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Top 100 baby names in the US, 1936

The 100 names given to the most girls and boys born in the US in 1936, from Social Security card applications.

In 1936, Mary was the most popular girls' name in the US, given to 54,377 girls, and Robert the most popular boys' name, given to 58,500 boys. New to the top 100 since 1935: Jeanette, Linda, Kay and Katherine for girls; Stephen and Patrick for boys. The biggest climbers were Sharon for girls, up 36 places to #60, and Larry for boys, up 8 places to #25.

Girls, 1936

  1. 1Mary54,377
  2. 2Shirley35,161
  3. 3Barbara31,682
  4. 4Betty25,868
  5. 5Patricia23,916
  6. 6Dorothy17,666
  7. 7Joan17,072
  8. 8Nancyup 116,755
  9. 9Margaretdown 114,596
  10. 10Carolup 114,520
  11. 11Helendown 112,234
  12. 12Joyce11,988
  13. 13Marilynup 111,064
  14. 14Virginiaup 29,650
  15. 15Dorisdown 29,226
  16. 16Ruthdown 19,217
  17. 17Beverlyup 38,901
  18. 18Elizabethdown 18,860
  19. 19Frances8,789
  20. 20Jeandown 28,536
  21. 21Janetup 18,080
  22. 22Donnaup 17,932
  23. 23Carolynup 57,906
  24. 24Martha7,392
  25. 25Phyllisup 27,374
  26. 26Loisdown 57,232
  27. 27Alicedown 27,201
  28. 28Annup 26,666
  29. 29Norma6,633
  30. 30Doloresdown 46,417
  31. 31Janiceup 166,150
  32. 32Gloria6,140
  33. 33Marie6,132
  34. 34Evelyndown 36,108
  35. 35Peggyup 16,068
  36. 36Annadown 25,727
  37. 37Rose5,699
  38. 38Sandraup 125,526
  39. 39Marlene5,332
  40. 40Mildreddown 55,051
  41. 41Geraldinedown 14,864
  42. 42Janeup 14,719
  43. 43Judithup 114,580
  44. 44Catherinedown 24,537
  45. 45Anniedown 74,529
  46. 46Louisedown 14,355
  47. 47Eleanorup 14,341
  48. 48Joannedown 44,305
  49. 49Marjoriedown 34,279
  50. 50Elaineup 14,259
  51. 51Rubydown 104,226
  52. 52Patsyup 44,196
  53. 53Sylviaup 74,156
  54. 54Arleneup 53,898
  55. 55Joanndown 23,886
  56. 56Wandadown 73,882
  57. 57Irenedown 53,817
  58. 58Deloresdown 13,760
  59. 59Sallydown 13,635
  60. 60Sharonup 363,573
  61. 61Charlotteup 43,555
  62. 62Junedown 73,515
  63. 62Sarahdown 13,515
  64. 64Robertaup 133,467
  65. 65Bonniedown 33,374
  66. 66Jacquelineup 133,362
  67. 67Kathleenup 43,352
  68. 68Audreydown 43,345
  69. 69Ritadown 63,334
  70. 70Lorettadown 13,325
  71. 71Ednadown 43,305
  72. 72Joup 13,292
  73. 73Caroleup 203,199
  74. 74Thelmaup 23,196
  75. 75Juanitadown 33,183
  76. 76Lorrainedown 83,167
  77. 77Josephinedown 23,141
  78. 78Wilmadown 83,123
  79. 79Lilliandown 133,117
  80. 80Florencedown 63,083
  81. 81Yvonneup 173,038
  82. 82Paulinedown 22,981
  83. 83Darleneup 82,962
  84. 84Gladysdown 62,944
  85. 85Emmaup 42,831
  86. 86Gracedown 32,791
  87. 87Edith2,759
  88. 88Theresadown 22,758
  89. 89Annedown 52,756
  90. 90Etheldown 82,730
  91. 91Claradown 102,684
  92. 92Lucilledown 72,632
  93. 93Mariondown 52,580
  94. 94Jeanettenew2,552
  95. 95Bernicedown 52,540
  96. 96Hazeldown 42,512
  97. 97Lindanew2,440
  98. 98Kaynew2,408
  99. 99Ellendown 42,398
  100. 100Katherinenew2,355

Boys, 1936

  1. 1Robert58,500
  2. 2James54,694
  3. 3John47,683
  4. 4William39,398
  5. 5Richard33,494
  6. 6Charles29,101
  7. 7Donald28,639
  8. 8Thomasup 118,342
  9. 9Georgedown 118,197
  10. 10Davidup 117,476
  11. 11Josephdown 117,453
  12. 12Ronald16,917
  13. 13Edward14,194
  14. 14Kennethup 112,486
  15. 15Pauldown 112,307
  16. 16Frank10,186
  17. 17Raymond9,459
  18. 18Jerryup 49,271
  19. 19Geraldup 29,018
  20. 20Jackdown 28,857
  21. 21Harolddown 18,628
  22. 22Billydown 38,587
  23. 23Joeup 28,023
  24. 24Bobby7,735
  25. 25Larryup 87,611
  26. 26Walterdown 37,536
  27. 27Carlup 16,591
  28. 28Henrydown 16,447
  29. 29Eugenedown 36,376
  30. 30Arthurdown 16,264
  31. 31Ralphup 16,029
  32. 32Williedown 26,011
  33. 33Michaelup 85,800
  34. 34Albertdown 35,759
  35. 35Rogerup 15,702
  36. 36Freddown 25,602
  37. 37Lawrencedown 25,339
  38. 38Garyup 65,192
  39. 39Harrydown 24,931
  40. 40Howarddown 14,874
  41. 41Danielup 24,817
  42. 42Roydown 24,815
  43. 43Normandown 54,645
  44. 44Louisdown 24,418
  45. 45Wayneup 44,409
  46. 46Jimmyup 14,214
  47. 47Earldown 14,106
  48. 48Anthonyup 43,978
  49. 49Marvindown 43,936
  50. 50Francisup 33,876
  51. 51Don3,830
  52. 52Clarencedown 43,772
  53. 53Melvinup 43,730
  54. 54Leonard3,716
  55. 55Ernest3,715
  56. 56Peterup 33,714
  57. 57Leroydown 73,642
  58. 58Stanleydown 23,492
  59. 59Daleup 23,393
  60. 60Alfredup 33,253
  61. 61Billdown 13,166
  62. 62Herbertdown 43,117
  63. 63Philipup 23,033
  64. 64Franklinup 72,939
  65. 64Ray2,939
  66. 66Gene2,909
  67. 67Samueldown 52,893
  68. 68Bernarddown 12,853
  69. 69Russelldown 12,832
  70. 70Frederickup 32,817
  71. 71Jimmiedown 22,742
  72. 72Johnnyup 22,729
  73. 73Bruceup 42,630
  74. 74Dennisdown 22,627
  75. 75Gordondown 52,567
  76. 76Leeup 42,418
  77. 77Bobup 42,408
  78. 78Douglasdown 32,374
  79. 79Eddieup 82,347
  80. 80Glenndown 22,328
  81. 81Allenup 22,314
  82. 82Leonup 42,282
  83. 83Andrewup 22,276
  84. 84Edwinup 52,271
  85. 85Jimup 52,268
  86. 86Floyddown 102,228
  87. 87Theodoredown 82,219
  88. 88Lloyddown 42,160
  89. 89Clydedown 72,153
  90. 90Clifforddown 22,132
  91. 91Tommyup 42,108
  92. 92Martinup 12,106
  93. 93Vernonup 12,028
  94. 94Leodown 22,017
  95. 95Warrenup 21,976
  96. 96Alvindown 51,970
  97. 96Harveyup 31,970
  98. 98Jeromedown 21,967
  99. 99Stephennew1,862
  100. 100Patricknew1,856

With how many babies were given each name, and how its rank changed since 1935. Each spelling counts as a separate name, as in the official lists.

Other years in the US

Sources

Figures from Popular Baby Names (US Social Security Administration). Nameling last updated them on 20 October 2026. How the figures are worked out, and the data to download.

To cite this page: Nameling, “Top 100 baby names in the US, 1936”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/top/us/1936, updated 20 October 2026.