namelingSwipe names

Top 100 baby names in the US, 1950

The 100 names given to the most girls and boys born in the US in 1950, from Social Security card applications.

In 1950, Linda was the most popular girls' name in the US, given to 80,433 girls, and James the most popular boys' name, given to 86,228 boys. New to the top 100 since 1949: Debra, Denise, Irene and Joann for girls; Eric and Clifford for boys. The biggest climbers were Marsha for girls, up 11 places to #68, and Kevin for boys, up 22 places to #73.

Girls, 1950

  1. 1Linda80,433
  2. 2Mary65,481
  3. 3Patricia47,944
  4. 4Barbara41,556
  5. 5Susan38,017
  6. 6Nancyup 129,617
  7. 7Deborahup 829,063
  8. 8Sandradown 228,896
  9. 9Caroldown 126,163
  10. 10Kathleendown 125,706
  11. 11Sharondown 124,612
  12. 12Karendown 124,132
  13. 13Donnadown 121,629
  14. 14Brendadown 120,799
  15. 15Margaretdown 118,110
  16. 16Dianeup 317,636
  17. 17Pamelaup 416,202
  18. 18Janetup 516,193
  19. 19Shirleydown 115,891
  20. 20Carolyndown 315,588
  21. 21Judithdown 515,352
  22. 22Janiceup 215,012
  23. 23Cynthiaup 414,447
  24. 24Elizabethup 114,334
  25. 25Judydown 514,207
  26. 26Bettydown 413,615
  27. 27Joycedown 113,415
  28. 28Christineup 212,673
  29. 29Cheryldown 111,823
  30. 30Gloriadown 111,037
  31. 31Beverly10,503
  32. 32Marthaup 29,839
  33. 33Bonnieup 29,746
  34. 34Catherineup 39,655
  35. 35Dorothydown 39,551
  36. 36Rebeccaup 49,425
  37. 37Marilyndown 49,285
  38. 38Kathyup 49,090
  39. 39Janeup 28,964
  40. 40Joandown 48,860
  41. 41Peggydown 38,532
  42. 42Gailup 98,350
  43. 43Virginiadown 48,312
  44. 44Conniedown 18,145
  45. 45Anndown 17,921
  46. 46Kathrynup 67,863
  47. 47Dianaup 17,447
  48. 48Jeandown 37,432
  49. 49Ruthdown 27,128
  50. 50Helendown 47,061
  51. 51Francesdown 26,975
  52. 52Wandaup 46,929
  53. 53Phyllisdown 36,695
  54. 54Paulaup 16,631
  55. 55Jacquelineup 36,455
  56. 56Ritadown 26,424
  57. 57Alicedown 46,363
  58. 58Katherineup 16,205
  59. 59Debranew6,176
  60. 60Elainedown 36,037
  61. 61Vickiup 95,823
  62. 62Sherryup 65,808
  63. 63Lauraup 25,725
  64. 64Jodown 45,676
  65. 65Theresadown 25,628
  66. 66Ellendown 25,567
  67. 67Joannedown 65,491
  68. 68Marshaup 115,400
  69. 69Rosedown 35,376
  70. 70Sheilaup 65,322
  71. 71Suzannedown 95,266
  72. 72Mariedown 55,222
  73. 73Mariadown 15,076
  74. 74Dorisdown 55,053
  75. 75Cathyup 65,031
  76. 76Lynndown 25,020
  77. 77Marciaup 14,955
  78. 78Sallydown 14,870
  79. 79Darlenedown 44,830
  80. 80Charlottedown 94,735
  81. 81Teresaup 14,724
  82. 82Denisenew4,514
  83. 83Loisdown 104,504
  84. 84Anneup 24,459
  85. 85Constancedown 24,441
  86. 86Evelyndown 64,275
  87. 87Glenda4,215
  88. 88Sarahdown 44,143
  89. 89Maureen4,070
  90. 90Diannedown 53,921
  91. 91Eileenup 43,883
  92. 92Irenenew3,825
  93. 93Annadown 23,815
  94. 94Victoriaup 23,781
  95. 95Jeannedown 33,736
  96. 96Robertaup 13,630
  97. 97Sylviadown 33,612
  98. 98Joannnew3,600
  99. 99Anita3,572
  100. 100Suedown 123,503

Boys, 1950

  1. 1James86,228
  2. 2Robert83,553
  3. 3John79,412
  4. 4Michaelup 165,136
  5. 5Davidup 160,729
  6. 6Williamdown 260,680
  7. 7Richard51,003
  8. 8Thomas45,596
  9. 9Charles39,095
  10. 10Garyup 233,737
  11. 11Larrydown 131,480
  12. 12Ronalddown 129,908
  13. 13Josephup 127,022
  14. 14Donalddown 126,999
  15. 15Kenneth23,813
  16. 16Stevenup 423,250
  17. 17Dennisdown 122,862
  18. 18Pauldown 121,742
  19. 19Stephen20,511
  20. 20Georgedown 220,183
  21. 21Danielup 119,189
  22. 22Edwarddown 118,714
  23. 23Markup 116,604
  24. 24Jerrydown 115,261
  25. 25Gregoryup 613,311
  26. 26Bruce12,674
  27. 27Rogerdown 212,552
  28. 28Douglasup 112,264
  29. 29Frankdown 211,606
  30. 30Terrydown 211,433
  31. 31Raymonddown 111,180
  32. 32Timothyup 210,499
  33. 33Lawrencedown 110,173
  34. 34Geralddown 19,726
  35. 35Wayne9,259
  36. 36Anthony8,612
  37. 37Peterup 18,362
  38. 38Patrickup 18,179
  39. 39Dannyup 18,143
  40. 40Walterdown 37,798
  41. 41Alanup 47,737
  42. 42Williedown 17,717
  43. 43Jeffreyup 57,644
  44. 44Carldown 17,288
  45. 45Harolddown 37,214
  46. 46Arthurdown 27,161
  47. 47Henrydown 16,963
  48. 48Jackdown 16,840
  49. 49Daleup 56,785
  50. 50Johnnydown 16,581
  51. 51Roy6,454
  52. 52Ralphdown 26,406
  53. 53Philipup 26,070
  54. 54Joedown 26,033
  55. 55Jimmydown 25,761
  56. 56Albert5,754
  57. 57Billy5,674
  58. 58Eugene5,481
  59. 59Glennup 25,465
  60. 60Stanley5,453
  61. 61Harrydown 25,375
  62. 62Samuel5,227
  63. 63Howard5,164
  64. 64Phillipup 25,055
  65. 65Bobbyup 25,019
  66. 66Louisdown 24,947
  67. 67Russellup 24,945
  68. 68Andrewup 74,932
  69. 69Craigup 84,888
  70. 70Randallup 94,843
  71. 71Allen4,840
  72. 72Christopherup 94,835
  73. 73Kevinup 224,752
  74. 74Barrydown 14,694
  75. 75Frederickdown 54,659
  76. 76Ronniedown 124,616
  77. 77Leonarddown 34,581
  78. 78Keithup 74,566
  79. 79Brianup 74,441
  80. 80Randyup 124,354
  81. 81Ernestdown 54,308
  82. 82Scottup 174,268
  83. 83Stevedown 154,207
  84. 84Freddown 124,195
  85. 85Martindown 24,180
  86. 86Francisdown 84,082
  87. 87Melvindown 53,886
  88. 88Rodneydown 13,856
  89. 89Eddiedown 93,760
  90. 90Norman3,641
  91. 91Leeup 23,611
  92. 92Earldown 13,589
  93. 93Marvindown 43,493
  94. 94Tommydown 103,434
  95. 95Clarencedown 13,340
  96. 96Alfred3,235
  97. 97Curtis3,209
  98. 98Ericnew3,095
  99. 99Theodoreup 12,960
  100. 100Cliffordnew2,940

With how many babies were given each name, and how its rank changed since 1949. 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, 1950”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/top/us/1950, updated 20 October 2026.