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Top 100 baby names in the US, 1974

The 100 names given to the most girls and boys born in the US in 1974, from Social Security card applications.

In 1974, Jennifer was the most popular girls' name in the US, given to 63,107 girls, and Michael the most popular boys' name, given to 67,534 boys. New to the top 100 since 1973: Amber, Jamie, Kathryn and Allison for girls; Jacob, Victor, Kyle and Lawrence for boys. The biggest climbers were Erin for girls, up 32 places to #47, and Joshua for boys, up 13 places to #29.

Girls, 1974

  1. 1Jennifer63,107
  2. 2Amy29,566
  3. 3Michelle25,826
  4. 4Heatherup 423,179
  5. 5Angelaup 222,803
  6. 6Kimberlydown 222,427
  7. 7Melissadown 122,166
  8. 8Lisadown 319,778
  9. 9Stephanie16,984
  10. 10Rebecca15,163
  11. 11Nicole13,112
  12. 12Elizabethup 112,259
  13. 13Maryup 111,738
  14. 14Juliedown 211,360
  15. 15Kellyup 310,851
  16. 16Christina10,849
  17. 17Jessicaup 1710,656
  18. 18Shannonup 410,608
  19. 19Christinedown 29,901
  20. 20Sarahup 159,788
  21. 21Lauradown 29,716
  22. 22Dawndown 19,417
  23. 23Tracydown 39,286
  24. 24Tammydown 99,238
  25. 25Tinadown 18,668
  26. 26Karendown 38,643
  27. 27Susandown 28,470
  28. 28Aprilup 58,454
  29. 29Patriciadown 28,036
  30. 30Loridown 27,960
  31. 31Maria7,804
  32. 32Wendydown 37,564
  33. 33Cynthiadown 77,557
  34. 34Amandaup 177,473
  35. 35Andreadown 57,472
  36. 36Rachelup 67,399
  37. 37Tonyadown 16,878
  38. 38Stacydown 66,741
  39. 39Taradown 26,657
  40. 40Danielleup 96,629
  41. 41Tiffanyup 116,482
  42. 42Carrieup 46,436
  43. 43Monicadown 36,281
  44. 44Sandradown 56,270
  45. 45Kristenup 136,052
  46. 46Tanyaup 45,997
  47. 47Erinup 325,868
  48. 48Staceydown 75,803
  49. 49Crystaldown 15,622
  50. 50Micheledown 65,587
  51. 51Melaniedown 85,483
  52. 52Teresadown 75,397
  53. 53Denisedown 155,395
  54. 54Pameladown 75,272
  55. 55Danaup 45,158
  56. 56Hollydown 25,144
  57. 57Christyup 165,067
  58. 58Jillup 45,061
  59. 59Brendadown 64,830
  60. 60Heidiup 54,683
  61. 61Saraup 284,650
  62. 62Katherineup 24,530
  63. 63Robindown 34,525
  64. 63Tamaraup 34,525
  65. 65Leslieup 104,463
  66. 66Mistyup 244,439
  67. 67Donnadown 124,354
  68. 68Deborahdown 124,343
  69. 69Emilyup 304,329
  70. 70Sharondown 134,276
  71. 71Veronica4,226
  72. 72Kristinup 64,218
  73. 73Catherinedown 64,184
  74. 74Ericaup 74,121
  75. 75Lindadown 144,077
  76. 76Kathleendown 83,953
  77. 77Barbaradown 143,906
  78. 78Nancydown 13,891
  79. 79Theresadown 103,857
  80. 80Brandyup 23,832
  81. 81Melindadown 93,752
  82. 82Annaup 43,622
  83. 83Jacquelineup 53,573
  84. 84Ginadown 13,560
  85. 85Reneedown 53,528
  86. 86Rhondadown 163,525
  87. 87Dianadown 23,513
  88. 88Cheryldown 143,496
  89. 89Sherrydown 133,436
  90. 90Aliciaup 13,434
  91. 91Jodiup 93,306
  92. 92Ambernew3,273
  93. 93Valerieup 33,181
  94. 94Debradown 103,129
  95. 95Margaretdown 13,087
  96. 96Pauladown 93,061
  97. 97Jamienew3,020
  98. 98Kathrynnew2,991
  99. 99Allisonnew2,959
  100. 100Anndown 72,928

Boys, 1974

  1. 1Michael67,534
  2. 2Jasonup 154,756
  3. 3Christopherdown 148,585
  4. 4Davidup 141,786
  5. 5Jamesdown 141,334
  6. 6John37,612
  7. 7Robert37,005
  8. 8Brian34,449
  9. 9Matthewup 127,194
  10. 10Williamdown 126,980
  11. 11Daniel23,833
  12. 12Joseph21,834
  13. 13Eric20,193
  14. 14Kevin19,461
  15. 15Jeffreyup 219,320
  16. 16Markdown 118,905
  17. 17Richarddown 118,636
  18. 18Scott18,030
  19. 19Stevenup 117,663
  20. 20Thomasdown 117,268
  21. 21Anthony16,391
  22. 22Timothy15,890
  23. 23Charles15,151
  24. 24Jeremyup 913,295
  25. 25Ryanup 513,179
  26. 26Chaddown 112,788
  27. 27Pauldown 312,310
  28. 28Andrewup 111,778
  29. 29Joshuaup 1311,599
  30. 30Shawndown 311,438
  31. 31Gregorydown 510,826
  32. 32Aaronup 210,507
  33. 33Jonathandown 210,230
  34. 34Kennethdown 610,143
  35. 35Stephendown 310,101
  36. 36Adamup 98,421
  37. 37Seandown 18,290
  38. 38Patrickdown 18,137
  39. 39Todddown 47,845
  40. 40Edwarddown 17,817
  41. 41Donalddown 37,758
  42. 42Ronalddown 27,667
  43. 43Justinup 87,429
  44. 44Keithdown 37,390
  45. 45Bryandown 27,226
  46. 46Benjaminup 97,183
  47. 47Joseup 26,720
  48. 48Garydown 46,444
  49. 49Georgedown 36,283
  50. 50Peterup 25,940
  51. 51Brandonup 75,859
  52. 52Nathanup 115,844
  53. 53Douglasdown 65,843
  54. 54Travisdown 15,702
  55. 55Larrydown 55,694
  56. 56Shanedown 25,655
  57. 57Craigdown 95,539
  58. 58Bradleyup 45,173
  59. 59Dennisdown 34,880
  60. 60Samuelup 64,672
  61. 61Jerrydown 44,664
  62. 62Raymonddown 24,577
  63. 63Troydown 44,563
  64. 64Juanup 34,428
  65. 65Frankdown 44,365
  66. 66Jefferydown 24,363
  67. 67Jesseup 84,105
  68. 68Jamieup 24,086
  69. 69Terrydown 44,027
  70. 70Phillipup 13,934
  71. 71Carlosup 33,871
  72. 72Rodneydown 43,849
  73. 73Marcusdown 13,801
  74. 74Derekdown 53,636
  75. 75Joeldown 23,491
  76. 76Brentup 43,413
  77. 77Coreyup 123,382
  78. 78Billydown 23,365
  79. 79Randy3,342
  80. 80Nicholasup 53,218
  81. 81Tonydown 33,216
  82. 82Antonioup 103,178
  83. 83Johnnydown 13,169
  84. 84Russelldown 73,168
  85. 85Marcdown 43,108
  86. 86Philipup 52,967
  87. 87Derrick2,958
  88. 88Jacobnew2,957
  89. 89Carlup 12,895
  90. 90Erikdown 42,881
  91. 91Dannydown 82,859
  92. 92Bobbyup 12,792
  93. 93Rogerdown 92,754
  94. 94Jon2,750
  95. 95Brettdown 72,677
  96. 96Victornew2,621
  97. 97Kylenew2,598
  98. 98Curtis2,589
  99. 99Jimmydown 42,568
  100. 100Lawrencenew2,543

With how many babies were given each name, and how its rank changed since 1973. 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, 1974”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/top/us/1974, updated 20 October 2026.