Why is Gen Y also called Millennials?
Mia Lopez
Updated on February 25, 2026
Millennials are a demographic cohort or age group, also known as Generation Y. They're called millennials because they became adults around the time of the millennium.
Why do we call Gen Y Millennials?
The Millennial Generation is also known as Generation Y, because it comes after Generation X — those people between the early 1960s and the 1980s. The publication Ad Age was one of the first to coin the term "Generation Y," in an editorial in August 1993.Is Gen Y the same as Millennials?
Different names are used for this birth cohort around the world. For example, in North America the most common generational name is Millennials. However, in other parts of the world, Gen Y is more popular. The key is that it's the same generation, just a different name.What does the Y in Gen Y stand for?
Definition of Generation Y"Generation Y" refers to the generation of people that were born between the early '80s and the early '00s. "Generation Y" is the first generation born after "Generation X", and the second generation after the "Baby Boomers".
What is Gen Y also known as?
GENERATION Y OR THE MILLENNIALS: DIGITAL NATIVESAlso known as digital natives, millennials are those born between 1982 and 1994 and technology is part of their everyday lives: all their activities are mediated by a screen.
What's Wrong With Millennials? Generation Y Explained
What are the stereotypes of Generation Y?
Millennials, sometimes called Generation Y, have been subject to so much bad press in the news. Some of the complaints leveled at them include being narcissistic, living with little ambition, and even being a bit delusional. But are these stereotypes true?Why is Generation Y the best?
They highly value productivity. People tend to do better at those things that they value since they put more effort into them. A recent survey by Microsoft found that 93% of its Gen Y respondents believe productivity is the key to happiness.What generation is Alpha?
That is why the generations today each span 15 years with Generation Y (Millennials) born from 1980 to 1994; Generation Z from 1995 to 2009 and Generation Alpha from 2010 to 2024.What are the 7 living generations?
Who do you think you are? Seven generations to choose from
- The Greatest Generation (born 1901–1927)
- The Silent Generation (born 1928–1945)
- Baby Boomers (born 1946–1964)
- Generation X (born 1965–1980)
- Millennials (born 1981–1995)
- Generation Z (born 1996–2010)
- Generation Alpha (born 2011–2025)