namelingSwipe names

Top 100 baby names in the US, 1945

The 100 names given to the most girls and boys born in the US in 1945, from Social Security card applications.

In 1945, Mary was the most popular girls' name in the US, given to 59,278 girls, and James the most popular boys' name, given to 74,464 boys. New to the top 100 since 1944: Laura, Sheila, Cynthia, Jeanne and Arlene for girls; Jeffrey, Victor and Gregory for boys. The biggest climbers were Rosemary for girls, up 20 places to #79, and Timothy for boys, up 22 places to #70.

Girls, 1945

  1. 1Mary59,278
  2. 2Lindaup 141,465
  3. 3Barbaradown 138,273
  4. 4Patricia35,844
  5. 5Carol30,389
  6. 6Sandra24,700
  7. 7Nancy21,456
  8. 8Sharon20,838
  9. 9Judith20,192
  10. 10Susanup 319,222
  11. 11Bettydown 118,387
  12. 12Carolyndown 117,244
  13. 13Judydown 117,001
  14. 14Shirleyup 116,150
  15. 15Margaretdown 115,685
  16. 16Karen15,680
  17. 17Donna15,397
  18. 18Joyce13,950
  19. 19Kathleenup 113,802
  20. 20Janetup 112,326
  21. 21Dorothydown 212,323
  22. 22Dianeup 212,223
  23. 23Gloriaup 211,037
  24. 24Janiceup 410,781
  25. 25Joandown 310,394
  26. 26Elizabethdown 310,343
  27. 27Marilyn9,534
  28. 28Virginiadown 29,244
  29. 29Brendaup 19,203
  30. 30Marthadown 18,752
  31. 31Helen8,301
  32. 32Cherylup 48,149
  33. 33Ruthdown 18,046
  34. 34Francesdown 17,940
  35. 35Bonniedown 17,745
  36. 36Janeup 57,639
  37. 37Beverlydown 27,618
  38. 38Jeandown 17,429
  39. 39Ann7,038
  40. 40Phyllis6,530
  41. 41Alicedown 36,359
  42. 42Pamelaup 26,169
  43. 43Dianaup 176,047
  44. 44Elaineup 25,887
  45. 45Peggy5,839
  46. 46Dorisdown 45,820
  47. 47Connieup 45,337
  48. 48Loisdown 15,148
  49. 49Mariedown 15,084
  50. 50Catherinedown 15,031
  51. 51Caroledown 84,842
  52. 52Gailup 44,832
  53. 53Joanneup 24,618
  54. 54Rosedown 24,557
  55. 55Charlottedown 54,529
  56. 56Geraldinedown 34,475
  57. 57Evelyn4,377
  58. 58Wanda4,295
  59. 59Ritadown 54,282
  60. 60Joup 14,224
  61. 61Ellenup 24,189
  62. 62Christineup 134,077
  63. 63Jacquelineup 13,989
  64. 64Sallydown 53,982
  65. 65Kathrynup 33,971
  66. 66Suedown 43,914
  67. 67Paulaup 153,798
  68. 68Suzanneup 103,770
  69. 69Annieup 23,741
  70. 70Eileenup 33,637
  71. 71Darleneup 53,626
  72. 72Dianneup 183,611
  73. 73Annaup 13,607
  74. 74Normadown 83,603
  75. 75Robertadown 53,602
  76. 76Sarahdown 93,592
  77. 77Lauranew3,589
  78. 78Louisedown 93,514
  79. 79Rosemaryup 203,500
  80. 80Joanndown 153,465
  81. 81Anneup 53,407
  82. 82Katherinedown 53,393
  83. 83Sylvia3,375
  84. 84Patsydown 123,350
  85. 85Rebeccadown 13,331
  86. 86Mariadown 63,313
  87. 87Lorraineup 63,207
  88. 88Marciaup 13,206
  89. 89Sheilanew3,178
  90. 90Cynthianew3,127
  91. 91Kaydown 33,058
  92. 92Glendadown 132,963
  93. 93Mildreddown 122,960
  94. 94Marjoriedown 92,929
  95. 95Rubydown 82,904
  96. 96Theresa2,895
  97. 97Irenedown 62,883
  98. 98Jeannenew2,861
  99. 99Arlenenew2,771
  100. 100Anitadown 52,768

Boys, 1945

  1. 1James74,464
  2. 2Robert69,947
  3. 3John66,117
  4. 4William50,218
  5. 5Richard46,046
  6. 6David37,110
  7. 7Charles32,469
  8. 8Thomas31,874
  9. 9Michael29,902
  10. 10Ronald23,665
  11. 11Larryup 122,824
  12. 12Donalddown 122,138
  13. 13Garyup 221,345
  14. 14Josephdown 120,823
  15. 15Georgedown 119,327
  16. 16Kenneth18,096
  17. 17Paul16,995
  18. 18Edward15,870
  19. 19Dennisup 114,990
  20. 20Jerrydown 114,704
  21. 21Frank10,874
  22. 22Rogerup 110,571
  23. 23Raymonddown 19,858
  24. 24Danielup 19,708
  25. 25Geralddown 18,857
  26. 26Stephenup 28,641
  27. 27Walterdown 17,574
  28. 28Harolddown 17,524
  29. 29Douglasup 57,394
  30. 30Lawrenceup 27,163
  31. 31Willie7,030
  32. 32Jackdown 26,857
  33. 33Terryup 106,834
  34. 34Arthurdown 56,802
  35. 35Wayneup 26,738
  36. 36Joedown 36,625
  37. 37Henrydown 26,606
  38. 38Peterup 26,483
  39. 39Carldown 36,314
  40. 40Roydown 16,183
  41. 41Jimmy6,159
  42. 42Billydown 46,022
  43. 43Stevenup 95,974
  44. 44Ralphdown 25,785
  45. 45Johnny5,699
  46. 46Anthony5,686
  47. 47Harryup 25,650
  48. 48Bruceup 35,615
  49. 49Albertdown 55,432
  50. 50Eugenedown 25,167
  51. 51Freddown 45,118
  52. 52Alanup 35,073
  53. 53Bobbydown 35,052
  54. 54Howarddown 14,768
  55. 55Louisdown 14,480
  56. 56Dannyup 204,175
  57. 57Leonarddown 14,125
  58. 58Philipup 24,112
  59. 59Stanleydown 24,058
  60. 60Ernestdown 14,005
  61. 61Dale3,957
  62. 61Samuelup 13,957
  63. 63Patrickup 13,854
  64. 64Russelldown 13,806
  65. 65Normandown 73,726
  66. 66Bill3,711
  67. 67Ronnieup 23,651
  68. 68Jim3,625
  69. 69Mikeup 113,592
  70. 70Timothyup 223,591
  71. 71Earldown 63,567
  72. 72Markup 213,545
  73. 73Dondown 13,482
  74. 74Allenup 33,481
  75. 75Tommydown 53,449
  76. 76Francisdown 53,448
  77. 77Frederickdown 43,437
  78. 78Melvindown 113,408
  79. 79Steveup 103,384
  80. 80Marvindown 53,294
  81. 81Eddiedown 23,223
  82. 82Clarencedown 83,196
  83. 83Leroydown 53,170
  84. 84Barry3,138
  85. 85Phillipdown 23,081
  86. 86Andrewdown 53,007
  87. 87Leedown 22,942
  88. 88Alfreddown 62,894
  89. 89Tomdown 22,893
  90. 90Martinup 12,823
  91. 91Jeffreynew2,782
  92. 92Raydown 62,740
  93. 93Glenndown 52,734
  94. 94Herbertdown 42,664
  95. 95Victornew2,631
  96. 96Gregorynew2,474
  97. 97Curtis2,393
  98. 98Bernarddown 42,388
  99. 99Clifford2,384
  100. 100Genedown 52,373

With how many babies were given each name, and how its rank changed since 1944. 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, 1945”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/top/us/1945, updated 20 October 2026.