Tag: generations

Generation Alpha (2013 – 2028 or so)

As of the initial writing of this blog post, they haven’t hit any of major age-related touchstones such as turning 18 yet! So, we can’t really cover many pivotal moments, to help inform us when writing fiction about Generation Alpha.

However, we can cover the entire time frame, as far as we know it.

Considering the Entire Time Frame When Writing Fiction About Generation Alpha

This time frame starts off with the aftermaths of the Egyptian revolution of 2011, Arab Spring, and NASA ending the space shuttle program.

The Covid-19 pandemic, the first term of President Donald Trump, and the Russia-Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war dominate the middle of this period. Plus, there’s the rise of artificial intelligence.

The very end of this period hasn’t happened yet. All we can really do is speculate.

Given that President Trump is supposed to only be able to serve one more term, the 2028 presidential elections will be a major event. Will Kamala Harris return? Will JD Vance run for the country’s highest office? How about someone else? We shall see.

Naming Your Characters When Writing Fiction About Generation Alpha

In America, the Social Security Administration keeps track of births and what people name their children. Given that this time frame is not yet over, some of these numbers may change. The SSA only has full records up to the end of 2024.

For this (so far) twelve-year time span, there are only ten unique boys’ names for all five slots. As you can imagine, there are several repetitions. Noah holds the top spot from 2013 to 2016 inclusive. Then he’s bumped by Liam, who keeps the gold medal for the rest of the time frame.

In second place, Jacob shows up in 2013 only. Then it’s Liam from 2014 to 2016 inclusive. Otherwise, this spot is taken by Noah. Essentially, except for Jacob in 2013, the #1 and #2 slots are the Noah and Liam Show.

For third place, the field is only slightly more open, with Liam taking the bronze medal in 2013 and then handing it off to Mason for 2014 and 2015. He then hands it to William for 2016 to 2018 inclusive. And Oliver takes it away for the rest of the time period.

When it comes to fourth place, there’s some more variety, with six unique names. William (2019) and Theodore (2024) only show up once. Mason holds this spot in 2013 and 2016, Jacob in 2014 and 2015.

James is in fourth for 2017, 2018, 2022, and 2023. And Elijah holds fourth in 2020 and 2021.

For fifth place, Logan (2017) and Oliver (2018) only show up once. William holds this spot 2013 – 2015 inclusive and 2020. James is in fifth place in 2016, 2021, and 2024. Elijah holds this slot in 2019, 2022, and 2023.

Naming Your Girl Characters When Writing Fiction About Generation Alpha

For this (so-far) twelve-year span, there are only eight unique girls’ names for the top five slots. Ava, Emma, Olivia, and Sophia account for almost 3/4 of the list.

For the top spot, Sophia shows up in 2013 only. Then it’s Emma from 2014 to 2018 inclusive, and then Olivia for the rest of the time frame.

In second place, it’s just Emma (2013 and 2019 – 2024 inclusive) and Olivia (2014 – 2018 inclusive).

There are five unique names for third place. Olivia (2013) and Amelia (2024) each only show up once. Sophia takes the bronze in 2014 and 2015, then Ava from 2016 to 2020 inclusive, and then Amelia from 2021 to 2023 inclusive.

There are also five unique names for fourth, although one is different from third place. Ava only shows up in 2015. Isabella is in fourth place in 2013, 2014, 2017, and 2018. Then Sophia in 2016 and 2019, and Charlotte in 2020 and 2024.

Amelia is in fourth place in 2021 – 2023 inclusive.

For fifth place, there are only four unique names. Ava takes fifth place in 2013, 2014, and 2021. Then Isabella in 2015, 2016, and 2019. Sophia takes fifth in 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2023. And finally, squeaking in just under the wire, Mia takes 2024.

What’s Next for Generation Alpha?

For the most part, writing fiction about Generation Alpha means writing science fiction. Certainly, you will have to speculate about the future. In general, extrapolating current events to their logical conclusions can be a good way of going about this.

When I’m Writing Fiction About Generation Alpha

So, here are my characters from Generation Alpha.

There’s no one I specifically name. However, Glenn Storey from The Duck in the Seat Cushion is of the right age.

Takeaways for Writing Fiction About Generation Alpha

As of the initial writing of this blog post, the oldest members of Generation Alpha are only thirteen years old.

Writing fiction about Generation Alpha should cover some of the tween milestones many kids go through, such as confirmation and bar/bat mitzvahs. Also, there are kids with older siblings and friends who may be attending quinceañeras.

And, unless your Generation Alpha characters are the youngest members of the British royal family, their issues, incidents, and problems are more likely to be compact and personal. As in, being affected by parental divorce versus saving the world.

Of course, you can write a ‘chosen one’ story with tweens. But that’s been done a lot lately. What would you like to write that’s different?

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Want more about writing fiction about current generations? Then be sure to check out my thoughts on multigenerational fiction writing and the other blog posts in this series:

• The Greatest Generation
† The Silent Generation
• Early Boomers
† Generation Jones
• Generation X
† Millennials AKA Generation Y
• Generation Z AKA Zoomers
† Generation Alpha

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A Look at Writing Fiction About Generation Z or iGen (1997 – 2012)

Of course, as of the initial writing of this blog post, Gen Z had not yet hit 35. And a lot of them hadn’t hit their quarter-century mark, either. And 65? Forget about it! So, unless you’re writing about the future, writing fiction about Generation Z means writing about their youth.

My characters Minka Lopez, Dez Hunter, Nell Murphy, and Kitty Kowalski, all from Mettle are all members of iGen.

So, let’s look at some pivotal moments, to help inform us when writing fiction about Generation Z.

Generation Z Turns 18 (2015 – 2030)

This time frame starts off with NASA’s Dawn probe orbiting dwarf planet (asteroid) Ceres. The World Health Organization declares the eradication of rubella in the Americas. Also, SpaceX lands an uncrewed Falcon 9 rocket.

The Covid-19 epidemic and the first term of President Donald Trump dominate the middle of this period.

As of the initial writing of this blog post, this time period has not yet ended. However, the period from 2020 to 2024 gave us a world where misinformation is everywhere, and there are significant political divides in the United States.

Considering this generation and the end of this time frame can mean extrapolating what’s already happened. Or you can instead try turning it on its head.

Generation Z Turns 25 (2022 – 2037)

This time frame starts off with billions of people being vaccinated against Covid-19. Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her Platinum Jubilee (70 years on the throne, a record for British monarchs), and Elon Musk buys Twitter.

Since most of the middle and all of the end of this period hasn’t happened yet, we can only speculate about it. The second election of Republican Donald Trump in 2024 means he’s supposed to be president until 2028.

And, so far, the pace of change has been hectic. There, that’s a nice word for it.

Naming Your Characters When Writing Fiction About Generation Z

In the US, the Social Security Administration keeps records of births and what people name their kids. In most slots, there are a lot of variations.

For girls, Emily dominates the top spot from 1997 to 2007 inclusive. Then Emma shows up in 2008 only. Isabella takes the top spot in 2009 and 2010, and Sophia usurps her for the last two years, 2011 and 2012.

In the second slot, Jessica only shows up in 1997. Then it’s Hannah from 1998 to 2000 inclusive. Madison takes over for 2001 and 2002. Emma then holds this spot from 2003 to 2006 inclusive, 2009, and 2012. Sophia only shows up in 2010. Otherwise, it’s Isabella.

For the third spot, there are nine separate names for this sixteen-year cohort. The following names only show up once: Ashley (1997), Samantha (1998), Alexis (1999), Emily (2008), Olivia (200), and Isabella (2012).

Madison holds the third spot in 2000, and from 2003 – 2006 inclusive. Hannah comes in third in 2001 and 2002. And Emma holds the slot in 2007, 2010, and 2011.

For the fourth slot, again, there are nine separate names. These names only show up once: Emma (2002), Hannah (2003), Abigail (2005), Isabella (2006), Ava (2007), and Sophia (2009). Sarah holds the spot from 1997 to 1999 inclusive.

Ashley is in fourth place in 2000 and 2001. Otherwise, it’s Olivia.

For the fifth slot, there are eight unique names. These names only appear once: Ashley (1998), Samantha (1999), Sarah (2000), and Madison (2007). Hannah holds this spot in 1997 and 2004. Alexis is in fifth in 2001 and 2002; Olivia in 2003 and 2005.

Otherwise, it’s Ava, a fairly dominant name for the fifth place spot.

Naming Your Boy Characters When Writing Fiction About Generation Z

The top slot belongs to Michael in 1997 and 1998. But then he’s run over by Jacob, who holds it for the rest of the time period. The only times Jacob is in second are when Michael is in first. Michael’s in second place from 1999 – 2008 inclusive.

Then Ethan gets the silver medal in 2009 and 2010, ceding to Mason for 2011 and 2012.

Matthews gets the bronze from 1997 to 2001 inclusive. Then Joshua from 2002 to 2006 inclusive. And then Ethan in 2007, 2008, and 2012. Michael holds this spot in 2009 and 2010. William only shows up in 2011.

There are seven unique names in the fourth slot. These only have one appearance: Christopher (1997), Ethan (2006), Alexander (2009), and Noah (2012). Joshua holds this spot from 1998 to 2001 inclusive, and 2007 and 2008.

Matthew holds the fourth slot from 2002 to 2005 inclusive. And Jayden shows up in 2010 and 2011.

For the fifth slot, there are nine unique names. These only show up once: Joshua (1997), Nicholas (1999), Andrew (2003), Matthew (2006), and Noah (2011). Christopher holds this spot in 1998, 2000, and 2001. Then it’s Ethan in 2002, 2004, and 2005.

Daniel takes over this slot in 2007 and 2008. William is in fifth place in 2009, 2011, and 2012.

When I’m Writing Fiction About Generation Z

So, here are my characters from Generation Z.

In Mettle, it’s characters Dez Hunter, Minka Lopez, Nell Murphy, and Kitty Kowalski.

There may be some in The Duck in the Seat Cushion, too.

Takeaways for Writing Fiction About Generation Z

Gen Z was raised on the internet. So writing fiction about Generation Z should include computers, tablets, and smartphones. Therefore, if you wish to show iconoclasts or Luddites, or maybe a post-Apocalyptic world, then Zoomers probably wouldn’t have any of that.

And, as character Kitty Kowalski is like in Mettle, when the power goes out and they might not survive, forget her parents. She barely thinks of them at all. This insufferable spoiled brat misses her phone.

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Want more about writing fiction about current generations? Then please be sure to check out my thoughts on multigenerational fiction writing and the other blog posts in this series:

• The Greatest Generation
† The Silent Generation
• Early Boomers
† Generation Jones
• Generation X
† Millennials AKA Generation Y
• Generation Z AKA Zoomers
† Generation Alpha

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The Millennial Generation or Generation Y (1981 – 1996)

Authors who believe that writing fiction about the Millennial Generation means only telling tales of youth are going to be in for quite a surprise. As of the initial writing of this blog post, the oldest millennials had turned 33.

And now, let’s look at some pivotal moments, to help inform us when writing fiction about the Millenial Generation.

The Millennial Generation Turns 18 (1999 – 2014)

This time frame starts off with the euro being established as a currency, and Bill Clinton being acquitted of impeachment charges. IT professionals fret over the potential for a Y2K bug.

The events surrounding 9/11 dominate the middle of this period.

By the time this period ends, Boko Harum militants kill approximately 300 people in Nigeria, and the British comedy group Monty Python calls it quits. Plus, the shooting of Michael Brown triggers riots in Ferguson, Missouri.

Millennials Turn 25 (2006 – 2021)

This time frame starts off with NASA launching the first interplanetary space probe to Pluto (New Horizons), and the Human Genome Project publishing its final chromosome sequence.  Plus, there’s the execution of Saddam Hussein.

The West African Ebola epidemic dominates the middle of this period.

By the time this period ends, Donald Trump’s supporters riot and violently attack the US Capitol building, and the container ship Ever Given runs aground in the Suez Canal and disrupts global trade for days. Derek Chauvin is convicted in the murder of George Floyd.

The Millennial Generation Turns 35 (2016 – 2031)

This time frame starts off with David Bowie dying of liver cancer. The gorilla Harambe is shot and killed due to an incident involving a child. Also, the Chicago Cubs win the World Series for the first time since 1908.

The two impeachments of President Donald Trump and the 2020 election with the subsequent coup attempt on January 6, 2021 dominate the middle of this period.

As of the initial writing of this blog post, this time period has not yet ended.

However, the period from 2021 to 2024 saw the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol by supporters of Donald Trump, continuing issues with Covid-19 and its many variants, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Naming Your Characters When Writing Fiction About the

Millennial Generation

The US Social Security Administration keeps track of births and what parents name their kids.

This time frame shows more consistency for boy names than for girl names. In fact, in 1984, 1986, 1987, and 1989, all of the top five boys’ names were identical. Whereas for girls, the only two years like that are 1986 and 1987.

Just like in the previous generation, Michael was the top name for every single one of this cohort’s sixteen years. Christopher was in second place for every year but the last two, when Matthew took the silver medal.

When Matthew wasn’t in second, that name was in third. In 1995, because Christopher wasn’t in second place, that name was in third. And in the final year, Jacob was the third-most popular name for boys.

The fourth slot shows more variances in terms of names, but the positioning is still fairly consistent. Jason takes this spot in 1981 and 1982. The only year David’s in fourth is 1983. Jacob is in fourth only in 1995, with Christopher in this spot only in 1996.

Otherwise, it’s Joshua all the way.

David fills the fifth spot more often than the other four names on the list for this period, in 1981, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1987, and 1989. Joshua fills this spot in 1983, 1995, and 1996. Daniel comes in fifth in 1985 and 1990. Then Andrew in 1988, 1991, and 1992.

The other two years, 1993 and 1994, belong to Tyler.

Naming Your Girl Characters When Writing Fiction About the

Millennial Generation

This time frame is mainly the story of Jessica and Ashley and, to a lesser extent, Brittany and Jennifer.

Jennifer takes the top spot from 1981 – 1984, inclusive. Then Jessica takes over from 1985 – 1990 inclusive, and 1993 – 1995 inclusive. Ashley reigns in 1991 and 1992, while Emily squeaks into the top slot for just one year, 1996.

The silver medal has considerably fewer variants. Jessica holds this spot from 1981 – 1984 inclusive, and in 1991, 1992, and 1996. Otherwise, this spot belongs to Ashley.

For the third spot, Amanda rules from 1981 to 1983 inclusive, and 1986 to 1988 inclusive, plus 1992. Ashley holds this spot in 1984 and 1996. Jennifer is in third place only in 1985. Brittany holds this spot from 1989 to 1991 inclusive. Sarah only shows up here in 1993.

Then it’s Emily in 1994 and 1995.

For the fourth slot, it’s Sarah in 1981, 1982, 1988, and 1996. Ashley only shows up in 1983. Amanda holds this spot in 1984, 1985, and 1989 to 1991 inclusive. Jennifer holds down this part of the fort in 1986 and 1987. Brittany only shows up in 1992. Otherwise, it’s Samantha.

And for the fifth spot, Melissa holds it in 1981 and 1982. But she’s only keeping the seat warm for Sarah, who holds this position in 1983 to 1987 inclusive, 1989, 1992, 1994, and 1995. Jennifer only shows up in 1988; Emily only in 1993. Otherwise, it’s Samantha.

When I’m Writing Fiction About the Millennial Generation

Right now, I don’t seem to have any characters from the Millennial Generation. However, it’s possible that there are some from The Duck in the Seat Cushion but I don’t have the birthdates on file yet.

Takeaways for Writing Fiction About the Millennial Generation

With the youngest millennials already 28 years old, any present-day plans for writing fiction about the Millennial Generation should not be centered on high school life. Or even undergraduate life.

So, consider the young adult experience, as millennials navigate marriage, parenthood, and trying to purchase a home.

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Want more about writing fiction about current generations? Then be sure to check out the other blog posts in this series:

Want more about writing fiction about current generations? Then be sure to check out my thoughts on multigenerational fiction writing and the other blog posts in this series:

• The Greatest Generation
† The Silent Generation
• Early Boomers
† Generation Jones
• Generation X
† Millennials AKA Generation Y
• Generation Z AKA Zoomers
† Generation Alpha

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Generation X (1965 – 1980)

Sometimes the forgotten generation, Gen X is the ‘baby bust’, so the cohort is small. Writing fiction about Generation X should take into account that they tend to not dominate wider groups, because they just plain don’t have the numbers.

My character Dr. Mei-Lin Quan of Mettle is a member of Gen X.

And now, let’s look at some pivotal moments, to help inform us when writing fiction about Generation X. Of course, no one in Generation X has turned 65 by the time of the initial writing of this blog post.

Generation X Turns 18 (1983 – 1998)

This time frame starts off with the final episode of M*A*S*H, the invention of the 3D printer, and the first commercial mobile cellular telephone call.

The breakup of the Soviet Union and the reunification of Germany dominate the middle of this period.

By the time this period ends, Andrew Wakefield publishes his since-debunked study claiming a link between vaccines and autism.

Iranian President Mohammad Khatami retracts a fatwa against Satanic Verses author Salman Rushdie that was in force since 1989, and the US House of Representatives forwards articles of impeachment against President Bill Clinton.

Generation X Turns 25 (1990 – 2005)

This time frame starts off with Germany reunifying, ARPANET being decommissioned, and South Africa releasing Nelson Mandela from prison.

The events surrounding 9/11 dominate the middle of this period.

By the time this period ends, dwarf planet Eris is discovered, there’s the launch of YouTube, and Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans.

Generation X Turns 35 (2000 – 2015)

This time frame starts off with the final printing of an original Peanuts comic the day after the death of Charles Schulz, and two Al-Qaeda suicide bombers attacking the USS Cole. Plus, the hanging chads election debacle which leads to the Bush v. Gore case going before the US Supreme Court.

The development of smartphones and the launching of familiar social media juggernauts like Tumblr and X (Twitter) dominate the middle of this period.

By the time this period ends, gunmen from Al-Qaeda’s Yemen branch attack the Paris headquarters of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, Greece suffers a government debt crisis, and there’s the founding of OpenAI.

Naming Your Gen X Characters

In the US, the Social Security Administration keeps track of births and what people name their kids.

Boy names are remarkably consistent. Michael is #1 every year! And there are only six other names that show up at all in the other four slots during this sixteen-year time frame.

John is #2 in 1965. David is in this spot from 1966 to 1969, inclusive. Then it’s James for 1970 and 1971. Jason shows up for 1974 to 1978, inclusive. Otherwise, it’s Christopher in the second spot.

For the third spot, it’s David in 1965, 1970, and 1971. Then James in 1966, 1967, 1969, and 1972. We only see John once, in 1968. Jason shows up in 1973, 1979, and 1980. Otherwise, it’s Christopher in this spot.

Then for the fourth slot, only three names show up for the sixteen-year time period. James is #4 in 1965, 1968, 1973, and 1975. John is in this spot in 1966, 1967, and 1969 – 1971, inclusive. All other years belong to David.

For the fifth spot, it’s Robert from 1965 – 1971, inclusive. Then John once, in 1972. David takes this spot in 1973 and 1975. For all other years, it’s James.

Names for Gen X Girls

More consistency… and some inconsistency, too. Lisa sits in the top spot from 1965 to 1969, inclusive. Then she’s overthrown by Jennifer, who holds the top spot for every other year.

In the second spot, Mary shows up in 1965 only. Then Kimberly in 1966 and 1967. Then Michelle in 1968, 1969, 1971, and 1972. Lisa shows up in 1970 only. Amy goes on a run from 1973 to 1976, inclusive. Then Melissa from 1977 – 1979 inclusive. Amanda’s just in 1980.

For the third spot, this sixteen-year period had an incredible eleven unique names. These seven show up once: Karen (1965), Mary (1966), Jennifer (1969), Heather (1975), Melissa (1976), Amy (1977), and Amanda (1979).

Kimberly (1968 and 1970), Lisa (1971 and 1972), and Jessica (1978 and 1980), were all in this spot twice. Michelle is the #3 name four times, in 1967, 1973, 1974, and 1976.

For the fourth slot, there are eight unique names. Mary (1967), Jennifer (1968), and Amy (1978) all show up once. Michelle (1966 and 1970), Heather (1974 and 1976), Melissa (1975 and 1980), and Jessica (1977 and 1979) all show up twice. Otherwise, it’s Kimberly.

The fifth spot also has eight unique names. Karen (1966), Lisa (1973), and Sarah (1980) all show up once. Susan (1965 and 1967), Melissa (1968 and 1969), and Heather (1977 and 1978) show up three times. Angela shows up three times, from 1974 to 1976, inclusive.

And Amy shows up four times, from 1970 to 1972 inclusive, and 1979.

When I’m Writing Fiction About Generation X

So, here are my characters from the Generation X cohort.

In Mettle, it’s characters Noah Braverman, Craig Firenze, Jeannie Scutter Firenze, and Elise Jeffries. Plus, Dr. Mei-Lin Quan and Olga Nicolaev.

And in The Duck in the Seat Cushion, it’s main character MJ Tanner’s younger half-brother Will. There are also her ill-fated twins, Levi and Chloe. Plus, there are Sid’s children Lenny and Wendy.

Takeaways for Writing Fiction About Generation X

When writing fiction about Generation X, keep in mind that it’s a small cohort. Many of its members were latchkey children when they were younger (mothers would work and not be home when they returned home from school).

These two experiences, combined, can make the members of the redheaded stepchild of the generations a rather sarcastic bunch. It was, and still is, a major survival mechanism for them.

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Want more about writing fiction about current generations? Then please be sure to check out my thoughts on multigenerational fiction writing and the other blog posts in this series:

• The Greatest Generation
† The Silent Generation
• Early Boomers
† Generation Jones
• Generation X
† Millennials AKA Generation Y
• Generation Z AKA Zoomers
† Generation Alpha

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A Look at Writing Fiction About Generation Jones (1954 – 1964)

For me, writing fiction about Generation Jones is personal, seeing as I am a member of this cohort. The term is fairly new.

Generation Jones bridges the gap between Early Boomers and Generation X. It’s got a little bit of both in it.

And now, let’s look at some pivotal moments, to help inform us when writing fiction about Generation Jones.

Generation Jones Turns 18 (1972 – 1982)

This time frame starts off with HP introducing the HP-35, the world’s first scientific hand-held calculator, and Nixon going to China.

Associated Press photographer Nick Ut takes his Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph of a naked nine-year-old Phan Thi Kim Phuc running down a road after being burned by napalm.

The Vietnam War winding down and Watergate winding up, as gas prices start to rise dramatically all dominate the middle of this period.

By the time this period ends, Britain and Argentina fight the Falklands War. Vic Morrow and two child actors die while making the Twilight Zone movie, and Princess Grace of Monaco dies from injuries suffered in an automobile accident.

Generation Jones Turns 25 (1979 – 1989)

This time frame starts off with the Shah of Iran fleeing to Egypt as Ayatollah Khomeini takes over. Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin sign an Egypt-Israel peace treaty, and the worst nuclear accident in American history happens at Three Mile Island.

The lead up to the fall of the Soviet Union dominates the middle of this period.

By the time this period ends, the first global positioning satellite goes into orbit, and the US government seizes Irvine, California’s Lincoln Savings and Loan Association, thereby kicking off the S&L crisis.

And the Tiananmen Square protests occur in China. The Berlin Wall, in place since 1961, is finally toppled.

Generation Jones Turns 35 (1989 – 1999)

This time frame starts off with Iran placing a bounty of $3 million on Salman Rushdie’s head for writing The Satanic Verses, and Tim Berners-Lee producing the proposal document that will lead to the Worldwide Web. The Exxon Valdez spills 240,000 gallons of oil into Alaska’s Prince William Sound.

The Oklahoma City bombing and the sarin gas attack in Japan, and their aftermaths dominate the middle of this period.

By the time this period ends, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold conduct the Columbine Massacre, and JFK jr. dies in a plane crash. Boris Yeltsin resigns as President of Russia, with Vladimir Putin as the ‘acting’ president..

Generation Jones Turns 65 (2019– 2029)

This time frame starts off with the first case of Covid-19, and reports of the second instance of sustained remission from HIV. Volodymyr Zelenskyy is elected President of Ukraine.

The Covid-19 pandemic dominates the middle of this period.

As of the initial writing of this blog post, this time period has not yet ended. However, the period from 2022 to 2024 sees Russia invading Ukraine, and Queen Elizabeth II dying.  Hamas attacks Israel, thereby precipitating the Israel-Hamas War.

And, as the 47th president of the United States continues to push boundaries, there will undoubtedly be even more big headlines.

Naming Your Generation Jones Characters

In America, the Social Security Administration keeps track of births and what parents name their kids.

For the time period of 1954 to 1964, there’s surprising consistency with girls’ names. The top five for 1954 are identical to 1953 (Mary, Linda, Deborah, Patricia, and Susan). In fact, Mary is #1 every year from 1954 to 1961, inclusive. Otherwise, the #1 girls’ name is Lisa.

In the first three years, the #2 name is Linda, Deborah, and Debra, in that order. Then, from 1957 to 1960, Susan takes the #2 spot. In 1961, it’s Lisa, and then Mary is the #2 name for the last three years of the time period.

For the #3 slot, after Deborah in 1954, it’s Linda from 1955 to 1960, inclusive. Susan takes this spot for the remaining years.

When we get to the #4 spot, Patricia takes it in 1954, Deborah in 1956, Debra in 1955 and 1957, and Linda in 1961. For all the other years? It’s Karen.

The fifth slot is occupied by five names: Susan from 1954 – 1956 (inclusive), Karen in 1957 and 1961, Patricia in 1958 and 1964, Donna in 1959 and 1960, and Linda in 1962 and 1963.

Even More Consistency for Boys

Boy names amp up the consistency factor even more. The #1 name is Michael every year but 1960, when it’s David. For #2, it’s Robert in 1954, James in 1956 and 1957, Michael in 1960, John in 1963 and 1964. Otherwise, it’s always David.

The #3 slot is James in 1954, 1955, and 1958 – 1960, inclusive. Robert holds this spot in 1956 only. John is #3 in 1961 and 1962. Otherwise, it’s always David again.

For the #4 spot, John holds it in 1954, 1959, and 1960. Robert has it in 1955, 1957, and 1958. David just shows up in 1956. Otherwise, it’s James.

And for the #5 slot, it’s David in 1954 only. Then it’s John from 1955 – 1958, inclusive. For the last six years, it’s Robert.

When I’m Writing Fiction About Generation Jones

So, here are my characters from the Generation Jones cohort.

In Mettle, it’s Nell‘s beloved Gran, Sally Murphy, born in 1962.

Takeaways for Writing Fiction About Generation Jones

This is the younger, and perhaps more technologically savvy half of the Baby Boomer Generation. But they didn’t really get to enjoy all of the Early Boomers’ good economies and prosperity.

Their touchstones are Afghanistan and Somalia, not Vietnam, and Watergate rather than Woodstock. As the living segue to Generation X, writing fiction about Generation Jones during their childhoods might just involve showing latchkey children.

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Want more about writing fiction about current generations? Then be sure to check out the other blog posts in this series:

Want more about writing fiction about current generations? Then please be sure to check out my thoughts on multigenerational fiction writing and the other blog posts in this series:

• The Greatest Generation
† The Silent Generation
• Early Boomers
† Generation Jones
• Generation X
† Millennials AKA Generation Y
• Generation Z AKA Zoomers
† Generation Alpha

Leave a Comment

A Look at Writing Fiction About Early Boomers (1946 – 1953)

I prefer to split the Baby Boomer generation, as I feel there’s a marked difference between this group and the latter half (Generation Jones). When writing fiction about Early Boomers, it makes sense to lean into the 60s. But there’s more to this group than flower power.

And now, let’s look at some pivotal moments, to help inform us when writing fiction about Early Boomers.

Early Boomers Turn 18 (1964 – 1971)

This time frame starts off with the US Surgeon General declaring that smoking may be hazardous to one’s health. The the US government authorizes the 24th Amendment, thereby outlawing the poll tax.

The first computer program written in BASIC is run. And the first student protests against the Vietnam War happen while the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is passed.

The Vietnam War dominates the middle of this period. Many other student protests follow the ones in 1964.

By the time this period ends, Charles Manson and three of his followers (Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel, and Leslie Van Houten) are convicted in the Tate-LaBianca murders. The UK and Ireland switch to a decimal-based currency.

And Led Zepellin performs Stairway to Heaven in concert for the first time, in Belfast.

Early Boomers Turn 25 (1971 – 1978)

This time frame starts off with the founding of NASDAQ and Satchel Paige being voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. And there’s the founding of Starbucks, in Washington state.

The Watergate scandal and its aftermath dominate the middle of this period.

By the time this period ends, the Blizzard of ’78 hits New York and New England, killing about 100 people. The world’s first test tube baby, Louise Brown, is born in the UK. Pope John Paul II becomes the 264th pope.

The First Half of the Baby Boomer Generation Turns 35 (1981 – 1998)

This time frame starts off with Iran releasing the 52 American hostages it had held for 444 days, just after the swearing in of Ronald Reagan as president of the United States. The first successful flight of a space shuttle happens (it’s the Columbia).

And the CDC reports that five homosexual men in Los Angeles have a rare form of pneumonia only seen in people with weakened immune systems. This is the first documented report of HIV.

Everything from bombings by the Unabomber to scientists discovering the hole in the ozone dominates the middle of this period.

By the time this period ends, the Drudge Report breaks the news of the Clinton-Lewinsky affair, and there’s the founding of Google.

Early Boomers Turn 65 (2011 – 2018)

This time frame starts off with Kim Jong Un succeeding to the leadership of North Korea upon the death of his father, Prince William and Catherine Middleton wed, and President Obama announces the killing of Osama bin Laden.

Unrest in the Middle East and Africa dominates the middle of this period.

By the time this period ends, seventeen high school students are killed at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas school in Parkland, Florida. Also, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wed; Canada legalizes the recreational use of cannabis; and Saudi Arabia allows women to drive.

Naming Your Early Boomer Characters

Here in the US, the Social Security Administration keeps track of births and what people name their kids.

From 1946 to 1953, the top five names for both boys and girls are surprisingly consistent.

For boys, the top 3 are identical for every year but the last one. For the first seven years of the cohort, the top 3 boys’ names are James, Robert, and John. But in the final year, that changes to Robert, James, and Michael.

Interestingly enough, the name in fourth place is William for the first four years, Michael for the next three, and then John in the last year.

The fifth-place boy name varies the most. In the first two years, it’s Richard. In 1949, it’s Michael. Otherwise, it’s David.

The girls see their own changes, with Mary only taking the top slot in, oddly enough, the first and last years. Otherwise, the top girls’ name is Linda. Whenever Linda is #1, Mary is #2, and vice versa.

Patricia sits in the third spot every year but the last one, when that name comes in fourth. In 1953, the #3 girls’ name was Deborah. Barbara holds the #4 spot four times, in 1946, 1947, 1949, and 1950. Patricia holds this spot in 1948 and 1953. The other two years, it’s Deborah.

For the #5 spot for girls, it’s Carol in 1945, Sandra in 1946, and Barbara in 1951. Otherwise, it’s Susan all the way.

When I’m Writing Fiction About Early Boomers

So, here are my characters from the Early Baby Boomers cohort.

The Duck in the Seat Cushion is all over this cohort. There’s Sid Tanner, born in 1946, and main character MJ Tanner. She’s born in 1949. All of their classmates, and both of their spouses also belong to this group.

MJ and Sid’s stepbrother, Hal Brown, also has a birthdate during this time frame.

Any of these characters could be the POV character in a short story such as Failure.

Takeaways for Writing Fiction About Early Boomers

While the 60s are a truly pivotal time for early baby boomers, they’ve done a lot since then. Their sheer size has made them the 900 pound gorilla in a lot of spaces.

So, when writing about Early Boomers, don’t stop with 1969 or with ok boomer cliches. The first half of the Baby Boom cohort is more than that.

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Want more about writing fiction about current generations? Then be sure to check out my thoughts on multigenerational fiction writing and the other blog posts in this series:

• The Greatest Generation
† The Silent Generation
• Early Boomers
† Generation Jones
• Generation X
† Millennials AKA Generation Y
• Generation Z AKA Zoomers
† Generation Alpha

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My parents are/were members of the Silent Generation, and they have inspired me when it comes to writing fiction about the Silent Generation.

The Silent Generation (1928 – 1945)

When writing fiction about the Silent Generation, the Second World War isn’t quite as dominant as it is for their forebears in the Greatest Generation. It’s more of its aftermath, and the lead up to the Vietnam War that color their lives.

In addition, they deal with the fallout from the Great Depression, and may have a scarcity mindset, even decades later.

Yes, I Have Written Fiction About the Silent Generation!

Or, rather, for the most part, about just one particular person. I originally wrote Mettle with 2020 in mind as its temporal setting.

While that exact year isn’t really feasible anymore, due to the pandemic (and due to the year having come and gone already), I will still use 2020 as the second year without a summer until I decide on something else.

Because Eleanor Braverman is in her seventies for that book, she fits perfectly into the real-life Silent Generation. I give her a birthdate in 1938. Her parents may even have chosen her name due to admiration for First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.

And now, let’s look at some pivotal moments, to help inform us when writing fiction about the Silent Generation.

The Silent Generation Turns 18 (1946 – 1963)

When this time frame starts, the United Nations and the UN Security Council hold their first meetings. The ENIAC computer is unveiled. And Winston Churchill gives a speech about the Iron Curtain.

The Silent Generation Turns 25 (1953 – 1970)

This time frame starts off with over 70% of all TV sets tuned into I Love Lucy, to watch Lucy give birth to Little Ricky.

Also in 1953, Stalin dies, and Jonas Salk announces the development of his polio vaccine.  Julius and Ethel Rosenberg are executed. In addition, Christine Jorgensen comes back to New York after receiving successful sex reassignment surgery in Denmark.

The war in Vietnam dominates the middle of this period. However, many of the men in the Silent Generation are too old to take part (or at least be subject to the draft) once the United States enters the war in earnest.

In 1964, at the time of the Gulf of Tonkin resolution, the oldest members of this generation were in their mid-thirties.

By the time this period ends, Apollo 13 barely makes it back to earth, there are shootings at Kent State, and Jimi Hendrix dies of an overdoes. The Beatles break up.

The Silent Generation Turns 35 (1963 – 1980)

This time frame starts off with Patsy Cline being killed in a plane crash and Tito being declared president for life in Yugoslavia. Martin Luther King, jr. issues his Letter from Birmingham Jail. The Mercury space program ends.

And of course the most significant event by far is the assassination of JFK.

JFK’s death and its aftermath, the Vietnam War, and pretty much everything we think of when we think of the 60s dominate the middle of this period.

By the time this period ends, the US Olympic hockey team wins the ‘Miracle on Ice’, Reagan becomes president, and John Lennon is murdered.

The Silent Generation Turns 65 (1993 – 2010)

This time frame starts off as Czechoslovakia is dissolved, the World Trade Center in New York is bombed for the first time, and the Branch Davidian standoff in Waco, Texas results in the deaths of over seventy people, including cult leader David Koresh.

The events surrounding 9/11 dominate the middle of this time frame.

By the time this period ends, Wikileaks releases confidential government information to the general public. The Deepwater Horizon oil drilling platform explodes, and there’s the launch of Instagram.

Naming Your Silent Generation Characters

In the United States, the Social Security Administration keeps track of births and of what people name their children. I’ve already covered the 1920s in my post on the Greatest Generation, so please see the link below for that information.

In the 1930s, the top five names for girls get a bit of a shakeup. While Mary remains the queen at #1, Betty has slid into second place. Barbara appears at #3, Shirley at #4, and Patricia at #5.

Why Shirley? Shirley Temple, of course! Barbara is probably for Barbara Stanwyck. But where does Patricia come from? Hmm.

Boys, on the other hand, get a near instant replay from the 1920s. The top five names for boys were Robert, James, John, William, and Charles.

Then in the 1940s, Shirley and Betty are gone from the top five (they’re at #14 and #11, respectively). Mary still holds her throne (with apparently a grip of iron!) but upstarts Linda and Carol come in second and fifth. Barbara is still #3, and Patricia is up to fourth place.

On the boys’ side, James takes the crown from Robert (now at #2). John and William remain at third and fourth. But Charles loses fifth place to Richard. Don’t worry; Charles, as in the current King of England, is in seventh place.

Here and Now

As of the writing of this blog post (late 2024), the oldest people in this cohort are pushing 100. And the youngest are turning 80. While there’s certainly some differences between these two age extremes, the bottom line is that everyone in this generation is way, way past middle age.

And many are transitioning from young-old to old-old, if they’re not there already.

When I’m Writing Fiction About the Silent Generation

So, here are my characters from the Silent Generation.

Apart from Eleanor Braverman, there are Graceanne Davis Mason Brown Tanner, and Susan Tanner (Aunt Suzie). Plus, there are three additional Tanner siblings who don’t reach adulthood, all from The Duck in the Seat Cushion.

Takeaways for Writing Fiction About the Silent Generation

When writing fiction about the Silent Generation, keep in mind that they have seen a lot! They’ve gone from silent films to Instagram.

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Want more about writing fiction about current generations?

Then please be sure to check out my thoughts on multigenerational fiction writing and the other blog posts in this series:

• The Greatest Generation
† The Silent Generation
• Early Boomers
† Generation Jones
• Generation X
† Millennials AKA Generation Y
• Generation Z AKA Zoomers
† Generation Alpha

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I have one piece where I was mainly writing fiction about the Greatest Generation. It’s a short story called Three Minutes Back in Time.

The Greatest Generation’s earlier years are dominated by the Great Depression and the Second World War. When writing fiction about the Greatest Generation, particularly when writing about them as younger people, you really can’t avoid WWII.

And for characters from the Midwest, you should be at least mentioning the Dust Bowl.

Fact and Fiction About The Greatest Generation or GI Generation (1901 – 1927)

Every generation consists of a range of years, and some ranges will have more going on in them than others. Of course! Therefore, this information is meant to cover some of the bigger changes and news stories from the time.

If you think I’ve missed something big, feel free to let me know in the comments.

These events are mainly going to be America-centric or at least from a US POV. There is a lot more to the world than the United States, but I didn’t want to write a novel-length blog post!

So, let’s look at some pivotal moments, to help inform us when writing fiction about the Greatest Generation.

The GI Generation Turns 18 (1919 – 1945)

Of course, the two biggest events during this time frame are the Great Depression and the Second World War. And given when the oldest people in this generation turn 18, WWII looms extremely large for this group. Particularly because these people just missed fighting in WWI.

But there were plenty of other events during this time frame. For example, in 1919, this time period starts off with a bang as Prohibition begins in the United States. Also in 1919, Congress passes the Nineteenth Amendment, granting women the right to vote.

This time frame ends with two major events—the end of the Second World War and the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

His successor, Harry S. Truman, drops the atomic bomb on Japanese cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the only time nuclear weapons have been used in combat. So far.

The Greatest Generation Turns 25 (1926 – 1952)

As this time frame begins, Gertrude Ederle swims the English Channel. And a newfangled technology called television is first demonstrated.

Naturally, WWII and the Great Depression dominate the middle of this period.

And as this time period concludes, Queen Elizabeth II succeeds her father. In the following year she will be crowned Queen of England. Evita Peron dies.

The first hydrogen bomb is detonated, and Anne Frank’s The Diary of a Young Girl is published in an English language translation.

The GI Generation Turns 35 (1936 – 1962)

As this time period starts, so do the Berlin Olympic games. This is also the year when King Edward VIII abdicates the British throne.

As before, the dominant event of the time is the Second World War.

This time frame concludes with the Cuban Missile Crisis, JFK announces that the United States will go to the moon, and Marilyn Monroe dies.

The Greatest Generation Turns 65 (1966 – 1995)

When this time frame starts, Leonid Brezhnev becomes the leader of the Soviet Union, the Beatles play in Candlestick Park in San Francisco in their final live touring concert, and people celebrate the first Kwaanzaa.

The Vietnam War and its aftermath dominate this time period. Operation Desert Storm happens toward the end of this time frame.

By the time this period ends, Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols have bombed the Alfred P. Murrah building in Oklahoma City, and President Clinton announces the resumption of relations between the United States and Vietnam.

And former professional football player OJ Simpson is tried for the murder of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman.

Naming characters in the Greatest Generation

According to the US Social Security Administration, the five most popular names for boys in the 1900s were John, William, James, George, and Charles. Girls? Their five most popular names were Mary, Helen, Margaret, Anna, and Ruth.

Ten years later, the top three for boys, and the top two for girls, don’t change. For boys, the fourth and fifth most popular names were Robert and Joseph. Rounding out the list for the girls are Dorothy (guess why!), Margaret (slipping a notch), and Ruth.

For the twenties, Robert takes over, surpassing even John (second place)! And how many of those men are called Bob, rather than Rob? The rest of the list for boys is James, William, and Charles. Joe, we hardly knew ye.

As for the girls, Mary continues to reign as queen, with Dorothy nipping at her heels. Helen returns at #3, and suddenly Betty appears at #4. Margaret manages to hang on, at #5.

When I’m Writing Fiction About the Greatest Generation

So, here are my characters from the Greatest Generation. Apart from Rosemary Parker and James Warren, a grandfather of Dr. Mei-Lin Quan from Mettle is born in 1926. Mei-Lin recalls him still referring to Taiwan as Formosa. The island’s name officially changed in 1949.

In addition, in The Duck in the Seat Cushion, main character MJ Tanner’s father, Walter Tanner, is born in 1924. Five of his nine siblings are born before him and they all perish before reaching maturity. Another two born after him also fit in the generation and die young.

Walt’s two other siblings are born too late for this generation. As one of just two of his parents’ ten children, and a survivor of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, Walt is a defeatist at times, but also down to earth and practical.

Takeaways for Writing Fiction About the Greatest Generation

When writing fiction about the Greatest Generation, the two world wars are like the elephants in the room. The second more than the first, but these people were teenagers during the Great War. So, don’t forget about it.

When writing them later in life, keep in mind that they need to adjust their way of thinking to the Computer Age at a rather late age, often in their forties or older.

Unlike for many later generations, computers and the internet are not second nature, and these folks may even resent those technological advances.

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Want more about writing fiction about current generations? Then please be sure to check out my thoughts on multigenerational fiction writing and the other blog posts in this series:

• The Greatest Generation
† The Silent Generation
• Early Boomers
† Generation Jones
• Generation X
† Millennials AKA Generation Y
• Generation Z AKA Zoomers
† Generation Alpha

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