NamelingSwipe names

Top 100 baby names in the US, 1966

The 100 names given to the most girls and boys born in the US in 1966, from Social Security card applications.

In 1966, Lisa was the most popular girls' name in the US, given to 56,918 girls, and Michael the most popular boys' name, given to 79,985 boys. New to the top 100 since 1965: Heidi, Stacy, Tonya and Tamara for girls; Jason and Tracy for boys. The biggest climbers were Melissa for girls, up 16 places to #22, and Sean for boys, up 29 places to #50.

Girls, 1966

  1. 1Lisa56,918
  2. 2Kimberlyup 232,232
  3. 3Marydown 128,890
  4. 4Michelleup 1427,159
  5. 5Karendown 225,450
  6. 6Susandown 123,776
  7. 7Patriciadown 120,112
  8. 8Tammyup 318,621
  9. 9Angelaup 118,532
  10. 10Jenniferup 1018,215
  11. 11Cynthiadown 217,418
  12. 12Donnadown 517,037
  13. 13Julieup 116,331
  14. 14Deborahdown 116,250
  15. 15Pameladown 316,249
  16. 16Elizabeth15,887
  17. 17Sandradown 215,851
  18. 18Lindadown 1015,566
  19. 19Lauradown 215,553
  20. 20Christineup 115,546
  21. 21Loridown 214,671
  22. 22Melissaup 1614,254
  23. 23Tinaup 613,892
  24. 24Dawnup 213,603
  25. 25Brendadown 213,294
  26. 26Kellyup 413,242
  27. 27Barbaradown 213,123
  28. 28Sharondown 613,063
  29. 29Teresadown 513,024
  30. 30Amyup 512,998
  31. 31Tracyup 512,504
  32. 32Denisedown 411,797
  33. 33Nancydown 111,729
  34. 34Cheryldown 311,713
  35. 35Debradown 811,261
  36. 36Micheleup 1210,689
  37. 37Kathleendown 310,491
  38. 38Stephanieup 610,160
  39. 39Rhondadown 29,805
  40. 40Rebeccaup 19,777
  41. 41Wendydown 29,516
  42. 42Robindown 99,440
  43. 43Kim9,194
  44. 44Mariaup 29,132
  45. 45Dianedown 58,750
  46. 46Theresadown 18,699
  47. 47Jacqueline8,360
  48. 48Caroldown 68,259
  49. 49Jillup 27,871
  50. 50Pauladown 17,856
  51. 51Sheiladown 17,208
  52. 52Andreaup 117,144
  53. 53Sherryup 36,983
  54. 54Catherineup 36,962
  55. 55Margaretdown 36,960
  56. 56Cindydown 36,794
  57. 57Janetdown 26,434
  58. 58Ginaup 126,356
  59. 59Kathydown 56,319
  60. 60Carolyndown 26,121
  61. 61Anndown 25,993
  62. 62Suzanneup 35,684
  63. 63Lauriedown 35,667
  64. 64Diana5,504
  65. 65Bethup 15,444
  66. 66Reneeup 25,354
  67. 67Christinaup 75,341
  68. 68Danaup 105,278
  69. 69Traceyup 165,127
  70. 70Conniedown 95,102
  71. 71Leslieup 44,999
  72. 72Terridown 34,921
  73. 73Debbiedown 114,846
  74. 74Valeriedown 74,816
  75. 75Monicadown 34,722
  76. 76Staceyup 84,586
  77. 77Carladown 14,508
  78. 78Katherineup 14,492
  79. 79Annettedown 84,428
  80. 80Janicedown 74,345
  81. 81Lynndown 14,306
  82. 82Regina4,295
  83. 83Annedown 64,151
  84. 84Wandadown 34,093
  85. 85Sarahup 74,034
  86. 86Kathrynup 14,008
  87. 87Heidinew3,966
  88. 88Anitaup 63,872
  89. 89Shellyup 93,856
  90. 90Bonniedown 13,842
  91. 91Stacynew3,779
  92. 92Sherridown 13,747
  93. 93Colleen3,746
  94. 94Darlenedown 113,728
  95. 95Annaup 13,682
  96. 96Tonyanew3,630
  97. 97Judydown 113,510
  98. 98Tamaranew3,482
  99. 99Cathydown 113,421
  100. 100Joycedown 103,399

Boys, 1966

  1. 1Michael79,985
  2. 2Davidup 166,408
  3. 3Jamesup 165,163
  4. 4Johndown 265,016
  5. 5Robert59,317
  6. 6William38,237
  7. 7Mark34,801
  8. 8Richard34,457
  9. 9Jeffreyup 130,200
  10. 10Thomasdown 129,003
  11. 11Timothyup 128,923
  12. 12Christopherup 627,866
  13. 13Stevenup 127,698
  14. 14Brianup 527,253
  15. 15Josephdown 426,981
  16. 16Scottdown 126,036
  17. 17Kevindown 425,592
  18. 18Pauldown 223,578
  19. 19Danieldown 223,269
  20. 20Charles22,252
  21. 21Kenneth20,834
  22. 22Anthony20,624
  23. 23Gregory17,009
  24. 24Ronald16,952
  25. 25Eric16,475
  26. 26Stephenup 214,742
  27. 27Donalddown 114,713
  28. 28Garydown 114,155
  29. 29Toddup 113,557
  30. 30Edwarddown 113,279
  31. 31Patrick12,405
  32. 32Keithup 311,614
  33. 33Douglasdown 111,401
  34. 34Matthewup 210,803
  35. 35Rodneydown 210,268
  36. 36Andrewup 110,235
  37. 37Georgedown 39,941
  38. 38Larry8,709
  39. 39Peter8,584
  40. 40Terry8,455
  41. 41Jerry8,429
  42. 42Jefferyup 57,904
  43. 43Frank7,787
  44. 44Dennis7,786
  45. 45Randydown 37,758
  46. 46Craig7,729
  47. 47Raymonddown 27,376
  48. 48Troyup 56,905
  49. 49Tonydown 16,571
  50. 50Seanup 296,490
  51. 51Rogerdown 26,296
  52. 52Bryanup 115,890
  53. 53Brucedown 35,843
  54. 54Shawnup 155,725
  55. 55Chrisup 55,257
  56. 56Carldown 25,227
  57. 57Alanup 24,943
  58. 58Vincentup 34,941
  59. 59Wayneup 64,891
  60. 60Geraldup 44,863
  61. 61Russelldown 34,857
  62. 62Dannydown 64,721
  63. 63Darrendown 114,718
  64. 64Rickydown 74,680
  65. 65Jonathanup 94,662
  66. 66Lawrence4,644
  67. 67Stevedown 124,617
  68. 68Bradleyup 44,555
  69. 69Mikedown 184,526
  70. 70Randallup 34,448
  71. 71Phillipdown 14,402
  72. 72Jeffdown 104,387
  73. 73Johnnyup 24,363
  74. 74Joedown 34,334
  75. 75Curtis4,242
  76. 76Jonup 24,239
  77. 77Jimmyup 44,238
  78. 78Martindown 114,210
  79. 79Joseup 104,194
  80. 80Billydown 34,182
  81. 81Samuelup 34,155
  82. 82Bobbydown 24,068
  83. 83Walterdown 14,057
  84. 84Deanup 44,041
  85. 85Daledown 23,985
  86. 86Philipup 13,954
  87. 87Barrydown 13,916
  88. 88Darryldown 203,817
  89. 89Jasonnew3,770
  90. 90Glenndown 53,668
  91. 91Jaydown 13,598
  92. 92Henryup 23,575
  93. 93Willie3,546
  94. 94Royup 13,522
  95. 95Darrelldown 43,497
  96. 96Arthur3,482
  97. 97Allendown 53,420
  98. 98Tracynew3,380
  99. 99Harold3,323
  100. 100Albert3,297

With how many babies were given each name, and how its rank changed since 1965. 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, 1966”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/top/us/1966, updated 20 October 2026.