Hey! Are you sort of new to cubing? If yes, you have quite a bit to catch up. anyway, I was also quite curious when I started (2014). I have done some research and got pretty good info. Note that 'popular' is quite subjective and is hard exactly pinpoint the popularity of one cube.
Here are some links:
http://speedcubes.net/puzzle.php?puzzle=3x3x3
https://www.speedsolving.com/forum/...tion-of-the-naming-of-the-alpha-series.30322/
So those above ^ are just some old links you can go through
Below is my opinion, so it can be very inaccurate but I'm gonna give it my best shot.
2010 - Alpha V/Type F2
2011 - Guhong/Zhanchi
2012 - Zhanchi (very unsure)
2013 - Zhanchi/Fangshi Shuangren/Weilong
2014 - Aolong V2
2015 & 2016 - Too many releases.....
So yeah, that's it!