Generations names and years, from the silent generation to Gen alpha
Generation refers to a group of people who live at the same time and are about the same age. These people share similar cultural traits, preferences and values. Today, several generations live together, and they will continue to increase as years pass. Knowing your generation name will enable you to understand yourself better and the people around you. Ida Tolgensbakk, researcher and curator at the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History, provides insights into the characteristics and generational shifts from the Silent Generation to Gen Alpha.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Generation names and years
- Overview of key characteristics that define each generational cohort
- Significant technological and cultural shifts that influenced Generation Z
- Generation alpha: traits, influences, and future challenges
- What comes after Gen Alpha?
- What generation was born in the 21st century?
- What came before the Silent generation?
People of the same generation have a lot of things in common, and they understand each other easily. Each group has its values, qualities, skills, and trends. Sometimes, you may experience challenges understanding some people because they were born into a different generation. Discover all the generations by year to enable you to understand yourself and others better.
Generation names and years
It is essential to know all the generation names because sometimes, some people's behaviours, views, and actions are influenced by the group they belong to. What are the seven generations by age? Below are all seven, explained by their age and characteristics.
1. The Silent Generation (1928–1945)
This generation was born between 1928 and 1945. They are called the silent generation because of the problematic era in which they were born and grew up. They grew up during the Great Depression and World War II and were not free to speak freely about their opinions and beliefs.
This group comprises people who fought during World War II or those who were children at that time. There was a low number of new babies during this era because people were depressed with the war, and others, especially men, went to fight in the war.
These individuals are around the age of 79 and 96 years old. They had no room to dream because of the lack of technology and, therefore, spent so much time observing their societies. The radio was a key technology that helped them stay informed. Some of the characteristics of this group of individuals include the following;
- Fighters.
- Resilience.
- Self-sacrifice.
- Fairness.
- Realistic.
- Persevering.
2. Baby Boomers (1946–1964)
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These are people born between 1946 and 1964. They were born after World War II, a period when people were happy because the war had stopped. They got their name from a phenomenon known as the 'baby boom.'
During this period, birth rates were high, unlike during the Silent Generation, when birth rates were low because people were depressed because of the war. Baby Boomers are nostalgic and miss the old days when so many kids played games around without interruption of technology. People born in this group are about 60 and 78 years old as of writing. They are majorly known for being:
- Optimistic.
- Hard workers.
- Generous.
- Nostalgic.
3. Generation X (1965–1980)
This generation consists of people born between 1965 and 1980. As of 2024, they are about 44 and 59 years old. They are in the golden age era and are as free as the wind. During this period, they witnessed the emergence of personal computers, mobile phones, and the Internet.
Generation X grew up with personal computers and watched the first video games. Significant technological advances began then, making them the first consumers of cinema and television. Below are some of their characteristics.
- Independent.
- Flexible and informal.
- Technological adept.
- Fighters.
- Obsessive with success.
- Dreamers.
4. The Millennials (1981–1996)
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These were born between 1981 and 1996. They are the children of the Baby Boomers. The Millennials were born during a period of significant technological advancement. They are also called Generation Y. They are called Millennials because their oldest members became adults at the turn of the millennium.
The Millennials are fond of media, and the internet and technology are a significant part of their daily lives. They enjoyed their childhood because their parents provided them with the things they did not have during their childhood. Baby Boomers view the Millennials as impatient because of their excessive use of technology. Below are some of their characteristics:
- Competitive.
- Confident with technology.
- Optimistic about the environment.
- They value meaningful motivation.
- Adaptive to change.
- Passionate about learning.
- Freethinkers.
5. Generation Z (1997–2012)
Generation Z consists of people born between 1997 and 2012. Why is Gen Z called Gen Z? It got its name because it comes after the Millennials, initially labelled Gen Y. So, it is a continuation of the alphabetical sequence from Generation X. They are natives of the new 21st century.
This generation is between 12 and 27 years old as of 2024. Older members of this group have entered their field of work. They are digital natives because of their native use of technology. Gen Z is known for its dedication to social and political issues. They are;
- Prone to anxiety.
- Politically progressive.
- Social media addicts.
- Optimistic about their careers.
- Creative.
6. The Alpha: (2013–2024)
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These are those born between 2013 and 2024. They are the smallest of all the generations but act more mature than their age because they consume content unavailable during the older generations.
They were born when the iPad was launched and Instagram was created, and they have been immersed in technology since birth.
The Alphas are the first to be born entirely in the 21st century. They are addicted to technology. If they are not watching movies, they are on social media platforms such as TikTok, WhatsApp, Instagram or YouTube. The oldest Alpha as of 2024 is 14 years old. They are characterized as follows;
- Diverse and inclusive.
- They engage and evolve with diverse AI technologies.
- Tend to be independent.
- Impatient.
- Their parents' perspectives shape them.
- They spend more time online.
- Hyperactive.
- They have more 'virtual' friends than 'real' ones.
Overview of key characteristics that define each generational cohort
Ida Tolgensbakk, researcher and curator at the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History, emphasized in an interview that these generational terms – from the greatest generation (1901-1927) to Generation Alpha – are often American-centric and may not apply globally. She explains:
For example, the Silent Generation is named as such because the Boomers who came after them were so much larger and more influential. This concept might apply to most of America, Northern America, and Western Europe, but it only fits some African countries.
However, I would say that later generations—Millennials, Generation Z, or Alpha in Western Europe—might reflect more global trends. For instance, some of the characteristics attributed to these generations, particularly around the internet, are more widespread. Youth who have grown up with the internet share a common experience across many parts of the globe.
Significant technological and cultural shifts that influenced Generation Z
Tolgensbakk highlights the significant cultural difference between the digital natives (a new generation of young people born into the digital age) and the digital immigrant generation (people who started using the internet and digital technologies during their adult lives). Drawing from her own experience, she said:
I'm an older Millennial born in 1979, so I first encountered email and the internet when I was almost an adult. My mother, who worked in a library and is almost 80 now, is very tech-savvy because her job required her to deal with punch cards and early computers. However, she didn't grow up with the internet. Meanwhile, my kids, who are Generation Z, have only lived in a world with the internet.
This creates a significant cultural difference—having the notion that any information you need is instantly available at your fingertips. If you're fortunate enough to have grown up with a mobile phone in your hand, you can find all kinds of information at any time, whether it's in the middle of the night or on the bus. This represents a huge change compared to my generation, where we had to go to the library or hope our parents had a book about what we wanted to learn.
This easy access to information marks a substantial cultural shift. It's challenging for older generations to grasp how different this is entirely, and it's equally difficult for young people today to understand how strange it is for older people. There's a generational gap regarding the availability of information—an obvious divide.
Tolgensbakk also mentioned another noteworthy shift – the impact of mobile maps, which she describes as an underappreciated change. She stressed that this has changed how we navigate the world, as younger generations are accustomed to having a global map at their fingertips. She explained:
When you go to a new place, you don't have to be as aware of your surroundings to avoid getting lost because Google Maps is right there in your hand. I see this in my kids; they aren't worried about getting lost in a new city. When I was 17 and went to a strange city, there was a real danger that I might get lost. I would have had to ask for directions at a police station or something similar.
Generation alpha: traits, influences, and future challenges
Tolgensbakk said it is "impossible" to make definitive statements about the Gen Alpha because they are the youngest generation in this present age. She also mentions that businesses often drive generation labels or cohorts to capitalize on emerging markets. Tolgensbakk said:
Naming a generation is profitable; if you're the scholar or business person who invents the name, you can sell books and classes on how to deal with that generation for the rest of your life. So there's a business side to it, almost like an advertising thing—'Learn how to sell to Generation Alpha because this is how they will be.'
In Europe, there's a lot of concern about the wars in Ukraine and Gaza and the rise of right-wing politicians. There's fear about Putin and Russia, but we don't know if that will affect Generation Alpha at all since they are babies now. By the time they are teenagers, the world might look very different.
She further explains that Gen Alpha's future is unpredictable, but they may face challenges like climate change and navigating an information-saturated world. She said:
Defining this generation now is a bit like astrology—just guessing. But we know that, like Generation Z, they will be a digital generation living in a world where information is readily available. When considering educating these kids, we must teach them to discern good and bad information.
This is especially important now with the rise of artificial intelligence and large language models. But again, who knows what will happen in the next 5 or 10 years? Nobody can predict that. Every generation has had to figure out how to separate good information from bad.
Lies were also published in mainstream newspapers when the Baby Boomers were young. However, the internet has created information overload, which might make it harder for the younger generation. As parents and guardians, we can only support them as well as we can in the challenges to come.
What comes after Gen Alpha?
The generation that will follow after Alpha will be Beta. It will begin in 2025 and last until 2039. They will be the children of younger Millennials and older Gen Zs.
What generation was born in the 21st century?
The Gen Zs and Alphas were born during the 21st century. However, not all Generation Z were born in the 21st century because the 21st century began in January 2001. All Alphas are entirely born in the 21st century.
What came before the Silent generation?
The Greatest Generation came before the Silent Generation. These are people born between 1901 to 1927. Most of them are parents of the Silent Generation and Baby Boomers
Generations are social groups of people who were born within a defined period. They share similar values and cultural traits and understand each other better. As of writing, Generation Alpha is the youngest of all. Another new generation, Beta, will start in 2025.
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