The most searched keyword on Google in 2024 was once again YouTube. But what about the rest of the list?
I wanted to find what terms Americans search for millions of times. If you are a search engine optimization (SEO) specialist or just want to know what’s got everyone talking lately, this list is for you.
Buckle up for my detailed breakdown of the most popular Google searches in the United States.
Let’s begin.
Top 100 Google Searches [Key Findings]
- YouTube holds the #1 spot, with 104,300,000 US users turning to the platform for video content daily. According to recent video marketing statistics, it remains the top video-sharing platform in the world.
- ChatGPT pioneered the artificial intelligence (AI) hype in the past few years. Subsequently, the name of the AI tool ranks highly in a couple of written variants.
- People often use search to navigate to social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram.
- Americans frequently Google everyday essentials like weather, translator, and maps.
- Sports events and terms like the NBA league, and NFL games kept fans checking scores and standings all year long.
- People enjoyed their online downtime with Netflix, Roblox, and Wordle as their go-to entertainment searches.
Now, without further ado, here is the top 100 list of keyword terms for 2024 ranked by search volume in the US:
The 100 Most Popular Keywords and Trends in the US
I used Ahrefs for my analysis, which is one of the best keyword ranking software tools. Please note that I’ve filtered any not safe for work (NSFW) content to ensure the list is appropriate for all readers.
| Rank | Keyword | US Search Volume |
| 1. | youtube | 104,300,000 |
| 2. | amazon | 80,510,000 |
| 3. | 69,430,000 | |
| 4. | wordle | 56,450,000 |
| 5. | gmail | 55,000,000 |
| 6. | 41,520,000 | |
| 7. | google translate | 33,620,000 |
| 8. | translate | 32,120,000 |
| 9. | weather | 29,960,000 |
| 10. | walmart | 24,790,000 |
| 11. | chatgpt | 23,630,000 |
| 12. | yahoo | 22,850,000 |
| 13. | nfl | 21,520,000 |
| 14. | calculator | 21,380,000 |
| 15. | ebay | 20,940,000 |
| 16. | yahoo mail | 19,320,000 |
| 17. | home depot | 18,650,000 |
| 18. | netflix | 17,970,000 |
| 19. | fox news | 17,950,000 |
| 20. | target | 17,550,000 |
| 21. | google docs | 17,390,000 |
| 22. | google maps | 16,960,000 |
| 23. | traductor (Spanish for “translator”) | 16,730,000 |
| 24. | blooket | 15,400,000 |
| 25. | canva | 14,790,000 |
| 26. | google flights | 14,570,000 |
| 27. | 14,410,000 | |
| 28. | nfl scores | 14,140,000 |
| 29. | roblox | 13,960,000 |
| 30. | weather tomorrow | 13,890,000 |
| 31. | news | 13,620,000 |
| 32. | connections | 13,500,000 |
| 33. | amazon prime | 13,050,000 |
| 34. | streameast | 12,920,000 |
| 35. | election results | 12,690,000 |
| 36. | usps tracking | 12,220,000 |
| 37. | indeed | 11,850,000 |
| 38. | 11,810,000 | |
| 39. | nba | 11,540,000 |
| 40. | zillow | 11,350,000 |
| 41. | shein | 11,200,000 |
| 42. | 10,820,000 | |
| 43. | speed test | 10,480,000 |
| 44. | erome | 10,220,000 |
| 45. | spotify | 10,200,000 |
| 46. | chat gpt | 10,120,000 |
| 47. | costco | 10,110,000 |
| 48. | food near me | 10,000,000 |
| 49. | cnn | 9,970,000 |
| 50. | etsy | 9,680,000 |
| 51. | lowes | 9,680,000 |
| 52. | espn | 9,500,000 |
| 53. | 9,330,000 | |
| 54. | maps | 9,270,000 |
| 55. | google classroom | 9,220,000 |
| 56. | trump | 9,150,000 |
| 57. | english to spanish | 8,660,000 |
| 58. | discord | 8,490,000 |
| 59. | solitaire | 8,400,000 |
| 60. | cool math games | 8,250,000 |
| 61. | airbnb | 8,200,000 |
| 62. | spanish to english | 8,200,000 |
| 63. | kahoot | 8,030,000 |
| 64. | capital one | 7,910,000 |
| 65. | clever | 7,810,000 |
| 66. | best buy | 7,800,000 |
| 67. | restaurants near me | 7,710,000 |
| 68. | paypal | 7,460,000 |
| 69. | google drive | 7,030,000 |
| 70. | 6,980,000 | |
| 71. | facebook marketplace | 6,820,000 |
| 72. | outlook | 6,740,000 |
| 73. | taylor swift | 6,670,000 |
| 74. | nba scores | 6,520,000 |
| 75. | bitcoin price | 6,460,000 |
| 76. | msn | 6,430,000 |
| 77. | hulu | 6,290,000 |
| 78. | craigslist | 6,170,000 |
| 79. | nfl games | 6,140,000 |
| 80. | connections hint | 6,130,000 |
| 81. | bank of america | 6,010,000 |
| 82. | snake | 5,960,000 |
| 83. | temu | 5,860,000 |
| 84. | internet speed test | 5,810,000 |
| 85. | walgreens | 5,810,000 |
| 86. | 2024 us election results | 5,800,000 |
| 87. | connections nyt | 5,740,000 |
| 88. | gmail login | 5,710,000 |
| 89. | american airlines | 5,590,000 |
| 90. | tiktok | 5,570,000 |
| 91. | cvs | 5,450,000 |
| 92. | mlb scores | 5,390,000 |
| 93. | hotmail | 5,300,000 |
| 94. | fedex tracking | 5,290,000 |
| 95. | usps | 5,220,000 |
| 96. | sniffies | 5,210,000 |
| 97. | prodigy | 5,200,000 |
| 98. | dominos | 5,180,000 |
| 99. | snake game | 5,130,000 |
| 100. | macys | 5,030,000 |
Top 100 Google Searches: Trends and Highlights
As an SEO statistics enthusiast, I couldn’t resist analyzing the above data a bit deeper. What do these popular search terms tell us about user behavior?
Here’s what you need to know.
Navigational keywords make up 74% of the top 100 searches
What do users target with their search queries? To discover something new, research a topic, or find a specific website?
Here are the hidden meanings behind the words and phrases listed above:
- Navigational or branded keywords help users find specific websites or services. These made up 74% of the list. Keywords like “Google,” “Facebook,” and “WhatsApp” are clear examples of how much people use brand-specific queries.
- 26% of the terms in the top 100 had informational search intent. People use informational queries to find facts or answers to their questions. For example, we see “weather tomorrow” as a non-branded search for the forecast.
- Almost all searches were non-local, meaning very few users were looking for geographically specific content. The only exceptions were the queries “food near me” and “restaurants near me.”
- Non-branded terms represent 22% of the top keywords. These have broader search intent that isn’t tied to specific companies. For example, general terms like “translate” and “weather” show that users are looking for information without any brand preference.
People use Google as a shortcut to utilities, tools, and services
Need to check the weather forecast before you plan your trip to a restaurant nearby? A quick Google search is how millions of Americans problem-solve on the move.
In situations that require prompt solutions, Google becomes the Swiss Army knife of digital tools. Many of the top search terms, such as “election results,” “calculator,” and “maps,” show us that users are frequently Googling for easy access to practical information.
Entertainment, news, and current events dominated online discussions
Google has become a lens through which people gauge global events. For some, search is a shortcut to entertainment; for others, it’s a curator of important updates.
2024 had millions of people binge-watching Netflix series (17,970,000 searches) and singing along to Taylor Swift (6,670,000 searches). The prominence of music, gaming, and video platforms gives us intel on how individuals take a break from their daily routines.
This year also had the whole nation focused on the presidential election. Political queries, including “2024 US election results,” in addition to more general searches for “news” reflect a widespread need for real-time information.
The boom of online shopping: ecommerce is taking over search trends
More and more US consumers are choosing the ease and variety of online shopping.
The ecommerce giant Amazon is leading the game with about 80,510,000 searches, proving it’s the top pick for all kinds of products. Walmart comes in second place with 24,790,000 searches, followed by eBay (20,940,000 searches), which remains a popular choice for niche markets and auctions.
And let’s talk about affordable fashion. The wallet-friendly online retailer Shein is a big hit with shoppers making waves with 11,200,000 Google searches.
What is the bottom line here? Convenience, good prices, and variety make online shopping the go-to choice for millions of Americans. With the combined power of SEO and PPC working together, any brand can increase its chances of high organic search rankings.
Conclusion
And that’s a wrap on my look at the most popular keywords in the United States in 2024.
Of course, trends can shift quickly, and what’s relevant today could look completely different tomorrow.
I’ll keep this list updated regularly, so you can always come back to it and stay on top of the latest search behavior trends.