NamelingSwipe names

Top 100 baby names in the US, 1972

The 100 names given to the most girls and boys born in the US in 1972, from Social Security card applications.

In 1972, Jennifer was the most popular girls' name in the US, given to 63,600 girls, and Michael the most popular boys' name, given to 71,393 boys. New to the top 100 since 1971: Veronica, Anna, Erica, Shelly, Alicia and Valerie for girls; Justin, Nathan, Jesse, Antonio, Shannon, Christian and 2 more for boys. The biggest climbers were Danielle for girls, up 26 places to #73, and Brandon for boys, up 32 places to #63.

Girls, 1972

  1. 1Jennifer63,600
  2. 2Michelle29,285
  3. 3Lisa27,543
  4. 4Kimberly26,282
  5. 5Amy25,873
  6. 6Angela23,561
  7. 7Melissa22,494
  8. 8Stephanieup 316,890
  9. 9Heatherup 316,320
  10. 10Nicoleup 1715,755
  11. 11Tammydown 314,211
  12. 12Juliedown 214,062
  13. 13Marydown 413,757
  14. 14Rebeccaup 913,252
  15. 15Elizabethup 412,182
  16. 16Christineup 211,986
  17. 17Lauradown 111,778
  18. 18Tinaup 211,523
  19. 19Tracydown 611,436
  20. 20Dawndown 611,340
  21. 21Karendown 611,181
  22. 22Shannondown 110,965
  23. 23Kellydown 110,944
  24. 24Susandown 710,574
  25. 25Cynthiadown 110,173
  26. 26Christinaup 410,172
  27. 27Patriciadown 19,602
  28. 28Loridown 39,434
  29. 29Wendy8,529
  30. 30Andreaup 58,022
  31. 31Sandra7,917
  32. 32Mariaup 57,721
  33. 33Stacydown 17,604
  34. 34Pameladown 67,472
  35. 35Deniseup 17,382
  36. 36Micheleup 37,380
  37. 37Tonyaup 87,244
  38. 38Taraup 117,234
  39. 39Teresadown 57,176
  40. 40Rachelup 146,417
  41. 41Stacey6,380
  42. 42Melanieup 246,296
  43. 43Deborahdown 106,271
  44. 44Brendadown 16,270
  45. 45Donnadown 76,257
  46. 46Jessicaup 186,206
  47. 47Monicaup 16,133
  48. 48Aprilup 86,120
  49. 49Sarahup 96,114
  50. 50Sharondown 106,111
  51. 51Lindadown 95,742
  52. 52Danadown 85,610
  53. 53Carrieup 25,421
  54. 54Tanyaup 185,402
  55. 55Robindown 45,369
  56. 56Cheryldown 65,136
  57. 57Kathleendown 45,097
  58. 58Barbaradown 115,080
  59. 59Crystalup 205,044
  60. 60Rhondadown 145,001
  61. 61Tiffanyup 14,844
  62. 62Jilldown 34,824
  63. 63Nancydown 114,818
  64. 64Heidiup 134,723
  65. 65Catherine4,686
  66. 66Debradown 94,666
  67. 67Kristinup 44,586
  68. 68Theresadown 74,569
  69. 69Katherinedown 24,514
  70. 70Sherrydown 104,447
  71. 71Hollyup 54,376
  72. 72Pauladown 94,260
  73. 73Danielleup 264,201
  74. 74Christyup 154,190
  75. 75Lesliedown 74,184
  76. 76Amandaup 84,180
  77. 77Reneedown 44,088
  78. 78Ginadown 94,057
  79. 79Jacquelinedown 43,803
  80. 80Cindydown 103,737
  81. 81Melindaup 43,671
  82. 82Veronicanew3,563
  83. 83Dianadown 13,548
  84. 84Tamaradown 43,531
  85. 85Kristenup 23,527
  86. 86Annanew3,449
  87. 87Ericanew3,443
  88. 88Traceydown 143,407
  89. 89Yolandaup 93,398
  90. 90Sheiladown 93,394
  91. 91Anndown 133,360
  92. 92Suzannedown 43,300
  93. 93Erin3,289
  94. 94Shellynew3,288
  95. 95Margaretdown 93,286
  96. 96Alicianew3,268
  97. 97Jodidown 33,259
  98. 98Lauriedown 23,227
  99. 99Victoriadown 23,206
  100. 100Valerienew3,193

Boys, 1972

  1. 1Michael71,393
  2. 2Christopherup 452,172
  3. 3Jamesdown 147,063
  4. 4Daviddown 146,322
  5. 5Johndown 143,158
  6. 6Robertdown 143,013
  7. 7Jasonup 137,423
  8. 8Brianup 136,306
  9. 9Williamdown 230,510
  10. 10Matthewup 922,928
  11. 11Scottdown 122,838
  12. 12Josephup 322,454
  13. 13Kevinup 122,354
  14. 14Richarddown 322,302
  15. 15Danielup 522,092
  16. 16Ericup 222,027
  17. 17Jeffreydown 521,677
  18. 18Markdown 521,490
  19. 19Stevendown 319,851
  20. 20Thomasdown 319,557
  21. 21Timothy17,605
  22. 22Anthonyup 117,454
  23. 23Charlesdown 116,968
  24. 24Paul14,555
  25. 25Chadup 413,392
  26. 26Gregory13,056
  27. 27Kennethdown 212,334
  28. 28Shawn11,277
  29. 29Stephendown 211,037
  30. 30Andrewup 310,111
  31. 31Todddown 19,968
  32. 32Ronalddown 19,502
  33. 33Seanup 39,444
  34. 34Edwarddown 29,292
  35. 35Patrick9,276
  36. 36Donalddown 29,261
  37. 37Jonathanup 39,219
  38. 38Keithdown 19,145
  39. 39Ryanup 128,878
  40. 40Aaronup 17,863
  41. 41Garydown 37,758
  42. 42Jeremyup 37,398
  43. 43Douglasdown 47,387
  44. 44Georgedown 27,167
  45. 45Bryanup 37,035
  46. 46Craigdown 36,729
  47. 47Larrydown 36,604
  48. 48Peterdown 16,471
  49. 49Troydown 36,348
  50. 50Joseup 55,935
  51. 51Adamup 65,740
  52. 52Dennisdown 35,608
  53. 53Jerrydown 35,597
  54. 54Raymonddown 25,443
  55. 55Shaneup 55,236
  56. 56Frankdown 25,165
  57. 57Travisup 45,136
  58. 58Jefferydown 55,063
  59. 59Joshuaup 215,033
  60. 60Justinnew4,975
  61. 61Bradleydown 34,839
  62. 62Terrydown 64,770
  63. 63Brandonup 324,625
  64. 64Benjaminup 54,498
  65. 65Rodneydown 64,363
  66. 66Samuel4,213
  67. 67Derekdown 44,146
  68. 68Tonydown 64,001
  69. 69Russelldown 53,782
  70. 70Randydown 33,739
  71. 71Marcusdown 63,685
  72. 72Jamieup 243,680
  73. 73Juanup 83,672
  74. 74Johnny3,564
  75. 75Phillipup 13,532
  76. 76Rogerdown 53,531
  77. 77Brentdown 43,530
  78. 78Joelup 83,528
  79. 79Nathannew3,512
  80. 80Brettup 103,503
  81. 81Billydown 63,473
  82. 82Chrisdown 143,472
  83. 83Marcdown 133,465
  84. 84Carlosup 43,434
  85. 85Carldown 133,406
  86. 86Erikup 113,398
  87. 87Dannydown 53,306
  88. 88Jessenew3,226
  89. 89Jondown 113,221
  90. 90Bobbydown 113,171
  91. 91Derrickdown 73,088
  92. 92Curtisdown 43,080
  93. 93Antonionew3,028
  94. 94Shannonnew3,014
  95. 95Coreydown 182,990
  96. 96Christiannew2,962
  97. 97Jimmydown 42,932
  98. 98Walterdown 72,918
  99. 99Nicholasnew2,843
  100. 100Joenew2,825

With how many babies were given each name, and how its rank changed since 1971. 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, 1972”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/top/us/1972, updated 20 October 2026.