NamelingSwipe names

Top 100 baby names in the US, 1959

The 100 names given to the most girls and boys born in the US in 1959, from Social Security card applications.

In 1959, Mary was the most popular girls' name in the US, given to 54,502 girls, and Michael the most popular boys' name, given to 85,294 boys. New to the top 100 since 1958: Kelly, Wendy, Suzanne, Anna and Renee for girls; Greg, Bryan and Todd for boys. The biggest climbers were Dawn for girls, up 30 places to #54, and Chris for boys, up 21 places to #72.

Girls, 1959

  1. 1Mary54,502
  2. 2Susan41,617
  3. 3Linda40,410
  4. 4Karen36,784
  5. 5Donnaup 536,468
  6. 6Patriciadown 135,223
  7. 7Debradown 131,388
  8. 8Cynthia30,186
  9. 9Deborahdown 229,546
  10. 10Lisaup 925,699
  11. 11Barbaradown 225,359
  12. 12Pameladown 124,714
  13. 13Sandraup 223,359
  14. 14Nancydown 223,079
  15. 15Kathydown 121,814
  16. 16Brenda21,424
  17. 17Sharon21,292
  18. 18Cheryldown 520,947
  19. 19Dianedown 119,972
  20. 20Debbieup 419,540
  21. 21Elizabethup 118,421
  22. 22Caroldown 218,140
  23. 23Kathleendown 217,629
  24. 24Teresaup 217,400
  25. 25Cindy16,973
  26. 26Juliedown 316,211
  27. 27Loriup 315,032
  28. 28Janet14,964
  29. 29Denisedown 214,662
  30. 30Lauradown 114,528
  31. 31Tammyup 1313,707
  32. 32Robin12,854
  33. 33Kimberlyup 612,790
  34. 34Theresadown 111,656
  35. 35Kimup 511,594
  36. 36Margaretdown 511,577
  37. 37Janicedown 210,489
  38. 38Rebeccaup 310,475
  39. 39Cathydown 510,408
  40. 40Catherinedown 210,025
  41. 41Judydown 59,884
  42. 42Carolyndown 59,727
  43. 43Christine9,471
  44. 44Annup 38,918
  45. 45Rhondaup 38,861
  46. 46Terriup 58,783
  47. 47Michelleup 98,776
  48. 48Connieup 28,655
  49. 49Dianadown 48,637
  50. 50Joycedown 48,520
  51. 51Paulaup 28,059
  52. 52Sheilaup 77,984
  53. 53Tinaup 187,919
  54. 54Dawnup 307,898
  55. 55Beverly7,796
  56. 56Laurieup 147,535
  57. 57Peggydown 157,416
  58. 58Sherryup 97,341
  59. 59Bettydown 57,313
  60. 60Valerieup 47,302
  61. 61Shirleydown 97,284
  62. 62Mariaup 37,249
  63. 63Lynndown 37,058
  64. 64Annetteup 126,919
  65. 65Wandaup 16,907
  66. 66Darlenedown 176,876
  67. 67Janedown 66,864
  68. 68Angelaup 156,772
  69. 69Kathryndown 116,746
  70. 70Judithdown 86,566
  71. 71Bonniedown 86,456
  72. 72Marthadown 36,439
  73. 73Vickidown 166,430
  74. 74Kellynew6,380
  75. 75Gaildown 36,344
  76. 76Joandown 86,337
  77. 77Jeandown 46,233
  78. 77Jenniferup 46,233
  79. 79Katherinedown 56,139
  80. 80Bethup 156,069
  81. 81Gloriadown 45,924
  82. 82Anneup 55,745
  83. 83Wendynew5,712
  84. 84Lesliedown 55,652
  85. 85Amyup 125,580
  86. 86Jillup 125,554
  87. 87Anitadown 55,474
  88. 88Rosedown 105,446
  89. 89Micheleup 35,445
  90. 90Vickiedown 155,419
  91. 91Ellenup 25,396
  92. 92Joannedown 125,347
  93. 93Virginiadown 85,256
  94. 94Dorothydown 85,231
  95. 95Terrydown 65,215
  96. 96Suzannenew5,161
  97. 97Ruthdown 75,057
  98. 98Ritadown 104,952
  99. 99Annanew4,878
  100. 100Reneenew4,845

Boys, 1959

  1. 1Michael85,294
  2. 2David83,977
  3. 3James78,648
  4. 4Johnup 176,446
  5. 5Robertdown 174,542
  6. 6Markup 156,945
  7. 7Williamdown 151,386
  8. 8Richard47,202
  9. 9Thomas40,296
  10. 10Steven33,597
  11. 11Charles30,797
  12. 12Timothyup 130,783
  13. 13Josephdown 129,539
  14. 14Kevinup 626,790
  15. 15Kennethdown 126,640
  16. 16Jeffreyup 526,281
  17. 17Pauldown 225,712
  18. 18Danieldown 225,155
  19. 19Donalddown 123,876
  20. 20Garydown 323,303
  21. 21Ronalddown 223,114
  22. 22Brianup 220,737
  23. 23Gregory19,889
  24. 24Scottup 119,765
  25. 25Larrydown 318,434
  26. 26Anthonyup 117,972
  27. 27Edwardup 116,914
  28. 28Stephendown 216,504
  29. 29Dennis16,043
  30. 30Douglas15,290
  31. 31Randyup 115,042
  32. 32Georgedown 115,012
  33. 33Terry14,545
  34. 34Ricky13,226
  35. 35Christopherup 412,915
  36. 36Jerrydown 112,324
  37. 37Mikeup 311,995
  38. 38Brucedown 211,914
  39. 39Keithdown 211,758
  40. 40Peterup 111,289
  41. 41Steveup 311,068
  42. 42Frankdown 410,942
  43. 43Patrickdown 110,556
  44. 44Craigup 99,933
  45. 45Raymonddown 29,796
  46. 46Ericup 49,726
  47. 47Roger8,794
  48. 48Dannydown 38,727
  49. 49Daledown 38,343
  50. 50Alandown 18,151
  51. 51Waynedown 37,878
  52. 52Jeffup 167,730
  53. 53Tonyup 47,564
  54. 54Carldown 37,501
  55. 55Jefferyup 47,487
  56. 56Russelldown 27,480
  57. 57Joedown 17,389
  58. 58Andrewdown 37,089
  59. 59Randallup 37,059
  60. 60Timup 146,826
  61. 61Geralddown 36,636
  62. 62Lawrencedown 106,601
  63. 63Matthewdown 36,542
  64. 64Johnnydown 36,311
  65. 65Billydown 16,308
  66. 66Walterdown 36,128
  67. 67Rodneydown 25,917
  68. 68Philipdown 15,862
  69. 69Jimmyup 45,830
  70. 70Jimup 175,688
  71. 71Bobbydown 25,677
  72. 72Chrisup 215,676
  73. 73Barryup 65,601
  74. 74Phillipup 75,597
  75. 75Curtisup 75,536
  76. 76Arthurdown 45,474
  77. 76Ronniedown 105,474
  78. 78Williedown 85,374
  79. 79Martindown 85,353
  80. 80Glenndown 45,352
  81. 81Roydown 65,183
  82. 82Tomup 145,068
  83. 83Henry5,061
  84. 84Ralphdown 65,048
  85. 85Jackdown 55,015
  86. 86Samueldown 14,953
  87. 87Harolddown 34,943
  88. 88Jaydown 24,940
  89. 89Rickdown 124,936
  90. 90Darrell4,647
  91. 91Gregnew4,635
  92. 92Albertdown 34,605
  93. 93Billup 64,596
  94. 94Bryannew4,488
  95. 95Deanup 24,425
  96. 96Michealdown 54,369
  97. 97Allendown 54,366
  98. 98Stanleydown 104,343
  99. 99Toddnew4,332
  100. 100Louisdown 64,311

With how many babies were given each name, and how its rank changed since 1958. 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, 1959”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/top/us/1959, updated 20 October 2026.