Top 100 Popular Baby Names Since 1880
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has been keeping track of baby names since 1880. When a baby is born in the U.S., the parents (or hospital) send in paperwork for issuance of a Social Security Number. From this information, the SSA is able to keep track of every American citizen. Baby names compiled from these Social Security records gives the public a glimpse of the most coveted names of the last 13 decades! Besides being an invaluable slice of Americana, the SSA list also assists those searching for the perfect baby name for their little bundle of pink or blue.
Viewing the top 100 baby names since 1880 is a wonderful resource for expectant parents when choosing a baby name. If they want to avoid more common names, viewing the list would be ideal. The list of top 100 baby names is also a good starting point for those searching for a timeless traditional name. Others may want to peruse the top 100 just out of curiosity. Regardless, it is interesting to note different baby naming trends by reviewing SSA records.
Interesting Top 100 Baby Names Observations
America’s Christian roots are evident when reviewing the Top 100 baby names since 1880. Biblical names abound and include:
Girl Names
Mary
Elizabeth
Sara (and Sarah)
Ruth
Judith (means “woman from Judea”)
Rebecca
Deborah (and Debra)
Martha
Anne, Anna and Annie (Anne is from the Hebrew Hanna)
Rachel
Stephanie (feminine form of Stephen – the first Christian martyr)
Sharon (from the “Rose of Sharon” mentioned in the Bible)
Danielle (feminine form of Daniel from the Hebrew meaning “God is my judge”)
Boy Names
James
Matthew
Joshua
John
Paul
Nicholas
Adam
Michael
Stephen (variant Steven)
Jonathan
Alexander
David
Peter
Jacob
Jesse
Joseph
Andrew
Samuel
Philip
Thomas
Timothy
Benjamin
Mark
Daniel
This list accounts for approximately 25% of the top 100 baby names for boys and girls.
The name Mary has held either the number one or two position for 84 years beginning in 1881 through 1965. It dropped to number 3 in 1966 and has been on a slow decline ever since. However, Mary has remained in the top 100 baby names every year since SSA records have been kept and ranked number 93 in 2007.
James’, the number one boys name since 1880, appearance on the top 100 list is just as impressive. Although it has not held the number one or two spot as long as Mary, it has consecutively ranked in the top 5 from 1881 through 1980 – an incredible 99 years! James has remained in the top 100 since records have been kept and has never fallen below number 19. In 2007, James was the 15th most popular name according to SSA records.
When looking at the list, it may be a surprise to see Virginia sandwiched between Emily and Angela - the more common names of today. Ranked 545 in 2007 (its lowest position to date), the name Virginia remained in the top 500 baby names until 2005. Virginia reached its pinnacle of popularity between 1916 - 1928 when it was consecutively in the top 10 baby names.
Angela, holding the 125th spot in 2007, hit the top 100 in 1956 and was in the top 10 from 1965 through 1979. It has been slowly descending in popularity ever since. Emily, the number 1 baby name in 2007, reached the top 10 in 1991 and has risen in popularity with an impressive 12 year run as the top baby girl name beginning in 1996.
It is difficult to determine if a current popular name will be a passing trend and date an individual to a particular time period – such as Virginia – or be a timeless name like Elizabeth, which has remained in the top 25 baby names since 1880. However, this phenomenon is something a parent may want to consider when naming their pride and joy.
The top 100 baby names also shows how different spellings of a name can have a lasting impact. Examples would be Catherine (Katherine and Kathryn), Sarah (Sara), Teresa (Theresa), Marie (Maria), Julie (Julia), Kathleen (Kathy), Christine (Christina) and Steven (Stephen). Although a name may sound similar to the original, changing just a few letters – or even one – makes it unique.
Reviewing the top 100 baby names since 1880 lends a plethora of useful information for those searching for the perfect name for their new arrival as well as insight into America’s cultural heritage. It also interesting to note different baby naming trends throughout the years.
For your perusal, presented is the top 100 baby names since 1880.
CLICK HERE to find the top 100 Baby Names Since 1880
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#1 Mary
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#51 Marie
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#1 James
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#51 Benjamin
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#2 Patricia
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#52 Rachel
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#2 John
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#52 Douglas
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#3 Elizabeth
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#53 Heather
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#3 Robert
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#53 Peter
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#4 Linda
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#54 Diane
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#4 Michael
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#54 Harold
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#5 Jennifer
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#55 Joyce
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#5 William
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#55 Arthur
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#6 Barbara
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#56 Julie
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#6 David
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#56 Carl
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#7 Margaret
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#57 Maria
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#7 Richard
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#57 Albert
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#8 Susan
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#58 Joan
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#8 Joseph
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#58 Adam
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#9 Dorothy
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#59 Evelyn
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#9 Charles
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#59 Aaron
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#10 Helen
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#60 Ann
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#10 Thomas
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#60 Jose
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#11 Jessica
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#61 Rose
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#11 Christopher
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#61 Tyler
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#12 Betty
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#62 Samantha
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#12 Daniel
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#62 Alexander
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#13 Nancy
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#63 Doris
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#13 George
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#63 Lawrence
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#14 Sarah
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#64 Christina
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#14 Donald
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#64 Willie
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#15 Karen
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#65 Kelly
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#15 Matthew
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#65 Joe
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#16 Lisa
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#66 Jean
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#16 Paul
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#66 Gerald
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#17 Sandra
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#67 Judith
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#17 Mark
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#67 Zachary
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#18 Donna
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#68 Mildred
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#18 Edward
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#68 Roger
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#19 Carol
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#69 Cheryl
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#19 Anthony
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#69 Kyle
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#20 Ruth
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#70 Kathryn
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#20 Kenneth
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#70 Keith
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#21 Anna
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#71 Teresa
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#21 Steven
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#71 Harry
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#22 Kimberly
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#72 Megan
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#22 Brian
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#72 Terry
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#23 Laura
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#73 Lauren
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#23 Andrew
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#73 Ralph
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#24 Michelle
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#74 Gloria
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#24 Kevin
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#74 Nathan
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#25 Amanda
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#75 Janice
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#25 Ronald
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#75 Roy
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#26 Ashley
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#76 Emma
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#26 Timothy
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#76 Jeremy
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#27 Deborah
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#77 Theresa
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#27 Joshua
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#77 Louis
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#28 Melissa
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#78 Jacqueline
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#28 Jeffrey
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#78 Billy
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#29 Sharon
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#79 Julia
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#29 Jason
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#79 Jesse
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#30 Rebecca
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#80 Victoria
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#30 Frank
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#80 Eugene
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#31 Stephanie
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#81 Sara
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#31 Gary
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#81 Bruce
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#32 Kathleen
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#82 Andrea
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#32 Stephen
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#82 Sean
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#33 Cynthia
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#83 Grace
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#33 Eric
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#83 Wayne
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#34 Shirley
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#84 Judy
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#34 Larry
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#84 Russell
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#35 Amy
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#85 Beverly
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#35 Ryan
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#85 Howard
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#36 Emily
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#86 Denise
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#36 Nicholas
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#86 Fred
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#37 Virginia
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#87 Marilyn
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#37 Scott
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#87 Philip
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#38 Angela
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#88 Jane
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#38 Raymond
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#88 Bryan
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#39 Catherine
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#89 Lillian
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#39 Jonathan
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#89 Randy
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#40 Brenda
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#90 Amber
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#40 Gregory
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#90 Austin
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#41 Pamela
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#91 Brittany
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#41 Justin
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#91 Alan
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#42 Francis
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#92 Irene
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#42 Jacob
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#92 Bobby
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#43 Christine
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#93 Danielle
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#43 Brandon
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#93 Clarence
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#44 Katherine
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#94 Lori
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#44 Patrick
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#94 Ernest
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#45 Janet
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#95 Annie
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#45 Walter
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#95 Phillip
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#46 Carolyn
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#96 Diana
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#46 Dennis
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#96 Johnny
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#47 Debra
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#97 Florence
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#47 Jerry
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#97 Craig
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#48 Nicole
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#98 Kathy
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#48 Samuel
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#98 Stanley
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#49 Martha
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#99 Tammy
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#49 Henry
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#99 Vincent
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#50 Alice
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#100 Lois
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#50 Jack
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#100 Earl
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