namelingSwipe names

Top 100 baby names in the US, 1951

The 100 names given to the most girls and boys born in the US in 1951, from Social Security card applications.

In 1951, Linda was the most popular girls' name in the US, given to 73,982 girls, and James the most popular boys' name, given to 87,256 boys. New to the top 100 since 1950: Vickie, Julie and Valerie for girls; Micheal for boys. The biggest climbers were Debra for girls, up 41 places to #18, and Randy for boys, up 24 places to #56.

Girls, 1951

  1. 1Linda73,982
  2. 2Mary65,721
  3. 3Patricia56,446
  4. 4Deborahup 342,053
  5. 5Barbaradown 140,617
  6. 6Susandown 140,228
  7. 7Nancydown 130,346
  8. 8Karenup 427,998
  9. 9Sandradown 127,665
  10. 10Kathleen26,716
  11. 11Caroldown 224,781
  12. 12Donnaup 124,074
  13. 13Sharondown 223,920
  14. 14Brenda21,717
  15. 15Dianeup 119,840
  16. 16Pamelaup 118,570
  17. 17Margaretdown 217,692
  18. 18Debraup 4117,064
  19. 19Janetdown 116,947
  20. 20Cynthiaup 316,295
  21. 21Janiceup 115,958
  22. 22Carolyndown 215,206
  23. 23Elizabethup 115,118
  24. 24Christineup 415,017
  25. 25Judithdown 414,935
  26. 26Judydown 114,017
  27. 27Shirleydown 813,919
  28. 28Joycedown 113,472
  29. 29Bettydown 312,822
  30. 30Cheryldown 111,986
  31. 31Gloriadown 110,951
  32. 32Rebeccaup 410,932
  33. 33Beverlydown 210,860
  34. 34Catherine10,566
  35. 35Kathyup 310,406
  36. 36Gailup 69,886
  37. 37Bonniedown 49,706
  38. 38Marthadown 69,605
  39. 39Joanup 19,403
  40. 40Peggyup 19,208
  41. 41Marilyndown 49,148
  42. 42Dorothydown 79,089
  43. 43Janedown 48,942
  44. 44Connie8,722
  45. 45Kathrynup 18,460
  46. 46Anndown 18,423
  47. 47Virginiadown 48,180
  48. 48Deniseup 348,116
  49. 49Jeandown 17,627
  50. 50Dianadown 37,396
  51. 51Paulaup 37,290
  52. 52Wanda7,233
  53. 53Ruthdown 47,076
  54. 54Helendown 46,949
  55. 55Katherineup 36,930
  56. 56Jacquelinedown 16,915
  57. 57Phyllisdown 46,791
  58. 58Vickiup 36,630
  59. 59Francesdown 86,584
  60. 60Lauraup 36,466
  61. 61Ritadown 56,415
  62. 62Alicedown 56,315
  63. 63Teresaup 186,213
  64. 64Theresaup 16,190
  65. 65Roseup 46,185
  66. 66Elainedown 66,069
  67. 67Jodown 36,001
  68. 68Ellendown 25,945
  69. 69Sheilaup 15,897
  70. 70Sherrydown 85,889
  71. 71Cathyup 45,697
  72. 72Lynnup 45,629
  73. 73Joannedown 65,358
  74. 74Marciaup 35,299
  75. 75Mariadown 25,236
  76. 76Marshadown 85,188
  77. 77Sallyup 15,138
  78. 78Mariedown 65,046
  79. 79Darlene5,030
  80. 80Dorisdown 65,025
  81. 81Victoriaup 134,907
  82. 82Anneup 24,873
  83. 83Suzannedown 124,828
  84. 84Charlottedown 44,649
  85. 85Loisdown 24,533
  86. 86Constancedown 14,367
  87. 87Vickienew4,320
  88. 88Evelyndown 24,232
  89. 89Glendadown 24,135
  90. 90Dianne4,034
  91. 91Sarahdown 34,028
  92. 92Robertaup 43,979
  93. 93Maureendown 43,878
  94. 94Annadown 13,870
  95. 95Eileendown 43,816
  96. 96Anitaup 33,785
  97. 97Sylvia3,777
  98. 98Jeannedown 33,768
  99. 99Julienew3,686
  100. 100Valerienew3,559

Boys, 1951

  1. 1James87,256
  2. 2Robert86,353
  3. 3John81,569
  4. 4Michael72,807
  5. 5David64,788
  6. 6William62,781
  7. 7Richard54,541
  8. 8Thomas48,275
  9. 9Charles39,406
  10. 10Gary38,160
  11. 11Larry30,558
  12. 12Ronald29,049
  13. 13Stevenup 328,363
  14. 14Josephdown 128,147
  15. 15Donalddown 127,916
  16. 16Kennethdown 125,841
  17. 17Dennis24,264
  18. 18Paul22,853
  19. 19Stephen22,474
  20. 20Markup 321,201
  21. 21Daniel21,121
  22. 22Georgedown 220,212
  23. 23Edwarddown 119,913
  24. 24Jerry15,164
  25. 25Gregory14,102
  26. 26Bruce14,090
  27. 27Douglasup 113,902
  28. 28Timothyup 412,705
  29. 29Rogerdown 212,425
  30. 30Terry12,216
  31. 31Frankdown 211,477
  32. 32Raymonddown 111,227
  33. 33Lawrence10,266
  34. 34Anthonyup 29,836
  35. 35Jeffreyup 89,713
  36. 36Geralddown 29,539
  37. 37Waynedown 29,327
  38. 38Peterdown 18,999
  39. 39Patrickdown 18,751
  40. 40Alanup 18,408
  41. 41Dannydown 28,179
  42. 42Walterdown 28,038
  43. 43Carlup 17,641
  44. 44Arthurup 27,414
  45. 45Williedown 37,226
  46. 46Harolddown 17,178
  47. 47Henry7,120
  48. 48Jack7,004
  49. 49Dale6,963
  50. 50Johnny6,700
  51. 51Ralphup 16,525
  52. 52Roydown 16,466
  53. 53Kevinup 206,349
  54. 54Stanleyup 66,205
  55. 55Philipdown 26,098
  56. 56Randyup 246,034
  57. 57Joedown 35,824
  58. 58Glennup 15,803
  59. 59Keithup 195,767
  60. 60Albertdown 45,758
  61. 61Christopherup 115,734
  62. 62Jimmydown 75,687
  63. 63Craigup 65,623
  64. 64Billydown 75,610
  65. 65Eugenedown 75,580
  66. 66Randallup 45,532
  67. 67Samueldown 55,476
  68. 68Scottup 145,381
  69. 69Andrewdown 15,373
  70. 70Harrydown 95,303
  71. 71Barryup 35,284
  72. 72Allendown 15,179
  73. 73Russelldown 65,175
  74. 74Howarddown 115,108
  75. 75Brianup 45,101
  76. 76Louisdown 105,089
  77. 77Bobbydown 125,006
  78. 78Frederickdown 34,984
  79. 79Phillipdown 154,910
  80. 80Leonarddown 34,738
  81. 81Martinup 44,596
  82. 82Ronniedown 64,530
  83. 83Ernestdown 24,382
  84. 84Rodneyup 44,296
  85. 85Francisup 14,199
  86. 86Stevedown 34,053
  87. 87Freddown 33,994
  88. 88Melvindown 13,837
  89. 89Eddie3,748
  90. 90Norman3,729
  91. 91Curtisup 63,716
  92. 92Leedown 13,682
  93. 93Ericup 53,664
  94. 94Tommy3,582
  95. 95Earldown 33,571
  96. 96Marvindown 33,557
  97. 97Michealnew3,276
  98. 98Clarencedown 33,232
  99. 99Theodore3,216
  100. 100Alfreddown 43,203

With how many babies were given each name, and how its rank changed since 1950. 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, 1951”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/top/us/1951, updated 20 October 2026.