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Top 100 baby names in the US, 1971

The 100 names given to the most girls and boys born in the US in 1971, from Social Security card applications.

In 1971, Jennifer was the most popular girls' name in the US, given to 56,771 girls, and Michael the most popular boys' name, given to 77,577 boys. New to the top 100 since 1970: Crystal, Amanda, Christy, Erin, Yolanda and Danielle for girls; Ryan, Joshua, Brandon, Jamie and Erik for boys. The biggest climbers were Tiffany for girls, up 37 places to #62, and Jeremy for boys, up 25 places to #45.

Girls, 1971

  1. 1Jennifer56,771
  2. 2Michelleup 233,160
  3. 3Lisadown 132,907
  4. 4Kimberlydown 130,708
  5. 5Amy26,237
  6. 6Angela25,901
  7. 7Melissa23,875
  8. 8Tammy17,656
  9. 9Mary16,703
  10. 10Julieup 115,322
  11. 11Stephanieup 615,135
  12. 12Heatherup 715,017
  13. 13Tracydown 314,330
  14. 14Dawnup 214,288
  15. 15Karendown 314,214
  16. 16Lauradown 313,875
  17. 17Susandown 213,782
  18. 18Christinedown 413,678
  19. 19Elizabethdown 113,606
  20. 20Tinaup 113,266
  21. 21Shannonup 112,647
  22. 22Kellydown 212,599
  23. 23Rebeccaup 612,192
  24. 24Cynthiaup 112,143
  25. 25Loridown 211,829
  26. 26Patriciadown 211,470
  27. 27Nicoleup 310,423
  28. 28Pameladown 210,149
  29. 29Wendydown 110,063
  30. 30Christinaup 59,915
  31. 31Sandradown 49,714
  32. 32Stacyup 109,117
  33. 33Deborah8,675
  34. 34Teresa8,563
  35. 35Andreaup 88,483
  36. 36Denise8,219
  37. 37Mariaup 28,141
  38. 38Donnadown 68,013
  39. 39Micheledown 87,955
  40. 40Sharondown 37,523
  41. 41Staceyup 77,482
  42. 42Lindadown 47,376
  43. 43Brendadown 37,160
  44. 44Danaup 106,934
  45. 45Tonyaup 46,897
  46. 46Rhonda6,649
  47. 47Barbaradown 66,453
  48. 48Monicaup 86,426
  49. 49Taraup 206,336
  50. 50Cheryldown 66,327
  51. 51Robin6,213
  52. 52Nancydown 26,212
  53. 53Kathleendown 86,154
  54. 54Rachelup 46,115
  55. 55Carrieup 185,977
  56. 56Aprilup 265,939
  57. 57Debradown 105,928
  58. 58Sarahup 75,843
  59. 59Jilldown 75,724
  60. 60Sherry5,562
  61. 61Theresadown 85,446
  62. 62Tiffanyup 375,414
  63. 63Pauladown 65,379
  64. 64Jessicaup 345,359
  65. 65Catherinedown 65,337
  66. 66Melanieup 255,135
  67. 67Katherine5,120
  68. 68Lesliedown 45,111
  69. 69Ginadown 84,922
  70. 70Cindyup 24,904
  71. 71Kristindown 84,861
  72. 72Tanyaup 44,855
  73. 73Reneedown 54,830
  74. 74Traceydown 194,789
  75. 75Jacquelinedown 94,784
  76. 76Hollydown 24,747
  77. 77Heidiup 44,714
  78. 78Anndown 164,558
  79. 79Crystalnew4,530
  80. 80Tamaradown 14,486
  81. 81Sheiladown 64,333
  82. 82Dianaup 74,211
  83. 83Dianedown 134,208
  84. 84Amandanew4,130
  85. 85Melindaup 84,057
  86. 86Margaretdown 64,001
  87. 87Kristendown 43,967
  88. 88Suzannedown 13,932
  89. 89Christynew3,930
  90. 90Reginadown 43,874
  91. 91Kathydown 143,863
  92. 92Caroldown 213,857
  93. 93Erinnew3,856
  94. 94Jodiup 13,826
  95. 95Deannadown 53,791
  96. 96Lauriedown 83,749
  97. 97Victoriadown 123,722
  98. 98Yolandanew3,721
  99. 99Daniellenew3,716
  100. 100Bethdown 83,686

Boys, 1971

  1. 1Michael77,577
  2. 2James54,597
  3. 3David53,113
  4. 4John51,512
  5. 5Robert50,634
  6. 6Christopher48,225
  7. 7William35,413
  8. 8Jasonup 534,173
  9. 9Briandown 132,624
  10. 10Scottup 230,901
  11. 11Richarddown 126,154
  12. 12Jeffreydown 125,834
  13. 13Markdown 425,132
  14. 14Kevin24,850
  15. 15Josephup 124,517
  16. 16Stevendown 123,686
  17. 17Thomas23,149
  18. 18Eric22,962
  19. 19Matthewup 522,543
  20. 20Danieldown 121,785
  21. 21Timothydown 120,089
  22. 22Charlesdown 119,851
  23. 23Anthonydown 119,223
  24. 24Pauldown 117,469
  25. 25Kenneth14,763
  26. 26Gregory14,760
  27. 27Stephen13,102
  28. 28Shawnup 612,825
  29. 29Chadup 2212,137
  30. 30Todddown 212,055
  31. 31Ronalddown 211,617
  32. 32Edwarddown 111,062
  33. 33Andrewdown 110,911
  34. 34Donalddown 410,872
  35. 35Patrickdown 210,808
  36. 36Seanup 110,510
  37. 37Keithup 19,851
  38. 38Garydown 39,190
  39. 39Douglasdown 38,737
  40. 40Jonathanup 28,628
  41. 41Aaronup 118,403
  42. 42Georgedown 28,226
  43. 43Craigdown 47,957
  44. 44Larrydown 17,763
  45. 45Jeremyup 257,498
  46. 46Troydown 57,340
  47. 47Peterdown 37,025
  48. 48Bryanup 56,611
  49. 49Dennisdown 36,584
  50. 50Jerrydown 56,572
  51. 51Ryannew6,184
  52. 52Raymonddown 36,104
  53. 53Jefferydown 36,100
  54. 54Frankdown 66,089
  55. 55Joseup 16,004
  56. 56Terrydown 25,858
  57. 57Adamup 155,846
  58. 58Bradleydown 115,780
  59. 59Rodneydown 45,195
  60. 60Shaneup 45,093
  61. 61Travisup 85,016
  62. 62Tonydown 54,889
  63. 63Derekup 144,667
  64. 64Russelldown 64,545
  65. 65Marcusup 64,410
  66. 66Samueldown 44,407
  67. 67Randydown 84,345
  68. 68Chrisdown 54,293
  69. 69Benjaminup 124,251
  70. 70Marcdown 104,212
  71. 71Rogerdown 104,129
  72. 72Carldown 64,055
  73. 73Brentup 14,053
  74. 74Johnnydown 93,939
  75. 75Billyup 33,907
  76. 76Phillipdown 33,850
  77. 77Coreyup 73,766
  78. 78Jondown 103,717
  79. 79Bobbyup 83,652
  80. 80Joshuanew3,650
  81. 81Juanup 143,648
  82. 82Dannyup 33,611
  83. 83Geralddown 163,588
  84. 84Derrickup 123,582
  85. 85Lawrencedown 23,523
  86. 86Joeldown 43,499
  87. 87Vincentdown 83,435
  88. 88Carlosup 103,426
  89. 88Curtis3,426
  90. 90Brettup 93,357
  91. 91Walterdown 23,356
  92. 92Waynedown 123,331
  93. 93Jimmydown 73,315
  94. 94Philipdown 23,302
  95. 95Brandonnew3,263
  96. 96Jamienew3,231
  97. 97Eriknew3,212
  98. 98Lancedown 223,175
  99. 99Alandown 83,168
  100. 100Darrendown 253,156

With how many babies were given each name, and how its rank changed since 1970. 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, 1971”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/top/us/1971, updated 20 October 2026.