What’s in a name? Oh, not much, it’s just a couple of words that have defined you for your whole life.
Names are there from the moment a person first meets the world to the moment they’re engraved on a tombstone, and the way we give those names changes over time. In 2026, you’re a lot more likely to meet a Kai than a Delores, for example. But in terms of the names of people in the U.S. right now, across multiple generations, Spokeo keeps tabs on billions (yes, billions) of public records, providing a rich look at how common certain names are in this particular moment.
Ever wondered how many people share your name? Want to know the most common first name in the world? We’ve got you covered.
Top 10 Masculine First Names
When it comes to baby names, traditional American naming choices, including some of the names on the list below, declined in popularity while gender-neutral names – like Quinn, Asher, or Riley – have gained traction.
But as billions of public records collected by Spokeo show, there are still plenty of adult men with traditionally masculine names. According to our data, the top 10 most common masculine first names in 2026 are:
- Michael – appears 4,507,074 times
- John – appears 4,424,788 times
- James – appears 4,294,134 times
- Robert – appears 4,163,982 times
- David – appears 365,6939 times
- William – appears 3,201,284 times|
- Richard – appears 2,328,519 times
- Joseph – appears 2,213,292 times
- Thomas – appears 2,073,869 times
- Daniel – appears 1,891,721 times
While Michael barely edges out the equally traditional John, James, and Robert, its popularity totally tracks: Michael topped the charts of the most popular male names of both the 1980s and the 1990s in the US, so we’ve got a whole lot of adult Michaels out there.
In comparison, the current most popular masculine baby names, as of the most recent Social Security Administration data from 2024, are shifting a little more romantic with an old-school touch, with Liam, Noah, and Oliver leading the pack.
Top 10 Feminine First Names
Interestingly, only one of the top three feminine baby names from the 1980s (Jessica, Jennifer, and Amanda) or 1990s (Jessica, Ashley, and Emily) cracks the top three of the most common female first names in 2026.
- Mary – appears 2,983,346 times
- Maria – appears 2,382,753 times
- Jennifer – appears 1,738,250 times
- Patricia – appears 1,704,577 times
- Linda – appears 1,556,643 times
- Elizabeth – appears 1,546,450 times
- Barbara – appears 1,379,069 times
- Susan – appears 1,268,945 times
- Jessica – appears 1,196,183 times
- Lisa – appears 1,187,002 times
None of these names made the list of the top 10 female baby names in 2024. The three most popular baby names on the feminine side include Olivia, Emma, and Amelia. But these trendy names aren’t new – in fact, Emma and Olivia were the top two feminine baby names in the 2010s. So, as we saw with names in the ‘80s and ‘90s, it seems like popular names often trend for about 20 years before the tides change.
Common Full Names
Unless you’re Beyoncé or Drake, chances are you go by a first and last name. So what are the most common combinations of first and last names? And how many people have my name? If it’s in the top 10 for either category, we’ve got the exact number for you – let’s start with the 10 most common masculine full names:
- Jose Rodriguez – appears 47,942 times
- Jose Garcia – appears 44,807 times
- Jose Hernandez – appears 43,925 times
- James Smith – appears 43,145 times
- Jose Martinez – appears 40,520 times
- Michael Smith – appears 38,460 times
- Robert Smith – appears 37,117 times
- Jose Gonzalez – appears 37,078 times
- Jose Lopez – appears 34,658 times
- John Smith – appears 34,402 times
Compared to 2021 – the last time Spokeo tabulated this name popularity data – the top three most popular first and last name combos have changed completely. While all top three last names in ‘21 were Smith, all of the top three in 2026 are Latine, reflecting the fact that the Latino population doubled in the United States between 2000 and 2024, growing from 35.3 million to 68 million.
The same trend is reflected in the top 10 female first and last combination names in 2026:
- Maria Garcia – appears 45,320 times
- Maria Rodriguez – appears 44,274 times
- Maria Hernandez- appears 41,310 times
- Maria Martinez – appears 38,885 times
- Maria Gonzalez- appears 36,226 times
- Maria Lopez – appears 33,555 times
- Mary Smith – appears 25,863 times
- Maria Perez – appears 25,754 times
- Maria Sanchez – appears 23,987 times
- Maria Ramirez – appears 22,342 times
Even in the combination name category, Maria still dominates for the ladies.
The Most Common Name in the World
So what’s the most common name in the world? Let’s start with a breakdown of some of the most popular last names across each continent, as of 2024 data:
- Most popular last name in Africa: Mohamed
- Most popular last name in Asia: Wang
- Most popular last name in Europe: Garcia
- Most popular last name in North America: Hernandez
- Most popular last name in South America: da Silva
Overall, though, the most common first name in the world is Muhammad, clocking in at over 133 million. The most common last name overall is Wang.
Remember, while Spokeo may get its name data from over 10 billion public records – all available at your fingertips when you use Spokeo People Search – you’re still one of a kind, no matter how common your name may be. If you want to know how many people in our records share your name, run a people search on yourself!
As a freelance writer, small business owner, and consultant with more than a decade of experience, Dan has been fortunate enough to collaborate with leading brands including Microsoft, Fortune, Verizon, Discover, Office Depot, The Motley Fool, and more. He currently resides in Dallas, TX.
Sources
Social Security Administration – Top 10 Baby Names of 2024
Social Security Administration – Top Names of the 2010s
Social Security Administration – Top Names of the 1980s
Social Security Administration – Top Names of the 1990s
Pew Research Center – Key Facts About U.S. Latinos
ABC 33 WYTV – The Most Popular Names Around the World