NamelingSwipe names

Top 100 baby names in the US, 1949

The 100 names given to the most girls and boys born in the US in 1949, from Social Security card applications.

In 1949, Linda was the most popular girls' name in the US, given to 91,015 girls, and James the most popular boys' name, given to 86,858 boys. New to the top 100 since 1948: Cathy, Victoria, Roberta, Anita and Charlene for girls; Christopher, Kevin, Curtis, Scott and Theodore for boys. The biggest climbers were Deborah for girls, up 15 places to #15, and Randall for boys, up 19 places to #79.

Girls, 1949

  1. 1Linda91,015
  2. 2Mary66,874
  3. 3Patriciaup 146,324
  4. 4Barbaradown 142,600
  5. 5Susan37,709
  6. 6Sandra30,643
  7. 7Nancy29,249
  8. 8Carol26,780
  9. 9Kathleenup 126,357
  10. 10Sharondown 125,713
  11. 11Karenup 122,468
  12. 12Donnadown 122,056
  13. 13Brendaup 420,543
  14. 14Margaretdown 119,452
  15. 15Deborahup 1519,209
  16. 16Judithdown 117,610
  17. 17Carolyndown 317,404
  18. 18Shirleyup 217,281
  19. 19Diane17,252
  20. 20Judydown 415,979
  21. 21Pamelaup 115,132
  22. 22Bettydown 414,936
  23. 23Janetup 114,860
  24. 24Janicedown 114,453
  25. 25Elizabethup 113,714
  26. 26Joycedown 513,572
  27. 27Cynthia12,901
  28. 28Cheryldown 312,007
  29. 29Gloriadown 111,879
  30. 30Christineup 511,797
  31. 31Beverly10,552
  32. 32Dorothydown 310,410
  33. 33Marilyn9,865
  34. 34Marthadown 29,808
  35. 35Bonniedown 19,732
  36. 36Joanup 19,206
  37. 37Catherineup 49,137
  38. 38Peggy9,118
  39. 39Virginiadown 38,896
  40. 40Rebeccaup 108,778
  41. 41Janedown 28,719
  42. 42Kathyup 138,451
  43. 43Connie8,219
  44. 44Ann7,870
  45. 45Jeanup 27,760
  46. 46Helendown 67,707
  47. 47Ruthdown 27,651
  48. 48Diana7,535
  49. 49Francesdown 77,440
  50. 50Phyllisdown 47,315
  51. 51Gail7,225
  52. 52Kathrynup 27,184
  53. 53Alicedown 46,660
  54. 54Ritaup 56,653
  55. 55Pauladown 36,577
  56. 56Wandaup 16,307
  57. 57Elainedown 46,214
  58. 58Jacqueline6,040
  59. 59Katherineup 96,039
  60. 60Jodown 45,802
  61. 61Joanneup 45,746
  62. 62Suzanneup 45,609
  63. 63Theresadown 15,603
  64. 64Ellenup 35,504
  65. 65Lauraup 85,384
  66. 66Rosedown 45,371
  67. 67Mariedown 75,306
  68. 68Sherrydown 75,295
  69. 69Dorisdown 55,284
  70. 70Vickiup 115,193
  71. 71Charlottedown 25,142
  72. 72Mariaup 35,123
  73. 73Loisdown 34,915
  74. 74Lynnup 64,880
  75. 75Darleneup 24,799
  76. 76Sheiladown 54,774
  77. 77Sallydown 54,773
  78. 78Marciaup 14,651
  79. 79Marshadown 34,611
  80. 80Evelyndown 64,529
  81. 81Cathynew4,407
  82. 82Teresa4,328
  83. 83Constanceup 104,327
  84. 84Sarahup 14,295
  85. 85Dianneup 14,141
  86. 86Anneup 14,052
  87. 87Glendaup 53,975
  88. 88Suedown 103,926
  89. 89Maureendown 13,923
  90. 90Geraldinedown 73,919
  91. 91Annadown 23,897
  92. 92Jeanneup 33,865
  93. 93Lyndadown 93,830
  94. 94Sylviaup 63,816
  95. 95Eileendown 43,722
  96. 96Victorianew3,669
  97. 97Robertanew3,660
  98. 98Rosemarydown 83,633
  99. 99Anitanew3,591
  100. 100Charlenenew3,541

Boys, 1949

  1. 1James86,858
  2. 2Robert83,873
  3. 3John81,178
  4. 4William61,506
  5. 5Michaelup 160,047
  6. 6Daviddown 159,611
  7. 7Richard50,946
  8. 8Thomas45,192
  9. 9Charles40,052
  10. 10Larryup 131,819
  11. 11Ronalddown 131,502
  12. 12Gary28,935
  13. 13Donaldup 127,121
  14. 14Josephdown 126,408
  15. 15Kenneth23,589
  16. 16Dennisup 121,746
  17. 17Paulup 121,589
  18. 18Georgedown 221,308
  19. 19Stephenup 120,488
  20. 20Stevenup 319,923
  21. 21Edwarddown 219,174
  22. 22Daniel18,240
  23. 23Jerrydown 215,871
  24. 24Markup 513,725
  25. 25Rogerdown 112,821
  26. 26Bruceup 212,265
  27. 27Frankdown 211,960
  28. 28Terrydown 211,457
  29. 29Douglasup 411,322
  30. 30Raymonddown 311,305
  31. 31Gregoryup 110,979
  32. 32Lawrencedown 110,253
  33. 33Geralddown 39,808
  34. 34Timothyup 49,346
  35. 35Waynedown 18,927
  36. 36Anthonyup 58,452
  37. 37Walterdown 28,297
  38. 38Peterdown 18,266
  39. 39Patrickup 98,075
  40. 40Dannydown 18,023
  41. 41Williedown 17,916
  42. 42Harolddown 67,817
  43. 43Carldown 17,689
  44. 44Arthur7,482
  45. 45Alanup 17,255
  46. 46Henrydown 17,183
  47. 47Jackdown 47,128
  48. 48Jeffreyup 106,987
  49. 49Johnnyup 36,968
  50. 50Ralphup 16,748
  51. 51Roydown 26,622
  52. 52Joedown 56,535
  53. 53Jimmydown 36,417
  54. 54Daleup 26,229
  55. 55Philipdown 16,224
  56. 56Albertdown 16,064
  57. 57Billydown 45,821
  58. 58Eugeneup 35,595
  59. 59Harrydown 25,544
  60. 60Stanleyup 55,527
  61. 61Glennup 125,415
  62. 62Samuelup 85,356
  63. 63Howard5,284
  64. 64Louis5,235
  65. 64Ronniedown 55,235
  66. 66Phillipup 35,201
  67. 67Bobbydown 55,120
  68. 68Stevedown 85,027
  69. 69Russelldown 25,007
  70. 70Frederickup 54,748
  71. 71Allenup 14,735
  72. 72Freddown 64,731
  73. 73Barryup 14,607
  74. 74Leonarddown 34,551
  75. 75Andrewup 24,513
  76. 76Ernest4,346
  77. 77Craigup 54,328
  78. 78Francisup 24,281
  79. 79Randallup 194,161
  80. 80Eddiedown 24,106
  81. 81Christophernew4,000
  82. 82Melvindown 13,972
  83. 83Martinup 53,903
  84. 84Tommydown 53,886
  85. 85Keithup 43,878
  86. 86Brianup 93,854
  87. 87Rodneyup 53,826
  88. 88Mikedown 203,742
  89. 89Marvinup 13,725
  90. 90Normandown 53,668
  91. 91Earldown 83,652
  92. 92Randyup 73,623
  93. 93Lee3,562
  94. 94Clarencedown 73,395
  95. 95Kevinnew3,292
  96. 96Alfred3,190
  97. 97Curtisnew3,088
  98. 98Dondown 73,060
  99. 99Scottnew3,055
  100. 100Theodorenew3,041

With how many babies were given each name, and how its rank changed since 1948. 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, 1949”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/top/us/1949, updated 20 October 2026.