The generation before the Lost Generation (born roughly 1883-1900) is often called the Missionary Generation, born roughly 1860–1882, characterized by idealism, workers' rights, and social reform, who later influenced the Progressive Era and World War II efforts, effectively serving as the "Baby Boomers" of their time before the Lost Generation came of age amidst WWI.
The four most commonly discussed generations today, moving from oldest to youngest, are Baby Boomers (1946-1964), Generation X (1965-1980), Millennials (Gen Y, 1981-1996), and Generation Z (1997-2012), with the newer Generation Alpha (2010s-mid-2020s) following Gen Z, all defined by distinct cultural and technological experiences shaping their values and behaviors.
The seven common generations, with their generally accepted birth year ranges (though slight variations exist), are: The Greatest Generation (1901-1927), Silent Generation (1928-1945), Baby Boomers (1946-1964), Generation X (1965-1980), Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), Generation Z (Zoomers) (1997-2012), and Generation Alpha (2013-2024), with the emerging Generation Beta starting in 2025. These cohorts are defined by shared cultural experiences, technological exposure, and historical events.
The Silent Generation (born roughly 1928-1945) is called "silent" because they were raised during tough times (Great Depression, WWII) and matured during the conformity-driven, anti-communist McCarthy era, leading them to be more traditional, cautious, and less rebellious than previous or subsequent generations, preferring to work within the system rather than challenge it. The name was coined in a 1951 Time magazine article highlighting their quiet, conformist nature compared to their "flaming youth" parents, emphasizing their desire to be seen and not heard.
The Lost Generation (b. 1883-1900) preceded the Greatest Generation. However, the people born during the American Civil War would belong to the elder cohort of the generation before that, which Strauss and Howe call the "Missionary Generation" (b. 1860 to 1882).
They are:
They were pivotal in the Civil Rights Movement (think Rosa Parks, born 1913) and laid the groundwork for technological advances, like early computing. Today, this generation numbers roughly 23 million in the U.S. (per 2020 Census estimates), with many still active despite their age.
Across much of the world, it is no longer middle-aged adults who are the most miserable. Instead, young people, especially Gen Z, are reporting the highest levels of unhappiness of any age group.
Donald Trump is a Baby Boomer, born on June 14, 1946, making him one of the first in that generation, which typically spans 1946-1964; the Silent Generation precedes this, generally from 1925-1945, with President Joe Biden representing the latter. While Trump shares some traits with the broader Boomer demographic, his formative experiences as a wealthy individual diverged from many of his peers, though he later became a significant political figure for many in the generation.
There's no single "toughest" generation, as each faces unique struggles, but Generation X (born 1965-1980) is often cited as the most stressed due to balancing work, family, and finances while facing economic uncertainty, yet they also show high resilience, while younger generations like Gen Z grapple with unprecedented housing costs and climate anxiety, making the definition of "tough" subjective and dependent on the specific challenges faced.
A person between 50 and 59 is called a quinquagenarian. A person between 60 and 69 is called a sexagenarian. A person between 70 and 79 is called a septuagenarian. A person between 80 and 89 is called an octogenarian.
Zillennials, or Zennials, is a social cohort encompassing people born on the cusp of or during the latter years of the Millennial generation and the early years of Generation Z. Sources typically give ranges of those born from 1993 to 1998, though some extend this further in either direction.
Generation Beta: b.
Generation Beta consists of those born between 2025 and 2039, and is anticipated to be a generation characterized by significant technological integration and a strong appreciation for diversity, according to futurist Mark McCrindle.
Millennials are the most educated generation in U.S. history—yet many are still financially behind. Nearly 40% hold a bachelor's degree, but they earn about 20% less than baby boomers did at the same age, even after adjusting for inflation.
Baby boomers got their name from a phenomenon known as the “baby boom.” This period after World War II was marked by a sharp increase in birth rates across the country. In fact, over three million babies were born in 1946, more than ever before in U.S. history.
And in his self-revelation to Moses, he again says that he will visit “the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation” (Exod 34:7). An implication is that God punishes grandchildren on behalf of their grandparents.
In contrast, Millennials's resentment toward Baby Boomers is driven primarily by practical concerns over their life prospects (i.e., realistic threat). Identifying the causes of intergenerational tensions also begs the question of how these tensions may be alleviated.
It was in this church that Trump attended Sunday school and was confirmed into the Presbyterian Church (USA) in 1959. The choice of church appears to have been influenced by his mother's Scottish heritage; his father, who was of German descent, had been raised Lutheran.
Generation X, defined by the Pew Research Center as those born between 1965-1980, is the smallest generation by population, due to lower birth rates.
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Whilst boomers and millennials may use the 😂 emoji, this has long since been deemed 'uncool' (or 'cheugy') by Gen Z. Instead, this has been replaced by the skull (💀) or the crying emoji (😭), dramatising the idea of 'dying with laughter'.
Bae – Boyfriend or girlfriend.
Bush), and four presidents have been Baby Boomers (Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump); two presidents were members of the Lost Generation (Harry S. Truman; and Dwight D. Eisenhower), only one President, Joe Biden, has been a member of the Silent Generation.
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