Nameling

Top 100 baby names in the US, 1978

The 100 names given to the most girls and boys born in the US in 1978, from Social Security card applications.

In 1978, Jennifer was the most popular girls' name in the US, given to 56,314 girls, and Michael the most popular boys' name, given to 67,127 boys. New to the top 100 since 1977: Lauren, Ashley, Katie, Cheryl, Lindsay and Kristi for girls; Shaun, Casey and Nathaniel for boys. The biggest climbers were Kristina for girls, up 19 places to #64, and Nicholas for boys, up 26 places to #25.

Girls, 1978

  1. 1Jennifer56,314
  2. 2Melissa28,327
  3. 3Jessicaup 126,102
  4. 4Amydown 123,213
  5. 5Heather22,270
  6. 6Amandaup 320,520
  7. 7Angeladown 120,517
  8. 8Sarahup 319,976
  9. 9Michelledown 218,856
  10. 10Nicoleup 517,279
  11. 11Lisaup 117,033
  12. 12Kellydown 216,976
  13. 13Kimberlydown 516,879
  14. 14Elizabethdown 116,807
  15. 15Christinaup 116,367
  16. 16Stephaniedown 216,233
  17. 17Rebecca13,796
  18. 18Crystalup 712,594
  19. 19Lauraup 111,240
  20. 20Jamiedown 210,982
  21. 21Erinup 210,786
  22. 22Shannondown 310,598
  23. 23Andreaup 110,461
  24. 24Marydown 310,040
  25. 25Rachelup 19,802
  26. 26Juliedown 49,794
  27. 27Aprilup 29,590
  28. 28Saradown 18,869
  29. 29Christineup 18,272
  30. 30Amberup 38,174
  31. 31Danielle7,983
  32. 32Tiffanyup 27,701
  33. 33Emilyup 47,473
  34. 34Ericaup 47,340
  35. 35Carriedown 77,318
  36. 36Maria7,021
  37. 37Brandyup 146,699
  38. 38Katherineup 66,625
  39. 39Karendown 76,371
  40. 40Taradown 56,330
  41. 41Meganup 135,895
  42. 42Monicadown 35,867
  43. 43Mistydown 35,834
  44. 44Stacydown 25,776
  45. 45Tinaup 135,699
  46. 46Jilldown 55,676
  47. 47Tracyup 35,631
  48. 48Patriciadown 15,498
  49. 49Susandown 45,418
  50. 50Cynthiadown 25,403
  51. 51Kristyup 175,332
  52. 52Dawndown 95,217
  53. 53Staceyup 34,998
  54. 54Melaniedown 14,996
  55. 55Hollydown 34,972
  56. 56Wendydown 74,918
  57. 57Kathrynup 134,808
  58. 58Aliciaup 24,752
  59. 59Christy4,661
  60. 60Loridown 34,631
  61. 61Brandiup 104,500
  62. 62Kristenup 104,368
  63. 63Leslieup 24,342
  64. 64Kristinaup 194,229
  65. 65Annaup 94,173
  66. 66Natalieup 34,165
  67. 67Tammydown 124,070
  68. 68Courtneyup 84,031
  69. 69Sandradown 84,005
  70. 70Jaimedown 244,003
  71. 71Danadown 94,002
  72. 72Catherineup 33,958
  73. 73Veronica3,933
  74. 74Samanthaup 113,886
  75. 75Allisondown 93,864
  76. 76Vanessaup 143,853
  77. 77Tonyadown 133,826
  78. 78Kristinup 43,807
  79. 79Kathleenup 13,743
  80. 80Laurennew3,669
  81. 81Jacquelineup 113,576
  82. 81Tanyadown 143,576
  83. 83Heididown 23,567
  84. 84Melindaup 123,563
  85. 85Denisedown 73,519
  86. 86Micheledown 93,484
  87. 87Ashleynew3,482
  88. 88Teresadown 93,472
  89. 89Robindown 53,440
  90. 90Katienew3,426
  91. 91Sabrinadown 283,350
  92. 92Valeriedown 63,299
  93. 93Ginadown 53,220
  94. 94Cherylnew3,167
  95. 95Lindsaynew3,123
  96. 96Mandydown 23,110
  97. 97Nancydown 83,044
  98. 98Kristinew2,992
  99. 99Reneedown 122,969
  100. 100Lindadown 12,932

Boys, 1978

  1. 1Michael67,127
  2. 2Jason51,600
  3. 3Christopher47,236
  4. 4David40,684
  5. 5James39,894
  6. 6Matthewup 334,282
  7. 7John34,014
  8. 8Robertdown 233,374
  9. 9Briandown 129,432
  10. 10Joseph26,663
  11. 11Daniel26,441
  12. 12Joshuaup 225,204
  13. 13Williamdown 124,170
  14. 14Ryanup 221,322
  15. 15Kevindown 220,094
  16. 16Ericup 119,761
  17. 17Timothyup 119,597
  18. 18Jeremydown 319,509
  19. 19Jeffrey16,989
  20. 20Anthonyup 116,808
  21. 21Richarddown 116,734
  22. 22Andrewup 216,720
  23. 23Thomasdown 116,481
  24. 24Stevendown 116,390
  25. 25Nicholasup 2616,342
  26. 26Markdown 114,851
  27. 27Charlesdown 114,844
  28. 28Justinup 214,183
  29. 29Adamup 413,918
  30. 30Scottdown 313,539
  31. 31Jonathandown 312,514
  32. 32Aaron12,299
  33. 33Pauldown 211,733
  34. 34Benjamindown 511,414
  35. 35Chaddown 110,107
  36. 36Nathan9,890
  37. 37Stephenup 19,854
  38. 38Gregorydown 39,340
  39. 39Shawndown 29,289
  40. 40Brandonup 19,241
  41. 41Kennethdown 29,021
  42. 42Patrickdown 28,830
  43. 43Bryandown 17,291
  44. 44Joseup 17,148
  45. 45Seandown 27,059
  46. 46Travisdown 26,953
  47. 47Edward6,473
  48. 48Donalddown 26,423
  49. 49Keithdown 16,172
  50. 50Jacobup 66,161
  51. 51Jesseup 36,107
  52. 52Shaunnew6,105
  53. 53Bradleydown 46,096
  54. 54Peterup 15,872
  55. 55Ronalddown 25,758
  56. 56Todddown 65,497
  57. 57Samuelup 35,394
  58. 58Georgedown 15,297
  59. 59Douglas5,151
  60. 60Garydown 25,111
  61. 61Coreydown 94,942
  62. 62Juanup 14,837
  63. 63Kyleup 164,517
  64. 64Larrydown 24,514
  65. 65Shanedown 44,480
  66. 66Craigdown 24,472
  67. 67Phillipup 34,362
  68. 68Dustinup 134,177
  69. 69Raymonddown 44,134
  70. 70Marcusup 23,995
  71. 71Dennisdown 33,861
  72. 72Jaredup 43,847
  73. 73Corydown 63,842
  74. 74Joeldown 13,810
  75. 75Derekup 93,800
  76. 76Derrickup 43,786
  77. 77Frankdown 63,775
  78. 78Carlosdown 43,729
  79. 79Antoniodown 23,677
  80. 80Jefferydown 23,543
  81. 81Jeremiahdown 123,445
  82. 82Jerrydown 73,427
  83. 83Wesleydown 173,306
  84. 84Philipup 63,298
  85. 85Erikup 93,261
  86. 86Randy3,220
  87. 87Brentdown 23,181
  88. 88Troy3,152
  89. 89Zacharyup 63,127
  90. 90Gabrieldown 33,126
  91. 91Terrydown 83,089
  92. 92Caseynew3,003
  93. 93Russelldown 42,984
  94. 94Nathanielnew2,925
  95. 95Jamiedown 132,864
  96. 96Curtisup 42,825
  97. 97Tonydown 52,770
  98. 98Alexanderdown 22,738
  99. 99Billydown 82,695
  100. 100Carldown 12,606

With how many babies were given each name, and how its rank changed since 1977. 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, 1978”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/top/us/1978, updated 20 October 2026.