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ArchivesRe: Top 100 Middle Names (US, 2015)
in reply to a message by Rachel Shaina
Back when I was first counting up names in the 1970s and could still look at actual full birth records in Michigan, Ann(e), Lynn(e) and Marie were by far the most common middle names for girls. Back in the early 20th century Mae or May was more common than Lynn.
Lee of course would be often used for both genders and so I am not surprised it's in the top ten on your combine list. Grace and Rose are certainly higher now than they were, though they weren't very uncommon as middle names 50 years ago.
If you have combined Allen and Alan it would have ended up at #10 on your list. Allen/Alan has been the male counterpart for Ann(e) for well over 50 years now -- much more common as a middle name than a first name, and probably chosen because it sounds innocuous and starts with "A" so is among the first such names people think of when choosing a middle name without any family connections.
Lee of course would be often used for both genders and so I am not surprised it's in the top ten on your combine list. Grace and Rose are certainly higher now than they were, though they weren't very uncommon as middle names 50 years ago.
If you have combined Allen and Alan it would have ended up at #10 on your list. Allen/Alan has been the male counterpart for Ann(e) for well over 50 years now -- much more common as a middle name than a first name, and probably chosen because it sounds innocuous and starts with "A" so is among the first such names people think of when choosing a middle name without any family connections.
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