular baby names for boys this year were:

1. John

2. William

3. James

4. Charles

5. George

6. Frank

7. Joseph

8. Thomas

9. Henry

10. Robert

11. Edward

12. Harry

13. Walter

14. Arthur

15. Fred

16. Albert

17. Samuel

18. David

19. Louis

20. Joe

A few notable men with the popular boy's baby names from this list are the actors Tom (Thomas) Mix, who starred in Westerns, and W.C. (William Claude) Fields. Charles Christie was a well known Canadian film studio owner. George Preca was a beloved priest who was later sainted. Other famous Georges born this year include American cartoonist George Herriman, and George Marshall, who served as United States Secretary of State before he was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize.