How many years have to go by in order for that time period to be given a name?

10. Then you can call it a “decade”.

1, then you can call it a year. For example, the time period January 2009 – December 2009 is called “Fred.”

@J0E ; but that doesn’t make sense because I know there aren’t that many names for generations between my mum and I.

@charmander ; funny.

@troubleinharlem – I don’t get it.

It’s between ten and fifteen years, imo. A little less than a generation. It is an attempt to characterize a large group of people in a way that distinguishes it from the character of people of other periods of time. Often it is about people affected by significant events of the era.

@charmander ; that’s because it wasn’t a serious answer.

A generation is considered to be 25–30 years. Boomers were born between abt 1946 (1945?) and 1962ish.

The 1st boomer to go on Social Security was born on 1/¼6 who collected benefits at 62 in 2008.

Generations aren’t so much defined by years as they are by societal evolutions.

People born from the 80’s to the late 90’s are referred to as “Millenials” or “Generation Y”. Brought up in a time of considerable change (computers, internet, and other communication innovations), they are technologically savvy, adaptable, optimistic people, and to a large extent consider rules to be relative and negotiable. They also have trouble dealing with failure.

People born in the 60’s and 70’s are referred to as “Generation X”. Also non-conformists, they were the ones who raised most of generation Y. Shaped by economic and political crises, they are very family-oriented and have instilled their values (such as the goal of personal accomplishment and happiness vs following social norms) in GenY.

From WWII up to the 1960’s the Baby Boom generation was born. Still pretty conformist, this generation is nonetheless one of the first to recognize itself in individual freedom, in the pursuit of social causes, and in free spirit (think rock and roll, and the hippie movement).

I was born in 1990, which makes we a Generation Y, just like you @troubleinharlem.

Some good answers above. I agree that it has to do with what is going on in society. When there is a distinct change or shift in how the population thinks and acts that kind of defines a generation. It is also true that each decade kind of gets a name too. Like I say I grew up during the conservative 80’s, although I am also part of Generation X (I was born in ‘68). Having said that I can not think of a name for each decade, but I assume each decade has a distinction. All that comes to mind is the Roaring 20’s and Swinging 40’s.

It depends. In 1991 we were able to say that we were “in the 90s”. In 2043 I’ll be able to say the same thing about myself… if anyone can.

Two days is a weekend? :)