NamelingSwipe names

Top 100 baby names in the US, 1952

The 100 names given to the most girls and boys born in the US in 1952, from Social Security card applications.

In 1952, Linda was the most popular girls' name in the US, given to 67,082 girls, and James the most popular boys' name, given to 87,065 boys. New to the top 100 since 1951: Rhonda for girls; Ricky and Clifford for boys. The biggest climbers were Denise for girls, up 15 places to #33, and Randy for boys, up 15 places to #41.

Girls, 1952

  1. 1Linda67,082
  2. 2Mary65,629
  3. 3Patricia53,101
  4. 4Deborah49,811
  5. 5Susanup 141,348
  6. 6Barbaradown 139,864
  7. 7Nancy31,739
  8. 8Karen28,956
  9. 9Debraup 926,832
  10. 10Sandradown 126,097
  11. 11Kathleendown 125,767
  12. 12Caroldown 124,000
  13. 13Donnadown 123,718
  14. 14Sharondown 123,386
  15. 15Brendadown 121,439
  16. 16Dianedown 121,063
  17. 17Pameladown 120,879
  18. 18Cynthiaup 219,878
  19. 19Janet17,921
  20. 20Christineup 417,548
  21. 21Margaretdown 417,102
  22. 22Elizabethup 116,022
  23. 23Janicedown 214,978
  24. 24Carolyndown 214,272
  25. 25Judith14,064
  26. 26Judy13,632
  27. 27Joyceup 113,126
  28. 28Shirleydown 112,529
  29. 29Kathyup 612,369
  30. 30Rebeccaup 212,227
  31. 31Cheryldown 112,201
  32. 32Bettydown 312,129
  33. 33Deniseup 1511,652
  34. 34Catherine11,053
  35. 35Beverlydown 210,547
  36. 36Gloriadown 510,458
  37. 37Joanup 210,278
  38. 38Marilynup 39,803
  39. 39Gaildown 39,760
  40. 40Marthadown 29,696
  41. 41Bonniedown 49,383
  42. 42Janeup 19,322
  43. 43Peggydown 38,990
  44. 44Connie8,756
  45. 45Annup 18,653
  46. 46Dorothydown 48,609
  47. 47Paulaup 48,567
  48. 48Kathryndown 38,504
  49. 49Virginiadown 28,161
  50. 50Jeandown 17,511
  51. 51Dianadown 17,392
  52. 52Teresaup 117,294
  53. 53Lauraup 77,188
  54. 54Wandadown 27,164
  55. 55Joup 127,092
  56. 56Cathyup 157,011
  57. 57Ruthdown 46,953
  58. 58Jacquelinedown 26,938
  59. 59Katherinedown 46,891
  60. 60Theresaup 46,809
  61. 61Vickidown 36,775
  62. 62Roseup 36,553
  63. 63Helendown 96,464
  64. 64Sheilaup 56,217
  65. 65Phyllisdown 86,151
  66. 66Ritadown 56,148
  67. 67Francesdown 86,079
  68. 68Sherryup 25,956
  69. 69Alicedown 75,908
  70. 70Ellendown 25,842
  71. 71Lynnup 15,818
  72. 72Mariaup 35,695
  73. 73Elainedown 75,650
  74. 74Victoriaup 75,603
  75. 75Marshaup 15,583
  76. 76Vickieup 115,482
  77. 77Darleneup 25,427
  78. 78Joannedown 55,351
  79. 79Anneup 35,257
  80. 80Marciadown 65,210
  81. 81Sallydown 45,037
  82. 82Mariedown 44,977
  83. 83Dorisdown 34,950
  84. 84Suzannedown 14,909
  85. 85Julieup 144,497
  86. 86Loisdown 14,361
  87. 87Valerieup 134,263
  88. 88Robertaup 44,228
  89. 89Charlottedown 54,204
  90. 90Evelyndown 24,155
  91. 91Anitaup 54,134
  92. 92Constancedown 64,117
  93. 93Sarahdown 24,046
  94. 94Maureendown 14,039
  95. 95Rhondanew3,963
  96. 96Diannedown 63,895
  97. 97Glendadown 83,880
  98. 98Jeanne3,827
  99. 99Sylviadown 23,789
  100. 100Eileendown 53,742

Boys, 1952

  1. 1James87,065
  2. 2Robert86,588
  3. 3John83,140
  4. 4Michael79,037
  5. 5David71,752
  6. 6William63,039
  7. 7Richard58,350
  8. 8Thomas48,647
  9. 9Charles38,866
  10. 10Gary38,754
  11. 11Stevenup 232,037
  12. 12Josephup 228,510
  13. 13Donaldup 228,269
  14. 14Larrydown 328,239
  15. 15Ronalddown 327,800
  16. 16Kenneth25,909
  17. 17Markup 325,678
  18. 18Dennisdown 124,552
  19. 19Pauldown 124,292
  20. 20Danielup 123,418
  21. 21Stephendown 223,055
  22. 22George19,821
  23. 23Edward19,501
  24. 24Gregoryup 115,191
  25. 25Bruceup 114,480
  26. 26Jerrydown 214,438
  27. 27Timothyup 114,167
  28. 28Douglasdown 113,680
  29. 29Terryup 112,438
  30. 30Rogerdown 112,132
  31. 31Jeffreyup 412,006
  32. 32Frankdown 111,268
  33. 33Raymonddown 111,235
  34. 34Anthony11,188
  35. 35Lawrencedown 210,302
  36. 36Peterup 29,586
  37. 37Patrickup 29,175
  38. 38Waynedown 19,087
  39. 39Geralddown 39,031
  40. 40Dannyup 18,821
  41. 41Randyup 158,646
  42. 42Alandown 28,310
  43. 43Kevinup 107,916
  44. 44Walterdown 27,897
  45. 45Carldown 27,823
  46. 46Daleup 37,417
  47. 47Arthurdown 37,236
  48. 48Williedown 37,197
  49. 49Keithup 107,174
  50. 50Henrydown 36,974
  51. 51Harolddown 56,957
  52. 52Jackdown 46,937
  53. 53Johnnydown 36,771
  54. 54Scottup 146,538
  55. 55Roydown 36,524
  56. 56Ralphdown 56,469
  57. 57Christopherup 46,302
  58. 58Stanleydown 46,226
  59. 59Craigup 46,187
  60. 60Philipdown 56,154
  61. 61Glenndown 35,945
  62. 62Joedown 55,892
  63. 62Randallup 45,892
  64. 64Brianup 115,741
  65. 65Billydown 15,708
  66. 66Albertdown 65,660
  67. 67Samuel5,647
  68. 68Andrewup 15,572
  69. 69Barryup 25,504
  70. 70Russellup 35,349
  71. 71Eugenedown 65,314
  72. 72Jimmydown 105,311
  73. 73Howardup 15,244
  74. 74Phillipup 55,001
  75. 75Harrydown 54,993
  76. 76Frederickup 24,979
  77. 77Bobby4,960
  78. 78Allendown 64,956
  79. 79Louisdown 34,924
  80. 80Martinup 14,735
  81. 81Rickynew4,655
  82. 82Ronnie4,636
  83. 83Leonarddown 34,619
  84. 84Rodney4,403
  85. 85Steveup 14,313
  86. 86Curtisup 54,175
  87. 87Ernestdown 44,123
  88. 88Ericup 53,989
  89. 89Francisdown 43,979
  90. 90Freddown 33,960
  91. 91Melvindown 33,920
  92. 92Lee3,655
  93. 93Eddiedown 43,643
  94. 94Michealup 33,613
  95. 95Marvinup 13,575
  96. 96Normandown 63,572
  97. 97Tommydown 33,512
  98. 98Earldown 33,456
  99. 99Cliffordnew3,317
  100. 100Theodoredown 13,270

With how many babies were given each name, and how its rank changed since 1951. 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, 1952”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/top/us/1952, updated 20 October 2026.