A handy (and hilarious) guide to finding your place in the Great Generational Drama
What Generation Are You? Find Out in Our Guide to Generation Years and Names
Published on May 30, 2025
One of my Gen Z kids recently called me a “Boomer” as an insult when I couldn’t figure out how to find Disney+ on my Smart TV by going through the Xbox with the Fire Stick remote. I have two big problems with this: First, I’m an Xennial and proud of it, thankyouverymuch. Second, being a Boomer shouldn’t be an insult. Can we please stop using generations as slander? (And third, why can’t my TV just have a dang “on” button? Is that too much to ask?)
If you’ve ever been called a Boomer by someone younger, tried to explain VHS tapes to someone who’s never heard of Blockbuster, had to decode internet slang for your parents or been yelled at for being a TikTok brat (which actually is a compliment), then congratulations—you have experienced what it’s like to be part of the long, weird and often passive-aggressive divisions known as human generations.
“Generations should not be used for judgment—every generation is valuable,” says Jason Dorsey, a generational researcher and president of the Center for Generational Kinetics, a company that researches generational mindsets. “I look at these groupings not as definitions but as clues to better understand people and create connections.”
Read on to find out where you fit in these generation years and names—and what each designation really means for the millions of people in each category.
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How do you know which generation you’re in?
“There’s no short answer to that,” says Dorsey. “The years that mark generations are hotly debated, which has led to a lot of confusion.” Indeed. A recent YouGov survey of more than 13,000 adults found that only 58% of Americans identify with the same generational group researchers would assign them, based on Pew’s definitions. But about a quarter (27%) pick a different label, usually the generation just before or after theirs. And the last 15% have no clue.
Turns out, figuring out your generation isn’t as simple as matching your birth year to a trendy stereotype. Even Pew Research—the group that popularized these generational definitions in the first place—has started stepping away from this whole categorization game when it comes to generation years and names. Why? Because it’s getting harder to draw clean lines in a world where technology, culture and major life events affect people in vastly different ways, even within the same age group.
Another issue, Dorsey says, is that due to the increasing speed of technological advancements, “the time frame for each generation keeps getting shorter, so new generations are popping up faster and faster.” So it’s not just your brain aging; it’s also that there are more to keep track of.
So if you’ve ever wondered where you land—or just want to know who to blame for skinny jeans going out of style—we talked to Dorsey and combed through history to create this handy (and humorous) guide for you. Read on to take a stroll through the generational timeline.
The Greatest Generation (1901–1927)
Also known as: The OGs of resilience
Shaped by: The Great Depression, World War II, the Dust Bowl, rationing, Rosie the Riveter and the invention of penicillin
Defining traits: Because these folks survived so many world-changing events, they invented grit before it was a TED Talk. Their character was forged in adversity, so they are practical, frugal and deeply community-minded, with a strong sense of duty over self. Growing up during economic collapse and global conflict also taught them to value stability, loyalty and sacrifice—values they later passed on to their kids in the suburbs.
Size: Only about 100,000 people of this generation are still with us.
If this is you: You probably hate wasting food, still use the word whippersnapper and think TikTok is a kind of breath mint. You may also be the reason younger generations know how to fix a lawnmower, bake a pie from scratch and respect a hard day’s work.
The Silent Generation (1928–1945)
Also known as: The world’s most polite rebels
Shaped by: The postwar era, the Cold War, Elvis and the Beatles, rotary phones, the McCarthy era, the rise of television, the polio epidemic and the dawn of consumerism
Defining traits: All these events combined to make members of the Silent Generation both deeply patriotic and culturally restless. They grew up in the shadow of war, quietly built the suburbs and then shocked everyone by giving us rock and roll and the Civil Rights Movement. They’re called silent not because they didn’t speak up, but because they were more cautious and conformist in a postwar world that demanded stability. Yet many became fierce advocates for change.
Size: About 19 million living. But while their numbers have dwindled, their legacy (and casseroles) live on.
If this is you: You might wear suspenders unironically and say “back in my day …” while showing off your polio vaccine scar. You also might have marched with Martin Luther King Jr., fainted for Elvis or bought Beatles records when they first dropped.
Baby Boomers (1946–1964)
Also known as: The ones who ruined everything (according to everyone else) but are really the builders of the golden era of the U.S.
Shaped by: The Vietnam War, Woodstock, the scientific revolution, the Cold War, the moon landing, Watergate and the invention of the teenager
Defining traits: They redefined what it meant to be young, and they led social and political upheaval in the 1960s and ’70s. And because of everything they witnessed, they are both idealistic and deeply divided on issues of trust and power. Born into postwar prosperity, they created the modern consumer economy … then complained about avocado-toast prices.
Size: Over 70 million at their peak
If this is you: You love a good chain email, think Facebook is the internet and remember when phone numbers started with letters. You may also have been part of the counterculture, the feminist movement or the rise of suburbia—and you definitely remember life before seat belts were required.
Generation X (1965–1980)
Also known as: The forgotten middle child
Shaped by: The fall of the Berlin Wall, MTV, the war on drugs, the Challenger disaster, the rise of personal computers, rap, punk and getting off the phone so Mom could use the internet modem
Defining traits: Because Gen Xers were shaped by both recession and rebellion—raising themselves on TV dinners as latchkey kids—they perfected cynicism, sarcasm and grunge. They grew up in a time of high divorce rates and low helicopter parenting, so they value independence, skepticism and a strong work-life boundary.
Size: Around 65 million
If this is you: You still have a mixtape somewhere, understand both analog and digital life, and carry deep emotional scars from dial-up internet. You might also be the chill parent with tattoos who knows how to fix the Wi-Fi and the DVD player (because you probably still have one). You laugh and say, “Don’t do drugs, kids!” every time you crack an egg into a frying pan.
Micro-Generation: Xennials (1977–1983)
This is me! Xennials are a micro-generation that bridges the gap between two larger cohorts, shaped by a massive cultural or technological shift, Dorsey says. In our case? The internet. We were the last kids to grow up without it and the first adults to build careers around it. “Technology is only ‘new’ if you remember what it was like before,” he says.
And that’s the Xennials: Born between Star Wars and the original Oregon Trail, we know how to burn a CD and file a tax return. We drank from garden hoses, survived dial-up and still text with proper punctuation—a rare blend of grit and emojis. Basically, we’re unicorns. (Lisa Frank unicorns. If you know, you know!)
Millennials (1981–1996)
Also known as: The purpose-driven multitaskers
Shaped by: 9/11, Harry Potter, student loans, Myspace, Tumblr and Facebook, Emo, digital music and the housing bubble followed by the great recession
Defining traits: Because of the political circumstances they grew up in, Millennials are the kings and queens of side hustles, invented out of pure economic necessity. They are purpose-driven and highly educated, and they value experiences over possessions—but they also carry more student debt than anyone before them.
Size: Around 72 million
If this is you: You know your Hogwarts house, own a plant you refer to as “your child” and still remember your AIM away message. You also probably have five jobs, a meditation app and a lingering existential crisis about whether you’re “doing it right.”
Micro-Generation: Zillennials (1993–1998)
Zillennials are a micro-generation sandwiched between Millennials and Gen Zers, and they had to grow up fast—weathering a recession, a pandemic and an endless stream of doomscrolling. They’re too young for Friends yet too old for TikTok trends, but they do remember life before smartphones.
They’re fluent in both sarcasm and memes. They witnessed the dawn of influencer culture (and probably tried to become one during quarantine). Because of all this, they are caught between irony and idealism—cynical about systems but still hopeful that their meditation practice will change their life.
Generation Z (1997–2012)
Also known as: The first digital natives
Shaped by: Climate-change anxiety, YouTube university, school shootings, COVID, widespread smartphones, electric vehicles and online gaming as a recognized sport
Defining traits: Because they’ve never known a world without the internet, Gen Zers are both fiercely self-aware and deeply skeptical. They are pragmatic, politically engaged and more emotionally open than any previous generation. They value neurodiversity, and mental health is not taboo—it’s Tuesday.
Size: More than 68 million in the U.S.
If this is you: You’ve never heard a dial tone, you get your news from social media and you think email is for old people. Making a phone call is worse than taking a test. You also expect brands to have values, friends to have boundaries, and your career to have meaning. No pressure. (Fact: You’re under a lot of pressure.)
Generation Alpha (2013–2024)
Also known as: The touchscreen trailblazers
Shaped by: COVID lockdowns, Cocomelon, artificial intelligence, cyberwarfare, climate instability, facial recognition and the rise of smart everything
Defining traits: As the first generation to have more digital footprints than baby books (if they even have printed baby pictures), they’re super comfortable with technology and are already adopting AI, but they are also the first generation inundated with constant personalized marketing, grooming them to be the ultimate consumers. They’re still children (mostly being raised by Millennials but some Gen Xers), however, but Dorsey says they will likely grow up with more climate instability, advanced automation and personalized learning tools. All this will make them adaptable and aware of the world.
Size: Growing fast, just like their Roblox empires
If this is you: You’re probably not reading this. But your parent is probably wondering if you’ll learn about it later—from your AI tutor. You may also have a strong opinion on Paw Patrol politics and a surprisingly sophisticated skin-care regimen.
Generation Beta (2025–2039)
Also known as: The babies of Millennials … and the reason we’re all so tired
Shaped by: Climate change, AI, political instability and whatever comes after TikTok
Defining traits: These are yet to be determined, but expect to see amazing things, Dorsey says. Gen Beta babies will grow up in a hyper-connected, ultra-customized world where screens are wearable and intelligence is artificial, but hopefully empathy is not. They’ll also inherit the benefits and burdens of every generation before them, so no pressure, kiddos.
Size: TBD, but projected to be the largest ever. Hold on to your ergonomic chairs.
So what does your generation say about you?
Absolutely everything. And also nothing at all. Because no matter when you were born and what your generation year and name technically are, if you’ve ever had to explain why your favorite childhood snack no longer exists, you’re somebody’s “back in my day” story. Now go call your grandma. Or text her. Or FaceTime her. Or … hologram her? Whatever your generation prefers.
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About the expert
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At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. For this story on generation years and names, Charlotte Hilton Andersen tapped her experience as a longtime journalist who often writes about communication, knowledge and common curiosities for Reader’s Digest. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Jason Dorsey, generational researcher, president of the Center for Generational Kinetics and author of Zconomy: How Gen Z Will Change the Future of Business; phone interview, May 18, 2025
- YouGov: “Most Millennials and Gen Zers don’t place themselves within their usual generational group”
- Pew Research Center: “Defining generations: Where Millennials end and Generation Z begins”
- Pew Research Center: “How Pew Research Center will report on generations moving forward”
