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Top 100 baby names in the US, 1961

The 100 names given to the most girls and boys born in the US in 1961, from Social Security card applications.

In 1961, Mary was the most popular girls' name in the US, given to 47,682 girls, and Michael the most popular boys' name, given to 86,974 boys. New to the top 100 since 1960: Carla, Melissa, Regina and Anna for girls; Victor and Troy for boys. The biggest climbers were Jacqueline for girls, up 48 places to #37, and Todd for boys, up 25 places to #46.

Girls, 1961

  1. 1Mary47,682
  2. 2Lisaup 442,720
  3. 3Susandown 137,532
  4. 4Lindadown 135,597
  5. 5Karendown 134,707
  6. 6Patriciaup 128,889
  7. 7Donnadown 228,679
  8. 8Cynthiaup 124,393
  9. 9Sandraup 224,153
  10. 10Deborah24,107
  11. 11Brendaup 223,781
  12. 12Barbara23,002
  13. 13Debradown 522,160
  14. 14Loriup 621,876
  15. 15Pameladown 121,691
  16. 16Nancydown 120,729
  17. 17Sharondown 120,459
  18. 18Teresaup 118,909
  19. 19Elizabethdown 118,855
  20. 20Cheryldown 318,301
  21. 21Lauraup 417,901
  22. 22Kimberlyup 417,355
  23. 23Julieup 517,040
  24. 24Caroldown 116,667
  25. 25Kathydown 416,385
  26. 26Dianedown 416,205
  27. 27Robinup 615,653
  28. 28Tammyup 315,532
  29. 29Kathleendown 215,395
  30. 30Denisedown 115,379
  31. 31Debbiedown 714,882
  32. 32Janet13,930
  33. 33Cindydown 313,388
  34. 34Michelleup 512,741
  35. 35Theresa11,960
  36. 36Kimdown 211,367
  37. 37Jacquelineup 4810,983
  38. 38Angelaup 1210,843
  39. 39Christineup 110,598
  40. 40Margaretdown 410,559
  41. 41Tinaup 410,521
  42. 42Carolynup 110,509
  43. 43Lauriedown 610,435
  44. 44Rebeccadown 610,236
  45. 45Kellyup 79,642
  46. 46Rhondadown 29,469
  47. 47Jenniferup 149,265
  48. 48Catherinedown 69,251
  49. 49Dawnup 89,148
  50. 50Conniedown 38,986
  51. 51Terridown 28,730
  52. 52Janicedown 118,727
  53. 53Sherryup 18,361
  54. 54Anndown 38,216
  55. 55Cathydown 98,211
  56. 56Dianadown 38,198
  57. 57Mariaup 27,947
  58. 58Judydown 107,922
  59. 59Sheiladown 37,805
  60. 60Pauladown 57,744
  61. 61Wendyup 27,154
  62. 62Joycedown 46,996
  63. 63Micheleup 266,995
  64. 64Tracyup 206,988
  65. 65Bethup 76,716
  66. 66Beverlydown 66,708
  67. 67Valeriedown 26,677
  68. 68Suzanneup 106,611
  69. 69Amyup 86,610
  70. 70Wandadown 46,467
  71. 71Lynndown 76,441
  72. 72Janedown 56,365
  73. 73Annettedown 116,203
  74. 74Jillup 26,137
  75. 75Bonniedown 46,033
  76. 76Vickidown 35,967
  77. 77Carlanew5,817
  78. 78Stephanieup 135,816
  79. 79Reneeup 145,782
  80. 80Darlenedown 55,728
  81. 81Marthaup 25,724
  82. 82Gloriadown 35,691
  83. 83Judithdown 95,690
  84. 84Leslieup 85,668
  85. 85Shirleydown 155,638
  86. 86Katherinedown 55,632
  87. 87Bettydown 195,584
  88. 88Peggydown 195,567
  89. 89Joandown 95,551
  90. 90Annedown 25,524
  91. 91Anitadown 45,503
  92. 92Jeandown 65,366
  93. 93Kathryndown 115,226
  94. 94Gaildown 44,973
  95. 95Melissanew4,900
  96. 96Ruthup 14,896
  97. 97Ellendown 34,844
  98. 98Reginanew4,764
  99. 99Dorothydown 44,732
  100. 100Annanew4,678

Boys, 1961

  1. 1Michaelup 186,974
  2. 2Daviddown 184,810
  3. 3Johnup 179,983
  4. 4Jamesdown 175,969
  5. 5Robert72,977
  6. 6Mark57,796
  7. 7William48,045
  8. 8Richard41,142
  9. 9Thomas37,565
  10. 10Steven32,275
  11. 11Jeffreyup 332,029
  12. 12Joseph29,450
  13. 13Charles29,194
  14. 14Kevinup 128,926
  15. 15Timothydown 428,253
  16. 16Kenneth26,100
  17. 17Daniel25,904
  18. 18Paul25,640
  19. 19Scottup 423,934
  20. 20Brian22,566
  21. 21Garyup 122,174
  22. 22Donalddown 321,409
  23. 23Gregoryup 121,364
  24. 24Ronalddown 320,842
  25. 25Anthony20,209
  26. 26Christopherup 317,223
  27. 27Stephen16,069
  28. 28Douglasup 215,978
  29. 29Edwarddown 315,877
  30. 30Larrydown 214,580
  31. 31Georgeup 213,644
  32. 32Terryup 213,194
  33. 33Randydown 112,603
  34. 34Dennisdown 312,503
  35. 35Keith12,275
  36. 36Mike11,667
  37. 37Jerry11,381
  38. 38Ericup 611,111
  39. 39Patrickup 611,052
  40. 40Brucedown 110,705
  41. 41Frankdown 110,433
  42. 42Peter10,349
  43. 43Craigdown 210,235
  44. 44Rickydown 610,027
  45. 45Stevedown 29,997
  46. 46Toddup 259,750
  47. 47Roger9,652
  48. 48Raymonddown 29,618
  49. 49Jeff9,463
  50. 50Jefferyup 58,923
  51. 51Alandown 18,617
  52. 52Andrewdown 18,483
  53. 53Tonydown 18,306
  54. 54Dannydown 68,199
  55. 55Russellup 17,333
  56. 56Carldown 37,255
  57. 57Chrisup 67,203
  58. 58Daledown 47,193
  59. 59Matthewup 27,081
  60. 60Joedown 37,056
  61. 61Waynedown 36,762
  62. 62Gerald6,630
  63. 63Randalldown 46,587
  64. 64Glennup 106,271
  65. 65Timdown 56,245
  66. 66Barryup 66,220
  67. 67Lawrencedown 36,094
  68. 68Billydown 16,026
  69. 69Phillipdown 35,976
  70. 70Johnnydown 55,905
  71. 71Jimmydown 25,749
  72. 72Rodneydown 45,660
  73. 73Martinup 45,476
  74. 74Walterdown 45,467
  75. 75Curtisup 45,447
  76. 76Bobbydown 35,402
  77. 77Gregup 65,397
  78. 78Jimdown 35,352
  79. 79Philipdown 35,288
  80. 80Darrylup 165,134
  81. 81Jaydown 35,119
  82. 82Bryanup 65,028
  83. 83Roydown 34,966
  84. 84Deanup 104,933
  85. 85Arthurdown 34,815
  86. 86Williedown 54,790
  87. 87Bradleyup 34,745
  88. 88Tomdown 24,731
  89. 89Samuelup 24,667
  90. 90Jackdown 54,639
  91. 91Ronniedown 44,624
  92. 92Henrydown 84,620
  93. 93Jonup 44,608
  94. 94Harolddown 24,448
  95. 95Ralphdown 64,443
  96. 96Allenup 34,391
  97. 97Albertdown 44,324
  98. 98Vincent4,317
  99. 99Victornew4,301
  100. 100Troynew4,259

With how many babies were given each name, and how its rank changed since 1960. 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, 1961”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/top/us/1961, updated 20 October 2026.