Open Demographic Data & Research Downloads
We process and harmonize public records from the U.S. Social Security Administration and the U.S. Census Bureau to produce reproducible demographic research datasets for journalists, researchers, and educators.
Available Downloadable Datasets
Top 500 U.S. First Names Demographic Summary
Complete structured dataset of the top 500 American first names, including all-time SSA birth counts (1880–2024), actuarial living population estimates, estimated average ages, and 2020 Decennial Census ranks.
Historical Decade Popularity Index (1940s–2020s)
Flat tabular spreadsheet containing normalized decade popularity indices (0–100 score) across 9 historical decades for 250 prominent American names. Ready for spreadsheet analysis in Excel, Google Sheets, or R/Python.
Key Verified Demographic Findings
Journalists and researchers may cite these verified findings with one click:
James Remains the Most Registered Male Given Name in U.S. History
"Between 1880 and 2024, official Social Security Administration records document 4,712,453 birth applications for the name James, making it the #1 all-time male given name."
Mary Holds the Longest Unbroken #1 Run in American History
"Mary ranked as the #1 female newborn name for over 60 consecutive years from 1880 to 1946, totaling over 3.2 million recorded historical births."
2020 Decennial Census Tabulates 53,615 Distinct First Names
"The U.S. Census Bureau's first-name tabulation from the 2020 Decennial Census identified 53,615 distinct first names with 100 or more observations in returns."
Lifetime Birth Counts Overestimate Living Bearers by 35–40%
"Applying CDC/NCHS cohort life table survival probabilities reveals that cumulative historical births exceed current living population by approximately 35% to 40% for established names."
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