namelingSwipe names

Top 100 baby names in the US, 1948

The 100 names given to the most girls and boys born in the US in 1948, from Social Security card applications.

In 1948, Linda was the most popular girls' name in the US, given to 96,220 girls, and James the most popular boys' name, given to 88,605 boys. New to the top 100 since 1947: Vicki, Teresa and Annie for girls; Randall and Randy for boys. The biggest climbers were Deborah for girls, up 32 places to #30, and Mark for boys, up 18 places to #29.

Girls, 1948

  1. 1Linda96,220
  2. 2Mary68,597
  3. 3Barbaraup 146,826
  4. 4Patriciadown 146,140
  5. 5Susanup 335,988
  6. 6Sandradown 131,063
  7. 7Nancy29,411
  8. 8Caroldown 228,977
  9. 9Sharon26,143
  10. 10Kathleenup 123,257
  11. 11Donnadown 122,033
  12. 12Karenup 121,996
  13. 13Margaretup 318,873
  14. 14Carolynup 118,623
  15. 15Judithdown 317,787
  16. 16Judydown 217,706
  17. 17Brendaup 417,700
  18. 18Bettydown 116,625
  19. 19Dianedown 116,607
  20. 20Shirleydown 116,121
  21. 21Joycedown 114,380
  22. 22Pamelaup 614,281
  23. 23Janicedown 114,162
  24. 24Janetdown 113,977
  25. 25Cheryldown 113,220
  26. 26Elizabethdown 113,215
  27. 27Cynthiaup 612,240
  28. 28Gloriadown 111,690
  29. 29Dorothydown 311,324
  30. 30Deborahup 3211,244
  31. 31Beverly10,795
  32. 32Martha10,011
  33. 33Marilyndown 49,937
  34. 34Bonnieup 19,817
  35. 35Christineup 109,677
  36. 36Virginiadown 29,296
  37. 37Joandown 79,275
  38. 38Peggyup 49,089
  39. 39Janedown 38,781
  40. 40Helendown 28,301
  41. 41Catherineup 58,244
  42. 42Francesdown 38,179
  43. 43Connie8,055
  44. 44Anndown 38,025
  45. 45Ruthdown 17,903
  46. 46Phyllisdown 97,876
  47. 47Jeandown 77,774
  48. 48Diana7,706
  49. 49Alicedown 26,981
  50. 50Rebeccaup 26,795
  51. 51Gaildown 26,603
  52. 52Paulaup 26,600
  53. 53Elainedown 36,403
  54. 54Kathrynup 16,177
  55. 55Kathyup 96,148
  56. 56Jodown 55,986
  57. 57Wandaup 95,918
  58. 58Jacquelineup 15,838
  59. 59Ritaup 15,835
  60. 60Mariedown 35,786
  61. 61Sherryup 65,717
  62. 62Roseup 35,556
  63. 62Theresaup 235,556
  64. 64Dorisdown 65,548
  65. 65Joannedown 95,499
  66. 66Suzannedown 135,448
  67. 67Ellendown 65,289
  68. 68Katherineup 85,169
  69. 69Charlottedown 15,164
  70. 70Loisdown 75,077
  71. 71Sheilaup 25,022
  72. 72Sallydown 25,012
  73. 73Lauraup 14,901
  74. 74Evelyndown 24,840
  75. 75Mariaup 44,817
  76. 76Marshaup 124,725
  77. 77Darlenedown 64,692
  78. 78Suedown 94,675
  79. 79Marciaup 24,640
  80. 80Lynndown 54,609
  81. 81Vickinew4,365
  82. 82Teresanew4,217
  83. 83Geraldinedown 54,208
  84. 84Lyndadown 74,167
  85. 85Sarahup 84,159
  86. 86Diannedown 34,138
  87. 87Anneup 74,122
  88. 88Maureenup 104,077
  89. 89Annaup 34,037
  90. 90Rosemarydown 103,870
  91. 91Eileen3,838
  92. 92Glendaup 43,831
  93. 93Constanceup 73,811
  94. 94Joanndown 53,799
  95. 95Jeannedown 93,789
  96. 96Lorrainedown 123,745
  97. 97Annienew3,721
  98. 98Patsydown 113,714
  99. 99Louise3,685
  100. 100Sylviadown 33,671

Boys, 1948

  1. 1James88,605
  2. 2Robert85,478
  3. 3John82,834
  4. 4William61,972
  5. 5Davidup 156,627
  6. 6Michaelup 152,566
  7. 7Richarddown 250,970
  8. 8Thomas43,780
  9. 9Charles38,676
  10. 10Ronaldup 133,527
  11. 11Larrydown 133,436
  12. 12Gary28,397
  13. 13Josephup 126,801
  14. 14Donalddown 126,442
  15. 15Kenneth23,550
  16. 16George21,926
  17. 17Dennis21,765
  18. 18Paul21,252
  19. 19Edward18,983
  20. 20Stephenup 117,061
  21. 21Jerrydown 116,809
  22. 22Daniel16,510
  23. 23Stevenup 115,979
  24. 24Rogerup 112,818
  25. 25Frankdown 212,698
  26. 26Terry12,136
  27. 27Raymond11,612
  28. 28Bruceup 111,065
  29. 29Markup 1810,267
  30. 30Geralddown 29,842
  31. 31Lawrenceup 19,768
  32. 32Gregoryup 19,724
  33. 33Douglasdown 29,468
  34. 34Waynedown 48,682
  35. 35Walterdown 18,627
  36. 36Harolddown 18,144
  37. 37Peterdown 18,048
  38. 38Timothyup 148,043
  39. 39Danny8,009
  40. 40Willieup 27,971
  41. 41Anthony7,878
  42. 42Carldown 27,829
  43. 43Jackdown 67,612
  44. 44Arthurdown 67,576
  45. 45Henryup 17,421
  46. 46Alandown 17,394
  47. 47Joedown 47,288
  48. 48Patrickup 57,192
  49. 49Roydown 17,067
  50. 50Jimmydown 66,927
  51. 51Ralphdown 16,915
  52. 52Johnnydown 36,862
  53. 53Billydown 26,220
  54. 54Philipup 36,162
  55. 55Albert6,156
  56. 56Daleup 76,091
  57. 57Harrydown 35,945
  58. 58Jeffreyup 85,929
  59. 59Ronnieup 25,902
  60. 60Stevedown 25,742
  61. 61Eugenedown 25,608
  62. 62Bobbydown 25,581
  63. 63Howarddown 15,497
  64. 64Louis5,386
  65. 65Stanleyup 25,383
  66. 66Freddown 105,376
  67. 67Russellup 25,109
  68. 68Mikedown 35,045
  69. 69Phillipup 55,018
  70. 70Samuelup 25,002
  71. 71Leonard4,781
  72. 72Allenup 14,755
  73. 73Glenndown 34,740
  74. 74Barrydown 64,670
  75. 75Frederickup 34,516
  76. 76Ernestdown 14,512
  77. 77Andrewup 54,305
  78. 78Eddieup 24,234
  79. 79Tommy4,220
  80. 80Francisup 44,214
  81. 81Melvinup 44,057
  82. 82Craigup 113,985
  83. 83Earl3,977
  84. 84Billdown 83,926
  85. 85Normandown 43,894
  86. 86Jimdown 93,808
  87. 87Clarenceup 13,790
  88. 88Martinup 23,698
  89. 89Keithup 23,660
  90. 90Marvindown 13,625
  91. 91Dondown 53,546
  92. 92Rodneyup 23,466
  93. 93Leedown 13,445
  94. 94Tomdown 73,429
  95. 95Brian3,358
  96. 96Alfred3,245
  97. 97Leroyup 13,234
  98. 98Randallnew3,179
  99. 99Randynew3,141
  100. 100Raydown 33,134

With how many babies were given each name, and how its rank changed since 1947. 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, 1948”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/top/us/1948, updated 20 October 2026.