The Friday File: In 2012, the three most popular girls’ names in descending order were Sophia, Emma and Isabella. For boys, it was Jacob, Mason and Ethan. In 2012, the girl’s name most rapidly rising in popularity was Arya; for boys it was Major. Since 1913, the most popular girls’ names have been Mary, used 3,645,781 times and Patricia at 1,566,802. For boys, James was selected 4,873,553 times; John 4,758,222.