Generations defined by name, birth year, and ages in 2026
What are the ages of the generations in 2026? If you do some research, you’ll find that dates overlap and names vary. While we hear generational terms all the time, the definitions are not official. However, based on widespread consensus as well as new Gen Z analysis by the Pew Research Center, and the one generation defined by the U.S. Census Bureau (Baby Boomers), these are the birth years and ages of the generations you’ll want to use in 2026.
Note: Generation names are based on when members of that generation become adults (18-21).
| Generations | Born | Current Ages |
|---|---|---|
| Gen Z | 1997 – 2012 | 14 – 29 |
| Millennials | 1981 – 1996 | 30 – 45 |
| Gen X | 1965 – 1980 | 46 – 61 |
| Boomers II (a/k/a Generation Jones)* | 1955 – 1964 | 62 – 71 |
| Boomers I* | 1946 – 1954 | 72 – 80 |
| Post War | 1928 – 1945 | 81 – 98 |
| WWII | 1922 – 1927 | 99 – 104 |
*We increasingly break up Boomers into two different cohorts because the span is so large, and the oldest of the generation have different sensibilities than the younger. In the U.S., Generation Jones (Boomers II) are just young enough to have missed being drafted into war.
Beresford Research doesn’t define the generations, but we do provide easy access to generation names based on a person’s age. We built this table to assist with our custom market research insights, and we update it annually.
Our information is often cited, including USA Today, Yahoo!, and many other publications and private reports that share generational names and ages.
For more background on how the generations are defined, check out these references: Wikipedia, Kasasa, GenHQ and NetDNA. Generation Jones has its own website.
In short, the generation names are based on when members of that generation become adults (18-21).
For additional information on related topics, you might find our articles on 250+ Country Names in Local Languages
Find out why generational labels receive so much media attention.
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