From the Lost Generation to Gen Beta: How every generation got its name

Every generation throughout history has been given a name at various points, with no formal process involved. The names emerge from cultural quorum, often through a magazine essay, novel, or research firm's work. The key to a name sticking is widespread usage. These labels hold real monetary power, influencing how young workers are perceived at work and how much spending power they have.

The Lost Generation, generally dated between 1883 and 1900, got its name from a French garage owner, Gertrude Stein, and Ernest Hemingway. Following that, the Greatest Generation, born from 1901 to 1927, was named by NBC anchor Tom Brokaw after covering World War II. The Silent Generation, born between 1928 and 1945, was dubbed as such by a Time essay in 1951.

The Baby Boomers, born from 1946 to 1964, were named for the significant increase in births after World War II. Generation X, born between 1965 and 1980, was coined by Douglas Coupland's novel in 1991. Millennials, born from 1981 to 1996, were named by historians Neil Howe and William Strauss due to their coming of age around the turn of the millennium.

Gen Z, born from 1997 to 2012, follows them, and Greek letter Alpha is used for Generation Alpha, born from 2010 to 2024.