Lifestyle

Generation Names And Years In Order

By Alisha Dotel | 24 September 2023 03:18 AM

Different generations of people in a single frame
Source : istockphoto

Generation names and years in order consist of seven living generations from Greatest to Gen Alpha. These eras are based on their birth years and names.

America's generational timeline is broken down by experts as per the name and year. They also provide insight into the personalities and characteristics of each age.

A generation is defined as a group of people born at roughly the same time. As per Deborah Carr, Ph.D., professor and chair of the sociology department of Boston University usually, people in the cohort are grouped by a 20-year time interval.

So, here this article will explain the seven generations' names and meanings along with how their experiences shaped them from Greatest to Generation Alpha.

The Greatest Generation (1901-1924)

Generation names and years in order start with the Greatest Generation. This era refers to Americans born in 1924 or earlier.

People from this group were a tribute to Americans who lived through the Great Depression and World War II. They were impacted by Great Depression which form their children in regard to thriftiness.

Additionally, these group was also representatives of the majority of soldiers in World War. People in this group are between the ages of 99 and 121. These aged group people are the parents of the Silent Generation and Baby Boomers.

The term G.I. Generation was first used in 1971 bt Alberto M. Camarillo in an article for the academic journal. After that, it was popularized by the title of a 1998 book by Tom Brokaw who is an American journalist.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the GI Bill of Rights
Source : usatoday

There are characteristics of different generations as per their uniqueness. For this generation is often classified as having experienced economic and social disorders that shaped their values. Some of the characteristics of this are:

  • Relationship to later people
  • Great Depression and World War II
  • Respect for Authority
  • Value of responsibility
  • They are Patriotic
  • Have a strong work ethic
  • Motivated and shows a high rate of dedication
  • They are committed and loyal

The Silent Generation (1925-1945)

The Silent Generation is also known as the Traditionalist Generation. It is the era identified by the people born from 1925-1945.

There were 23 million Silents as of 2019 in the United States as per the U.S. Census data. The term Silent Generation is known by a 1951 Time Magazine article. 

This aged group helped shape 20th-century pop culture, by introducing rock musicians, television legends, gonzo journalists, iconic filmmakers, and many more. 

Additionally, the Silent Generation prospered in an era of economic expansion by working hard. They were renowned for having a strong work ethic, a desire for stability, and upholding a sense of conformity. The economy in this time period was growing.

As per the Britannica, the youngest silents grew up experiencing the economic hardships of the Great Depression and witnessed the upheaval and challenges of World War II.

In 2023 people in this group are 78- 95 years old. For being so conformist that they were silent through the MacCarthy era when the fear of Communism swept the country so this generation got their name Silent.

A group of people from the Silent Ages
Source : pinterest

Some of the silent generation characteristics are given below:

  • Interpersonal respect
  • Work ethic
  • Self-sacrifice
  • Determination and Dedication
  • Traditional values and culture
  • Flexibility
  • Builder Traits

The Baby Boomers Generation (1946-1964)

Baby Boomers are the demographic followers following Silent Generation and preceding Generation X. This generation is defined as people born from 1946-1964.

Most of the baby boomers are the children of either the Greatest Generation or the Silent Generation and are the parents of Millennials and Gen X.

The term baby boom is known as the noticeable increase in the birth rate after World War 2, after which the soldiers returned home and started their families.

Many experts have determined the baby boom period differently. As they were integral and present for many of the technological advances in the last 50 years the baby boomers are one of the most relevant groups in modern society. Boomers belong to the age range between 58 and 76.

The Collage of different people who belongs to the Baby Boomers
Source : visualcapitalist

The baby boomers characteristics are:

  • Goal-oriented
  • Focus on personal fulfillment
  • Technological innovation
  • Eagerness for change and development
  • Have gained experienced
  • Shaped Society and the social context
  • Rise of feminism
  • The desire for Equality.

Generation X (1965-1980)

Generation X is the demographic group following the baby boomers and the millennials. They are described as people born between 1965-1980.

As of 2019 U.S. Census data, there are 65.2 million Xers in the United States. Most of the members of this aged are the children of the Silent Generation and early boomers. Meanwhile, they are often the guardian of Millennials and Generation Z.

The photographer Robert Capa first use the term, Generation X. As after World War II he used it to narrate a certain attitude, outlook, and mentality of young people. Later on, Canadian author Douglas Coupland made this term renowned through his 1991 novel. 

Similarly, in the baby boomers, many got on property ownership in this era. Also benefited from the economic prosperity they experienced and introduced small businesses and entrepreneurial opportunities.

This era is the most relevant of modern times, in relation to technology, and serves almost as abridge from older populations to the younger ones. This population has created many of these advances including video games, artificial intelligence, movies, and many more.

A Collage of Era X age groups
Source : visualcapitalist

The characteristics of Generation X are mentioned below:

  • Independent
  • Balance in work-life
  • Talented in Technology
  • Resourceful
  • Ambitious and Eager to learn new skills
  • Create and enjoy creative input and resourceful
  • Value diversity, responsibilities, and challenges
  • Master of self-depreciation.

Read More: Understanding Generation X: Birth Years, Traits, and Cultural Influences

Millennials (1981-1996)

Millennials are also known as Generation Y and were born between 1981-1996. This aged is derived from following Generation X and Generation Z.

The early 1980s as starting birth year and the mid-1990s to early 2000s as the ending birth years for this era are used by Popular media, experts, and researchers. Most millennials are the children of baby boomers and older Generation X and are often the parents of Generation Alpha.

At a time of the decline in fertility rates around the world, millennials were born and are now having fewer children than their ancestors. Millennials grew up in the Internet age and were the first global generation.

The people of this group are also considered familiar with the Internet, social media, and electronic devices.

Age group from the Millennials group
Source : mentalfloss

Some of the characteristics of this generation are:

  • Entrepreneurial
  • The craze to keep on learning new things
  • Expect collaboration and understanding from others
  • Engage in social activism
  • Better educated and more familiar than previous generations.

Generation Z (1997-2012)

Generation Z is commonly known as Zoomers. They are derived from Millennials and preceding Generation Alpha.

In the mid-1990s and the early 2010s, this generation was born. The people from this era are children of Generation X. The effect of the economy has been known by this age group as being shaped by COVID-19.

According to Pew, Generation Z is the most racially and ethnically diverse cohort.

The people of this era focus on education and recognize the importance of it in their future development. They focus on values, fulfillment, and making a difference in their life. In this competitive world, they know that they should be extraordinary with qualities of skills and also can't depend on one job for stability.

The enrollment rates in colleges and schools are high in this age-grouped. The majority of the people of this group live in metropolitan areas and western states. With academic performance, these people are more concerned than older ones.

They are the first social age group to have grown up with access to the Internet and digital technology. Compared to previous groups, members of group Z tend to live more slowly than their ancestors when they were their age.

Throughout the world, members of these groups are devoting more time to electronic devices and lesser to their studies.

All the young people engaging on the mobile phone
Source : linkedin

Like other generations, this generation also has characteristics and they are given below:

  • They are money-driven and ambitious
  • Politically and socially aware
  • Racially and Ethnically diverse
  • Engage mostly in social activism
  • Digital natives.

Generation Alpha (2013-2025)

Generation Alpha is associated with Generation Z. The early 2010s is used by experts as starting birth year and the early-to-mid 2020s as the ending birth year.

Entirely in the 21st century Generation Alpha is the first to be born and the third millennium. Members of these generations are mostly children of Millennials. 

The reason behind the name Generation Alpha is because they are not a return to the old, but the start of something new. In a 2008 survey conducted by the Australian consulting agency McCrindle Research there, they introduced this name first. This age-grouped is the first generation to be fully born in the 21st century. 

Instagram was launched and various types of electronic devices were launched in the year they began to be born. So, technology has shaped them. This peer group has experienced changes in the use of technology in classrooms and other aspects of their life.

The Gen Alpha age range is from 0-10 years old. While many are still infants.

Children using a variety of electronic devices
Source : verywellfamily

Gen alpha characteristics are mentioned below:

  • Focused on both career and the family
  • Spending more time online
  • AI is their reality
  • Learning is personalized
  • They live in the moment
  • Individuality and diversity.

Some FAQs

Why is it called the silent generation?

This generation is called silent because of their lack of declaration and general chasing of secured careers and life.

What are the 7 living generations?

  1. Greatest Generation
  2. Silent Generation
  3. Baby Boomers
  4. Generation X
  5. Millennials
  6. Generation Z
  7. Generation Alpha

Talking about generations, we have covered about the family that inherited tremendous generational wealth. One of them include the Busch Family.