NamelingSwipe names

Top 100 baby names in the US, 1956

The 100 names given to the most girls and boys born in the US in 1956, from Social Security card applications.

In 1956, Mary was the most popular girls' name in the US, given to 61,741 girls, and Michael the most popular boys' name, given to 90,691 boys. New to the top 100 since 1955: Kimberly, Tina, Dawn, Angela and Jennifer for girls; Matthew, Jay, Victor, Mike, Dean and Rick for boys. The biggest climbers were Cindy for girls, up 42 places to #37, and Jeffery for boys, up 16 places to #57.

Girls, 1956

  1. 1Mary61,741
  2. 2Debraup 248,324
  3. 3Linda48,084
  4. 4Deborahdown 247,834
  5. 5Susan46,558
  6. 6Patricia43,329
  7. 7Karenup 140,052
  8. 8Cynthiaup 332,339
  9. 9Barbaradown 232,302
  10. 10Donna29,852
  11. 11Nancydown 228,784
  12. 12Pamela26,928
  13. 13Sharonup 326,881
  14. 14Sandradown 124,302
  15. 15Dianedown 122,518
  16. 16Caroldown 121,408
  17. 17Kathleen21,377
  18. 18Cherylup 121,278
  19. 19Brendadown 119,341
  20. 20Kathyup 217,177
  21. 21Janetdown 116,758
  22. 22Elizabethdown 116,355
  23. 23Denise14,509
  24. 24Teresaup 214,464
  25. 25Margaretdown 113,913
  26. 26Janicedown 113,017
  27. 27Rebecca12,168
  28. 28Catherine12,056
  29. 29Robinup 411,621
  30. 30Joycedown 111,091
  31. 31Lisaup 1711,012
  32. 32Theresaup 610,841
  33. 33Carolyndown 310,634
  34. 34Lauraup 710,570
  35. 35Judydown 310,197
  36. 36Cathyup 810,132
  37. 37Cindyup 429,978
  38. 38Kimup 379,897
  39. 39Debbieup 249,863
  40. 40Beverlydown 69,449
  41. 41Shirleydown 49,429
  42. 42Christinedown 29,371
  43. 43Conniedown 89,361
  44. 44Bettydown 89,218
  45. 45Judithdown 149,115
  46. 46Anndown 38,990
  47. 47Pauladown 88,925
  48. 48Julieup 198,574
  49. 49Gaildown 78,435
  50. 50Jane8,241
  51. 51Bonniedown 68,133
  52. 52Joandown 68,080
  53. 53Gloriadown 67,927
  54. 54Sherryup 27,898
  55. 55Sheilaup 27,872
  56. 56Dianadown 17,851
  57. 57Vickidown 57,767
  58. 58Lynnup 47,736
  59. 59Marthadown 67,711
  60. 60Kathryndown 17,594
  61. 61Wanda7,546
  62. 62Rhondaup 97,521
  63. 63Peggydown 127,494
  64. 64Rosedown 107,337
  65. 65Jeandown 57,175
  66. 66Loriup 237,145
  67. 67Katherinedown 27,082
  68. 68Vickie6,957
  69. 69Jodown 116,953
  70. 70Marilyndown 216,926
  71. 71Darleneup 56,919
  72. 72Dorothydown 86,858
  73. 73Mariadown 46,733
  74. 74Kimberlynew6,730
  75. 75Virginiadown 96,392
  76. 76Laurieup 156,207
  77. 77Ruthdown 76,075
  78. 78Jacquelinedown 56,062
  79. 79Ritadown 76,054
  80. 80Valerie5,909
  81. 81Terriup 45,744
  82. 82Phyllisdown 85,642
  83. 83Anitaup 115,505
  84. 84Ellendown 35,432
  85. 85Victoriadown 35,388
  86. 86Annedown 25,356
  87. 87Tinanew5,330
  88. 88Michelleup 95,327
  89. 89Elainedown 125,310
  90. 90Helendown 125,278
  91. 91Terrydown 85,272
  92. 92Dawnnew5,128
  93. 93Angelanew5,034
  94. 94Suzannedown 85,024
  95. 95Wendydown 54,861
  96. 96Mariedown 44,794
  97. 97Jennifernew4,711
  98. 98Alicedown 114,680
  99. 99Joannedown 114,671
  100. 100Micheledown 74,617

Boys, 1956

  1. 1Michael90,691
  2. 2Jamesup 184,897
  3. 3Robertup 183,924
  4. 4Daviddown 281,652
  5. 5John80,804
  6. 6William58,991
  7. 7Richard52,915
  8. 8Markup 148,828
  9. 9Thomasdown 144,836
  10. 10Steven38,413
  11. 11Charles35,239
  12. 12Josephup 132,749
  13. 13Garydown 131,842
  14. 14Donald28,223
  15. 15Ronaldup 327,725
  16. 16Kennethdown 127,432
  17. 17Pauldown 126,897
  18. 18Danieldown 126,655
  19. 19Timothyup 323,288
  20. 20Jeffrey23,285
  21. 21Larrydown 222,322
  22. 22Kevinup 521,761
  23. 23Stephendown 221,204
  24. 24Gregory21,082
  25. 25Edward19,436
  26. 26Dennisdown 318,359
  27. 27Georgedown 117,232
  28. 28Randyup 216,547
  29. 29Douglas16,389
  30. 30Anthonyup 115,565
  31. 31Terrydown 315,064
  32. 32Brianup 814,666
  33. 33Brucedown 114,660
  34. 34Scottup 413,214
  35. 35Jerrydown 212,623
  36. 36Keithup 311,480
  37. 37Peterdown 211,334
  38. 38Frankdown 411,151
  39. 39Raymonddown 311,108
  40. 40Patrickup 110,326
  41. 41Rogerdown 410,153
  42. 42Lawrence8,898
  43. 43Rickyup 38,780
  44. 44Alandown 18,734
  45. 45Waynedown 18,717
  46. 46Dannydown 18,565
  47. 47Christopherup 28,384
  48. 48Carldown 18,313
  49. 49Geralddown 17,991
  50. 50Daleup 27,720
  51. 51Craigdown 17,422
  52. 52Russellup 57,402
  53. 53Walterdown 27,019
  54. 54Randalldown 16,913
  55. 55Johnny6,636
  56. 56Andrewup 106,603
  57. 57Jefferyup 166,569
  58. 58Williedown 46,525
  59. 59Steveup 136,472
  60. 60Arthurdown 46,289
  61. 61Glenndown 26,196
  62. 62Roydown 46,133
  63. 63Joeup 56,124
  64. 64Philipdown 26,105
  65. 65Rodney6,076
  66. 66Jackdown 66,051
  67. 67Ralph6,041
  68. 68Billyup 16,013
  69. 69Barryup 15,988
  70. 70Stanleydown 65,985
  71. 71Henrydown 105,971
  72. 72Harolddown 95,955
  73. 73Martinup 45,682
  74. 74Samueldown 35,585
  75. 75Ronnieup 55,491
  76. 76Phillipdown 25,414
  77. 77Bobbydown 25,358
  78. 78Jimmy5,345
  79. 79Ericup 65,252
  80. 80Curtisdown 15,157
  81. 81Albertdown 55,150
  82. 82Louis4,910
  83. 83Michealup 44,732
  84. 84Howarddown 14,707
  85. 85Tonyup 84,669
  86. 86Eugenedown 54,620
  87. 87Allendown 34,612
  88. 88Darrellup 34,468
  89. 89Leonarddown 14,371
  90. 90Matthewnew4,366
  91. 91Frederickdown 54,306
  92. 92Jaynew4,120
  93. 93Eddiedown 13,994
  94. 94Ernestdown 43,952
  95. 95Harrydown 63,925
  96. 96Victornew3,908
  97. 97Mikenew3,900
  98. 98Vincentup 13,756
  99. 99Deannew3,712
  100. 100Ricknew3,655

With how many babies were given each name, and how its rank changed since 1955. 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, 1956”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/top/us/1956, updated 20 October 2026.