NamelingSwipe names

Top 100 baby names in the US, 1979

The 100 names given to the most girls and boys born in the US in 1979, from Social Security card applications.

In 1979, Jennifer was the most popular girls' name in the US, given to 56,712 girls, and Michael the most popular boys' name, given to 67,713 boys. New to the top 100 since 1978: Mindy, Brooke, Pamela, Erika, Leah, Katrina and 1 more for girls; Brett for boys. The biggest climbers were Lauren for girls, up 35 places to #45, and Erik for boys, up 19 places to #66.

Girls, 1979

  1. 1Jennifer56,712
  2. 2Melissa34,050
  3. 3Amandaup 331,924
  4. 4Jessicadown 127,780
  5. 5Amydown 121,609
  6. 6Sarahup 221,015
  7. 7Heatherdown 220,834
  8. 8Angeladown 120,256
  9. 9Nicoleup 119,510
  10. 10Michelledown 119,266
  11. 11Elizabethup 318,073
  12. 12Kimberlyup 117,635
  13. 13Lisadown 217,286
  14. 14Christinaup 116,454
  15. 15Stephanieup 116,204
  16. 16Kellydown 415,296
  17. 17Rebecca14,548
  18. 18Crystal13,467
  19. 19Jamieup 112,156
  20. 20Lauradown 111,880
  21. 21Erin11,259
  22. 22Amberup 811,079
  23. 23Aprilup 410,902
  24. 24Mary10,555
  25. 25Shannondown 310,370
  26. 26Andreadown 310,336
  27. 27Racheldown 210,230
  28. 28Tiffanyup 49,611
  29. 29Juliedown 39,254
  30. 30Saradown 28,654
  31. 31Meganup 108,293
  32. 32Ericaup 28,178
  33. 33Danielledown 27,981
  34. 34Emilydown 17,971
  35. 35Christinedown 67,689
  36. 36Katherineup 27,464
  37. 37Mariadown 17,339
  38. 38Taraup 26,806
  39. 39Brandydown 26,775
  40. 40Monicaup 26,585
  41. 41Carriedown 66,354
  42. 42Mistyup 15,785
  43. 43Stacyup 15,708
  44. 44Patriciaup 45,650
  45. 45Laurenup 355,625
  46. 46Karendown 75,599
  47. 47Aliciaup 115,547
  48. 48Hollyup 75,488
  49. 49Tracydown 25,389
  50. 50Kathrynup 75,312
  51. 51Susandown 25,196
  52. 52Jilldown 65,192
  53. 53Melanieup 15,021
  54. 54Danaup 174,948
  55. 55Cynthiadown 54,931
  56. 56Kristydown 54,880
  57. 57Dawndown 54,725
  58. 58Tinadown 134,677
  59. 59Annaup 64,670
  60. 60Staceydown 74,613
  61. 61Brandi4,609
  62. 62Kristen4,568
  63. 63Katieup 274,512
  64. 64Wendydown 84,500
  65. 65Lesliedown 24,497
  66. 66Samanthaup 84,461
  67. 67Ashleyup 204,448
  68. 68Nataliedown 24,445
  69. 69Loridown 94,432
  70. 70Allisonup 54,406
  71. 71Courtneydown 34,321
  72. 72Christydown 134,286
  73. 73Kristinup 54,264
  74. 74Kristinadown 104,130
  75. 75Vanessaup 14,102
  76. 76Veronicadown 34,062
  77. 77Sandradown 83,995
  78. 78Catherinedown 63,878
  79. 79Tammydown 123,758
  80. 80Jacquelineup 13,740
  81. 81Mindynew3,712
  82. 82Melindaup 23,705
  83. 83Heidi3,670
  84. 84Kathleendown 53,641
  85. 85Brookenew3,505
  86. 86Tonyadown 93,495
  87. 87Teresaup 13,481
  88. 88Lindsayup 73,466
  89. 89Valerieup 33,407
  90. 90Pamelanew3,365
  91. 91Erikanew3,316
  92. 92Denisedown 73,267
  93. 93Tanyadown 123,225
  94. 94Cheryl3,210
  95. 95Robindown 63,209
  96. 96Ginadown 33,116
  97. 97Jaimedown 273,086
  98. 98Leahnew3,075
  99. 99Katrinanew2,998
  100. 100Theresanew2,995

Boys, 1979

  1. 1Michael67,713
  2. 2Christopherup 150,659
  3. 3Jasondown 150,369
  4. 4David42,053
  5. 5James39,351
  6. 6Matthew35,621
  7. 7John35,410
  8. 8Robert34,015
  9. 9Joshuaup 331,120
  10. 10Briandown 128,659
  11. 11Josephdown 128,654
  12. 12Danieldown 128,521
  13. 13William24,676
  14. 14Ryan23,212
  15. 15Nicholasup 1021,344
  16. 16Jeremyup 221,005
  17. 17Ericdown 120,268
  18. 18Timothydown 119,077
  19. 19Kevindown 418,733
  20. 20Andrewup 218,618
  21. 21Anthonydown 117,513
  22. 22Justinup 617,390
  23. 23Adamup 617,046
  24. 24Jeffreydown 516,865
  25. 25Richarddown 416,713
  26. 26Thomasdown 316,454
  27. 27Stevendown 316,331
  28. 28Charlesdown 114,806
  29. 29Scottup 114,440
  30. 30Markdown 414,386
  31. 31Jonathan14,331
  32. 32Aaron13,076
  33. 33Benjaminup 112,512
  34. 34Pauldown 111,630
  35. 35Brandonup 511,302
  36. 36Travisup 1011,037
  37. 37Nathandown 110,719
  38. 38Chaddown 310,161
  39. 39Patrickup 39,979
  40. 40Stephendown 39,903
  41. 41Kenneth9,236
  42. 42Gregorydown 49,109
  43. 43Shawndown 47,910
  44. 44Jose7,848
  45. 45Jacobup 57,545
  46. 46Bryandown 37,441
  47. 47Bradleyup 66,923
  48. 48Edwarddown 16,877
  49. 49Seandown 46,850
  50. 50Jesseup 16,679
  51. 51Donalddown 36,508
  52. 52Keithdown 36,186
  53. 53Peterup 16,079
  54. 54Ronaldup 15,694
  55. 55Samuelup 25,687
  56. 56Kyleup 75,449
  57. 57Georgeup 15,263
  58. 58Douglasup 15,167
  59. 59Garyup 15,038
  60. 60Todddown 44,984
  61. 61Juanup 14,946
  62. 62Dustinup 64,899
  63. 63Coreydown 24,738
  64. 64Shaundown 124,736
  65. 65Jaredup 74,670
  66. 66Erikup 194,640
  67. 67Shanedown 24,482
  68. 68Phillipdown 14,422
  69. 69Larrydown 54,393
  70. 70Raymonddown 14,335
  71. 71Joelup 34,216
  72. 72Derekup 34,200
  73. 73Carlosup 54,165
  74. 74Zacharyup 154,156
  75. 75Dennisdown 44,080
  76. 76Marcusdown 64,048
  77. 77Craigdown 114,029
  78. 78Frankdown 13,928
  79. 79Antonio3,801
  80. 80Derrickdown 43,729
  81. 81Jeremiah3,719
  82. 82Corydown 93,587
  83. 83Philipup 13,460
  84. 84Brentup 33,455
  85. 85Jerrydown 33,446
  86. 86Randy3,416
  87. 87Jefferydown 73,357
  88. 88Jamieup 73,240
  89. 89Wesleydown 63,237
  90. 90Gabriel3,235
  91. 91Curtisup 53,200
  92. 92Russellup 13,132
  93. 93Caseydown 13,082
  94. 94Alexanderup 43,058
  95. 95Nathanieldown 13,040
  96. 95Terrydown 43,040
  97. 97Billyup 22,998
  98. 98Brettnew2,997
  99. 99Troydown 112,964
  100. 100Carl2,898

With how many babies were given each name, and how its rank changed since 1978. 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, 1979”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/top/us/1979, updated 20 October 2026.