NamelingSwipe names

Top 100 baby names in the US, 1965

The 100 names given to the most girls and boys born in the US in 1965, from Social Security card applications.

In 1965, Lisa was the most popular girls' name in the US, given to 60,271 girls, and Michael the most popular boys' name, given to 80,992 boys. New to the top 100 since 1964: Stacey, Tracey, Shelly and Melinda for girls; Darren and Sean for boys. The biggest climbers were Monica for girls, up 18 places to #72, and Rodney for boys, up 26 places to #33.

Girls, 1965

  1. 1Lisa60,271
  2. 2Mary34,270
  3. 3Karenup 132,869
  4. 4Kimberlyup 228,836
  5. 5Susandown 226,321
  6. 6Patriciadown 123,552
  7. 7Donna19,700
  8. 8Linda19,345
  9. 9Cynthia19,239
  10. 10Angelaup 1218,754
  11. 11Tammydown 118,013
  12. 12Pameladown 117,467
  13. 13Deborahdown 117,081
  14. 14Julieup 316,987
  15. 15Sandradown 216,371
  16. 16Elizabeth16,321
  17. 17Lauradown 316,218
  18. 18Michelleup 516,215
  19. 19Loridown 415,695
  20. 20Jenniferup 1115,207
  21. 21Christineup 715,204
  22. 22Sharondown 215,129
  23. 23Brendadown 515,060
  24. 24Teresadown 314,578
  25. 25Barbaradown 614,023
  26. 26Dawnup 713,344
  27. 27Debradown 313,098
  28. 28Denisedown 313,036
  29. 29Tinaup 512,831
  30. 30Kellyup 512,763
  31. 31Cheryldown 212,550
  32. 32Nancydown 612,255
  33. 33Robindown 611,995
  34. 34Kathleendown 411,778
  35. 35Amyup 911,530
  36. 36Tracyup 411,174
  37. 37Rhondaup 610,949
  38. 38Melissaup 1510,563
  39. 39Wendyup 1610,481
  40. 40Dianedown 810,365
  41. 41Rebeccaup 510,211
  42. 42Caroldown 610,097
  43. 43Kimdown 110,083
  44. 44Stephanieup 139,765
  45. 45Theresadown 79,685
  46. 46Mariadown 59,480
  47. 47Jacquelinedown 109,413
  48. 48Micheleup 108,661
  49. 49Pauladown 47,915
  50. 50Sheilaup 17,904
  51. 51Jillup 107,820
  52. 52Margaretdown 37,799
  53. 53Cindydown 67,777
  54. 54Kathydown 157,762
  55. 55Janetdown 77,654
  56. 56Sherrydown 67,381
  57. 57Catherinedown 37,243
  58. 58Carolyndown 26,965
  59. 59Annup 16,784
  60. 60Lauriedown 16,533
  61. 61Connieup 36,155
  62. 62Debbiedown 106,088
  63. 63Andreaup 146,080
  64. 64Dianadown 15,926
  65. 65Suzanneup 25,912
  66. 66Bethdown 15,774
  67. 67Valeriedown 15,648
  68. 68Reneeup 35,496
  69. 69Terridown 75,373
  70. 70Ginaup 95,267
  71. 71Annettedown 35,262
  72. 72Monicaup 185,113
  73. 73Janicedown 45,029
  74. 74Christinaup 144,979
  75. 75Lesliedown 24,875
  76. 76Carlaup 24,781
  77. 77Annedown 14,726
  78. 78Danadown 84,722
  79. 79Katherineup 34,706
  80. 80Lynndown 84,668
  81. 81Wanda4,654
  82. 82Reginaup 14,548
  83. 83Darlenedown 34,356
  84. 84Staceynew4,269
  85. 85Traceynew4,260
  86. 86Judydown 124,243
  87. 87Kathryndown 34,157
  88. 88Cathydown 134,151
  89. 89Bonnie4,130
  90. 90Joycedown 34,128
  91. 91Sherridown 54,065
  92. 92Sarah4,062
  93. 93Colleenup 14,028
  94. 94Anitadown 94,017
  95. 95Janedown 23,927
  96. 96Annaup 13,920
  97. 97Pennydown 13,898
  98. 98Shellynew3,850
  99. 99Marthadown 43,801
  100. 100Melindanew3,796

Boys, 1965

  1. 1Michael80,992
  2. 2John71,493
  3. 3David67,825
  4. 4James67,666
  5. 5Robert63,106
  6. 6Williamup 140,111
  7. 7Markdown 138,244
  8. 8Richard36,817
  9. 9Thomas31,595
  10. 10Jeffrey29,574
  11. 11Joseph28,630
  12. 12Timothyup 328,334
  13. 13Kevin28,177
  14. 14Stevendown 227,977
  15. 15Scottdown 125,437
  16. 16Paul24,919
  17. 17Danielup 224,833
  18. 18Christopherup 524,640
  19. 19Brianup 124,552
  20. 20Charlesdown 323,494
  21. 21Kennethdown 322,677
  22. 22Anthonydown 120,326
  23. 23Gregorydown 118,205
  24. 24Ronald17,619
  25. 25Ericup 716,826
  26. 26Donalddown 116,033
  27. 27Garydown 115,259
  28. 28Stephenup 114,648
  29. 29Edwarddown 214,404
  30. 30Todddown 213,934
  31. 31Patrickdown 112,929
  32. 32Douglasdown 112,787
  33. 33Rodneyup 2611,086
  34. 34Georgedown 110,680
  35. 35Keithdown 110,670
  36. 36Matthewup 79,982
  37. 37Andrew9,673
  38. 38Larrydown 29,403
  39. 39Peter9,395
  40. 40Terrydown 59,088
  41. 41Jerrydown 19,015
  42. 42Randydown 48,861
  43. 43Frankdown 28,319
  44. 44Dennisdown 28,215
  45. 45Raymonddown 18,051
  46. 46Craigup 27,877
  47. 47Jefferydown 27,734
  48. 48Tonyup 26,815
  49. 49Roger6,429
  50. 50Brucedown 46,325
  51. 51Mikedown 46,035
  52. 52Darrennew5,938
  53. 53Troyup 45,856
  54. 54Carlup 15,797
  55. 55Stevedown 45,685
  56. 56Danny5,675
  57. 57Rickydown 35,659
  58. 58Russell5,645
  59. 59Alandown 65,612
  60. 60Chrisup 55,479
  61. 61Vincentup 35,428
  62. 62Jeffdown 105,406
  63. 63Bryanup 75,345
  64. 64Geralddown 45,252
  65. 65Waynedown 45,112
  66. 66Lawrenceup 24,961
  67. 67Martindown 44,932
  68. 68Darrylup 194,925
  69. 69Shawnup 194,924
  70. 70Phillipdown 34,891
  71. 71Joedown 94,833
  72. 72Bradleyup 54,787
  73. 73Randalldown 74,752
  74. 74Jonathanup 94,723
  75. 75Curtis4,687
  76. 75Johnnydown 14,687
  77. 77Billydown 64,649
  78. 78Jonup 14,601
  79. 79Seannew4,594
  80. 80Bobbydown 74,588
  81. 81Jimmydown 34,529
  82. 82Walterdown 24,483
  83. 83Daledown 114,397
  84. 84Samuelup 24,395
  85. 85Glenndown 44,355
  86. 86Barrydown 174,324
  87. 87Philipdown 114,278
  88. 88Deandown 34,096
  89. 89Joseup 53,966
  90. 90Jaydown 63,944
  91. 91Darrellup 53,888
  92. 92Allenup 13,834
  93. 93Williedown 33,807
  94. 94Henrydown 23,801
  95. 95Roydown 63,785
  96. 96Arthurdown 53,779
  97. 97Timdown 153,718
  98. 98Victordown 13,682
  99. 99Harolddown 13,539
  100. 100Albert3,419

With how many babies were given each name, and how its rank changed since 1964. 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, 1965”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/top/us/1965, updated 20 October 2026.