namelingSwipe names

Top 100 baby names in the US, 1947

The 100 names given to the most girls and boys born in the US in 1947, from Social Security card applications.

In 1947, Linda was the most popular girls' name in the US, given to 99,692 girls, and James the most popular boys' name, given to 94,767 boys. New to the top 100 since 1946: Deborah and Lynda for girls; Craig, Brian and Bernard for boys. The biggest climbers were Lynn for girls, up 19 places to #75, and Gregory for boys, up 23 places to #33.

Girls, 1947

  1. 1Lindaup 199,692
  2. 2Marydown 171,690
  3. 3Patricia51,278
  4. 4Barbara48,800
  5. 5Sandraup 134,779
  6. 6Caroldown 133,543
  7. 7Nancy32,445
  8. 8Susan31,952
  9. 9Sharon28,533
  10. 10Donnaup 323,517
  11. 11Kathleenup 522,095
  12. 12Judithdown 221,996
  13. 13Karenup 221,648
  14. 14Judydown 321,037
  15. 15Carolyndown 320,742
  16. 16Margaretup 120,101
  17. 17Bettydown 318,966
  18. 18Dianeup 117,775
  19. 19Shirleydown 117,648
  20. 20Joyce15,915
  21. 21Brendaup 315,830
  22. 22Janice15,409
  23. 23Janetdown 215,236
  24. 24Cherylup 313,890
  25. 25Elizabeth13,440
  26. 26Dorothydown 312,753
  27. 27Gloriadown 112,627
  28. 28Pamelaup 612,398
  29. 29Marilyn11,881
  30. 30Joandown 211,277
  31. 31Beverlydown 111,205
  32. 32Martha10,651
  33. 33Cynthiaup 1310,530
  34. 34Virginiadown 310,407
  35. 35Bonniedown 210,214
  36. 36Janedown 19,943
  37. 37Phyllisup 49,187
  38. 38Helendown 28,979
  39. 39Frances8,943
  40. 40Jeandown 38,940
  41. 41Anndown 18,894
  42. 42Peggyup 18,877
  43. 43Connieup 28,645
  44. 44Ruthdown 68,482
  45. 45Christineup 58,379
  46. 46Catherineup 27,889
  47. 47Alicedown 37,849
  48. 48Dianadown 67,622
  49. 49Gail7,242
  50. 50Elainedown 37,059
  51. 51Joup 26,724
  52. 52Rebeccaup 166,333
  53. 53Suzannedown 16,231
  54. 54Paulaup 156,102
  55. 55Kathrynup 86,091
  56. 56Joanneup 16,062
  57. 57Mariedown 36,057
  58. 58Dorisdown 76,029
  59. 59Jacquelineup 36,011
  60. 60Ritadown 45,982
  61. 61Ellendown 35,856
  62. 62Deborahnew5,837
  63. 63Loisdown 85,717
  64. 64Kathyup 155,697
  65. 65Rosedown 55,654
  66. 66Wandadown 75,649
  67. 67Sherryup 65,579
  68. 68Charlottedown 45,386
  69. 69Suedown 85,306
  70. 70Sallydown 35,265
  71. 71Darlene5,255
  72. 72Evelyndown 75,243
  73. 73Sheiladown 35,095
  74. 74Lauraup 15,051
  75. 75Lynnup 194,994
  76. 76Katherineup 24,884
  77. 77Lyndanew4,840
  78. 78Geraldinedown 124,811
  79. 79Mariaup 94,712
  80. 80Rosemarydown 64,542
  81. 81Marciaup 84,472
  82. 82Normadown 54,425
  83. 83Diannedown 74,415
  84. 84Lorraineup 94,414
  85. 85Theresaup 104,390
  86. 86Jeannedown 34,364
  87. 87Patsydown 24,344
  88. 88Marshaup 104,339
  89. 89Joannup 14,276
  90. 90Robertadown 44,261
  91. 91Eileendown 114,251
  92. 92Annadown 54,238
  93. 93Sarahdown 14,223
  94. 94Anitadown 104,187
  95. 94Annedown 134,187
  96. 96Glendaup 34,156
  97. 97Sylviadown 154,100
  98. 98Maureendown 34,085
  99. 99Louisedown 84,050
  100. 100Constance3,894

Boys, 1947

  1. 1James94,767
  2. 2Robert91,655
  3. 3John88,324
  4. 4William67,002
  5. 5Richard58,532
  6. 6David57,810
  7. 7Michael50,506
  8. 8Thomas44,842
  9. 9Charles40,781
  10. 10Larryup 134,946
  11. 11Ronalddown 134,899
  12. 12Gary30,029
  13. 13Donald28,260
  14. 14Joseph27,520
  15. 15Kenneth24,586
  16. 16George23,916
  17. 17Dennis23,686
  18. 18Paul22,796
  19. 19Edward20,539
  20. 20Jerry18,794
  21. 21Stephenup 315,328
  22. 22Danieldown 115,189
  23. 23Frankdown 113,994
  24. 24Stevenup 413,528
  25. 25Rogerdown 212,760
  26. 26Terry12,751
  27. 27Raymonddown 212,352
  28. 28Geralddown 110,750
  29. 29Bruceup 310,524
  30. 30Waynedown 110,169
  31. 31Douglasup 39,895
  32. 32Lawrencedown 19,582
  33. 33Gregoryup 239,327
  34. 34Walterdown 49,218
  35. 35Harolddown 28,904
  36. 36Peterup 28,590
  37. 37Jackdown 28,507
  38. 38Arthurdown 28,255
  39. 39Dannyup 78,069
  40. 40Carldown 18,050
  41. 41Anthonyup 38,014
  42. 42Williedown 27,997
  43. 43Joedown 67,904
  44. 44Jimmydown 27,881
  45. 45Alanup 47,823
  46. 46Henrydown 57,807
  47. 47Markup 117,773
  48. 48Roydown 57,560
  49. 49Johnnydown 27,441
  50. 50Ralphdown 27,389
  51. 51Billydown 66,933
  52. 52Timothyup 86,747
  53. 53Patrickup 66,622
  54. 54Harrydown 46,515
  55. 55Albertdown 36,462
  56. 56Freddown 56,392
  57. 57Philipup 46,235
  58. 58Steveup 116,231
  59. 59Eugenedown 26,178
  60. 60Bobbydown 76,116
  61. 61Ronniedown 76,110
  62. 62Howarddown 76,061
  63. 63Daledown 15,936
  64. 64Louisdown 15,778
  65. 65Mikedown 15,750
  66. 66Jeffreyup 125,665
  67. 67Stanleydown 25,501
  68. 68Barry5,472
  69. 69Russelldown 35,270
  70. 70Glennup 115,157
  71. 71Leonarddown 45,155
  72. 72Samueldown 25,110
  73. 73Allenup 15,075
  74. 74Phillipup 94,789
  75. 75Ernestdown 44,787
  76. 76Billdown 44,681
  77. 77Jimdown 44,640
  78. 78Frederickdown 34,637
  79. 79Tommydown 24,594
  80. 80Eddieup 54,457
  81. 81Normandown 54,410
  82. 82Andrewup 24,346
  83. 83Earldown 14,242
  84. 84Francisdown 44,208
  85. 85Melvinup 14,169
  86. 86Dondown 74,007
  87. 87Tom3,922
  88. 88Clarenceup 13,921
  89. 89Marvindown 13,773
  90. 90Martinup 23,724
  91. 91Keithup 53,684
  92. 92Leedown 13,676
  93. 93Craignew3,640
  94. 94Rodneydown 13,564
  95. 95Briannew3,450
  96. 96Alfreddown 23,417
  97. 97Raydown 23,379
  98. 98Leroydown 83,347
  99. 99Curtis3,037
  100. 100Bernardnew2,994

With how many babies were given each name, and how its rank changed since 1946. 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, 1947”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/top/us/1947, updated 20 October 2026.