NamelingSwipe names

Top 100 baby names in the US, 1946

The 100 names given to the most girls and boys born in the US in 1946, from Social Security card applications.

In 1946, Mary was the most popular girls' name in the US, given to 67,471 girls, and James the most popular boys' name, given to 87,438 boys. New to the top 100 since 1945: Sherry, Kathy, Lynn, Maureen, Marsha and Constance for girls; Rodney and Keith for boys. The biggest climbers were Cynthia for girls, up 44 places to #46, and Gregory for boys, up 40 places to #56.

Girls, 1946

  1. 1Mary67,471
  2. 2Linda52,710
  3. 3Patriciaup 146,297
  4. 4Barbaradown 145,126
  5. 5Carol34,284
  6. 6Sandra31,692
  7. 7Nancy28,345
  8. 8Susanup 228,267
  9. 9Sharondown 127,824
  10. 10Judithdown 122,310
  11. 11Judyup 220,477
  12. 12Carolyn19,902
  13. 13Donnaup 419,770
  14. 14Bettydown 319,711
  15. 15Karenup 119,647
  16. 16Kathleenup 318,760
  17. 17Margaretdown 218,136
  18. 18Shirleydown 417,870
  19. 19Dianeup 315,835
  20. 20Joycedown 215,209
  21. 21Janetdown 114,142
  22. 22Janiceup 214,039
  23. 23Dorothydown 212,797
  24. 24Brendaup 512,690
  25. 25Elizabethup 111,753
  26. 26Gloriadown 311,686
  27. 27Cherylup 511,526
  28. 28Joandown 311,218
  29. 29Marilyndown 210,711
  30. 30Beverlyup 710,430
  31. 31Virginiadown 310,015
  32. 32Marthadown 29,759
  33. 33Bonnieup 29,510
  34. 34Pamelaup 89,367
  35. 35Janeup 18,971
  36. 36Helendown 58,852
  37. 37Jeanup 18,554
  38. 38Ruthdown 58,474
  39. 39Francesdown 58,450
  40. 40Anndown 18,077
  41. 41Phyllisdown 18,048
  42. 42Dianaup 17,544
  43. 43Peggyup 27,400
  44. 44Alicedown 37,363
  45. 45Connieup 27,215
  46. 46Cynthiaup 446,895
  47. 47Elainedown 36,803
  48. 48Catherineup 26,367
  49. 49Gailup 36,227
  50. 50Christineup 126,202
  51. 51Dorisdown 55,987
  52. 52Suzanneup 165,948
  53. 53Joup 75,828
  54. 54Mariedown 55,758
  55. 55Loisdown 75,700
  56. 56Ritaup 35,533
  57. 57Joannedown 45,506
  58. 58Ellenup 35,237
  59. 59Wandadown 15,235
  60. 60Rosedown 65,183
  61. 61Sueup 55,144
  62. 62Jacquelineup 15,083
  63. 63Kathrynup 24,999
  64. 64Charlottedown 94,970
  65. 65Evelyndown 84,890
  66. 66Geraldinedown 104,849
  67. 67Sallydown 34,842
  68. 68Rebeccaup 174,840
  69. 69Pauladown 24,724
  70. 70Sheilaup 194,706
  71. 71Darlene4,662
  72. 72Caroledown 214,621
  73. 73Sherrynew4,518
  74. 74Rosemaryup 54,486
  75. 75Lauraup 24,478
  76. 76Diannedown 44,278
  77. 77Normadown 34,266
  78. 78Katherineup 44,197
  79. 79Kathynew4,179
  80. 80Eileendown 104,168
  81. 81Anne4,115
  82. 82Sylviaup 14,093
  83. 83Jeanneup 154,045
  84. 84Anitaup 164,027
  85. 85Patsydown 14,017
  86. 86Robertadown 114,016
  87. 87Annadown 143,999
  88. 88Mariadown 23,960
  89. 89Marciadown 13,946
  90. 90Joanndown 103,945
  91. 91Louisedown 133,925
  92. 92Sarahdown 163,910
  93. 93Lorrainedown 63,886
  94. 94Lynnnew3,884
  95. 95Maureennew3,684
  96. 95Theresaup 13,684
  97. 97Anniedown 283,651
  98. 98Marshanew3,611
  99. 99Glendadown 73,568
  100. 100Constancenew3,419

Boys, 1946

  1. 1James87,438
  2. 2Robert84,136
  3. 3John79,267
  4. 4William60,034
  5. 5Richard58,870
  6. 6David46,444
  7. 7Michaelup 241,194
  8. 8Thomas38,877
  9. 9Charlesdown 238,215
  10. 10Ronald31,858
  11. 11Larry28,447
  12. 12Garyup 126,931
  13. 13Donalddown 126,273
  14. 14Joseph24,284
  15. 15Kennethup 122,042
  16. 16Georgedown 121,575
  17. 17Dennisup 221,447
  18. 18Pauldown 121,063
  19. 19Edwarddown 118,585
  20. 20Jerry17,567
  21. 21Danielup 312,867
  22. 22Frankdown 112,667
  23. 23Rogerdown 112,411
  24. 24Stephenup 211,832
  25. 25Raymonddown 211,289
  26. 26Terryup 710,678
  27. 27Geralddown 210,033
  28. 28Stevenup 158,878
  29. 29Wayneup 68,807
  30. 30Walterdown 38,668
  31. 31Lawrencedown 18,517
  32. 32Bruceup 168,459
  33. 33Harolddown 58,373
  34. 34Douglasdown 58,336
  35. 35Jackdown 37,801
  36. 36Arthurdown 27,537
  37. 37Joedown 17,536
  38. 38Peter7,483
  39. 39Carl7,380
  40. 40Williedown 97,339
  41. 41Henrydown 47,317
  42. 42Jimmydown 17,128
  43. 43Roydown 36,925
  44. 44Anthonyup 26,771
  45. 45Billydown 36,716
  46. 46Dannyup 106,650
  47. 47Johnnydown 26,611
  48. 48Ralphdown 46,587
  49. 49Alanup 36,490
  50. 50Harrydown 36,027
  51. 51Fred6,012
  52. 52Albertdown 36,007
  53. 53Bobby5,771
  54. 54Ronnieup 135,727
  55. 55Howarddown 15,694
  56. 56Gregoryup 405,672
  57. 57Eugenedown 75,670
  58. 58Markup 145,331
  59. 59Patrickup 45,305
  60. 60Timothyup 105,152
  61. 61Philipdown 35,093
  62. 62Daledown 15,024
  63. 63Louisdown 84,918
  64. 64Mikeup 54,854
  65. 65Stanleydown 64,767
  66. 66Russelldown 24,741
  67. 67Leonarddown 104,704
  68. 68Barryup 164,624
  69. 69Steveup 104,570
  70. 70Samueldown 94,523
  71. 71Ernestdown 114,395
  72. 72Billdown 64,354
  73. 73Jimdown 54,336
  74. 74Allen4,294
  75. 75Frederickup 24,231
  76. 76Normandown 114,161
  77. 77Tommydown 24,144
  78. 78Jeffreyup 134,125
  79. 79Dondown 64,110
  80. 80Francisdown 44,006
  81. 81Glennup 123,892
  82. 82Earldown 113,830
  83. 83Phillipup 23,775
  84. 84Andrewup 23,758
  85. 85Eddiedown 43,746
  86. 86Melvindown 83,742
  87. 87Tomup 23,624
  88. 88Marvindown 83,600
  89. 89Clarencedown 73,567
  90. 90Leroydown 73,472
  91. 91Leedown 43,346
  92. 92Martindown 23,333
  93. 93Rodneynew3,304
  94. 94Alfreddown 63,238
  95. 95Raydown 33,169
  96. 96Keithnew2,860
  97. 97Herbertdown 32,818
  98. 98Geneup 22,759
  99. 99Curtisdown 22,723
  100. 100Clifforddown 12,616

With how many babies were given each name, and how its rank changed since 1945. 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, 1946”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/top/us/1946, updated 20 October 2026.