What's the Most Common Presidential First Name?
Sunday, January 16, 2011 at 4:16PM
W. R. in Andrew, First Names, George, James, John, Microposts, Most Common, Presidents, William

James. James beats out both John and William, 6 to 4: James Madison, James Monroe, James Polk, James Buchanan, and James Garfield and, yes, James Earl "Jimmy" Carter. 

Tied in second are the names William and John, both with 4 instances: William Henry Harrison, William McKinley, William Howard Taft, and William Jefferson Clinton. The Johns are: John Adams, John Quincy Adams, John Tyler and John Fitzgerald Kennedy. 

George is third, with 3 instances, thanks to the both Bushes, who were the only George's besides George Washington. Andrew has 2 instances, Andrew Jackson and Andrew Johnson, as does Franklin, Franklin Pierce and Franklin D. Roosevelt. 

Most unique names, besides Barack, are: Millard Fillmore, our little known 13th president, Ulysses S. Grant and Chester A. Arthur (in the author's subjective opinion). For most popular baby names, check here

Article originally appeared on Will Rabbe, Producer, Journalist & Historian (http://willrabbe.com/).
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