NamelingSwipe names

Top 100 baby names in the US, 1981

The 100 names given to the most girls and boys born in the US in 1981, from Social Security card applications.

In 1981, Jennifer was the most popular girls' name in the US, given to 57,046 girls, and Michael the most popular boys' name, given to 68,750 boys. New to the top 100 since 1980: Latoya, Diana, Victoria, Renee and Theresa for girls; Tyler for boys. The biggest climbers were Lindsey for girls, up 33 places to #58, and Alexander for boys, up 21 places to #70.

Girls, 1981

  1. 1Jennifer57,046
  2. 2Jessicaup 142,531
  3. 3Amandadown 134,372
  4. 4Sarahup 128,175
  5. 5Melissadown 128,005
  6. 6Amyup 220,345
  7. 7Nicole20,310
  8. 8Stephanieup 520,212
  9. 9Elizabeth20,168
  10. 10Heatherdown 417,946
  11. 11Michelledown 117,781
  12. 12Rebeccaup 516,737
  13. 13Kimberlydown 216,689
  14. 14Tiffany16,416
  15. 15Angeladown 315,924
  16. 16Crystalup 215,888
  17. 17Christinadown 214,392
  18. 18Lisadown 214,294
  19. 19Erinup 113,853
  20. 20Amberup 213,814
  21. 21Laura13,292
  22. 22Rachelup 112,590
  23. 23Kellydown 411,873
  24. 24Andreaup 411,686
  25. 25Aprilup 111,406
  26. 26Saraup 111,359
  27. 27Marydown 211,042
  28. 28Jamiedown 410,982
  29. 29Emilyup 210,799
  30. 30Danielleup 310,038
  31. 31Kristinup 69,737
  32. 32Shannondown 39,226
  33. 33Megandown 38,964
  34. 34Ashleyup 68,874
  35. 35Laurenup 38,813
  36. 36Ericadown 28,626
  37. 37Juliedown 58,567
  38. 38Kristenup 18,540
  39. 39Katherinedown 48,433
  40. 40Mariadown 47,681
  41. 41Brandyup 16,898
  42. 42Christinedown 16,854
  43. 43Courtneyup 56,636
  44. 44Katie6,600
  45. 45Taradown 26,366
  46. 46Aliciaup 15,855
  47. 47Lindsayup 245,843
  48. 48Kathrynup 25,823
  49. 49Monicadown 45,782
  50. 50Brandiup 135,527
  51. 51Samanthaup 75,516
  52. 52Brookeup 55,328
  53. 53Patriciadown 25,284
  54. 54Annaup 15,192
  55. 55Carriedown 95,094
  56. 56Leslieup 54,934
  57. 57Allisonup 24,904
  58. 58Lindseyup 334,863
  59. 59Cynthiaup 54,859
  60. 60Natalieup 54,858
  61. 61Mistydown 124,799
  62. 62Vanessaup 74,749
  63. 63Hollydown 114,564
  64. 64Karendown 104,539
  65. 65Stacydown 124,479
  66. 66Melaniedown 64,475
  67. 67Jacquelineup 144,334
  68. 68Veronicaup 24,313
  69. 69Latoyanew4,266
  70. 70Danadown 24,246
  71. 71Susandown 94,244
  72. 72Kristinaup 14,061
  73. 73Catherineup 44,057
  74. 74Sandraup 64,037
  75. 75Diananew3,971
  76. 76Pamelaup 103,881
  77. 77Tracydown 213,869
  78. 78Jilldown 123,857
  79. 79Dawndown 123,839
  80. 80Tinadown 83,821
  81. 81Leahup 33,808
  82. 82Kathleen3,776
  83. 83Staceydown 103,754
  84. 84Heididown 53,738
  85. 85Natashaup 43,730
  86. 86Candiceup 133,698
  87. 87Victorianew3,689
  88. 88Juliaup 103,668
  89. 89Valeriedown 43,611
  90. 90Wendydown 153,608
  91. 91Loridown 153,479
  92. 92Tanyadown 43,408
  93. 93Erikadown 63,399
  94. 94Kristydown 163,263
  95. 95Katrinadown 53,257
  96. 96Denisedown 13,201
  97. 97Teresadown 33,121
  98. 98Reneenew2,997
  99. 99Christydown 162,943
  100. 99Theresanew2,943

Boys, 1981

  1. 1Michael68,750
  2. 2Christopher50,221
  3. 3Matthewup 343,330
  4. 4Jasondown 141,927
  5. 5Daviddown 140,629
  6. 6Joshuaup 139,024
  7. 7Jamesdown 238,283
  8. 8John34,868
  9. 9Robert34,395
  10. 10Danielup 130,985
  11. 11Josephdown 130,761
  12. 12Justinup 127,307
  13. 13Ryanup 226,811
  14. 14Briandown 226,583
  15. 15Williamdown 124,798
  16. 16Jonathanup 522,588
  17. 17Ericdown 120,712
  18. 18Andrewup 120,232
  19. 19Brandonup 1220,206
  20. 20Adamup 220,044
  21. 21Nicholasdown 419,775
  22. 22Jeremydown 419,113
  23. 23Anthonyup 118,569
  24. 24Timothydown 418,228
  25. 25Kevindown 217,454
  26. 26Thomasdown 117,159
  27. 27Richarddown 116,855
  28. 28Steven16,482
  29. 29Jeffreydown 215,931
  30. 30Aaronup 414,694
  31. 31Charlesdown 214,427
  32. 32Benjamin14,360
  33. 33Markdown 313,542
  34. 34Scottdown 112,719
  35. 35Paul11,776
  36. 36Nathan11,256
  37. 37Jesseup 810,443
  38. 38Patrick10,384
  39. 39Stephenup 110,302
  40. 40Travisdown 310,109
  41. 41Kenneth9,472
  42. 42Dustinup 29,350
  43. 43Jacob9,342
  44. 44Seanup 48,893
  45. 45Joseup 18,773
  46. 46Gregorydown 48,756
  47. 47Chaddown 88,412
  48. 48Bryanup 17,215
  49. 49Shawndown 27,076
  50. 50Bradleyup 16,895
  51. 51Edwardup 16,661
  52. 52Kyleup 56,570
  53. 53Derekdown 36,481
  54. 54Samuel6,036
  55. 55Peter5,997
  56. 56Donalddown 35,910
  57. 57Jaredup 45,865
  58. 58Keithdown 25,621
  59. 59Ronalddown 15,538
  60. 60Juandown 15,499
  61. 61Georgedown 15,157
  62. 62Garyup 14,946
  63. 63Zacharyup 94,841
  64. 64Douglasdown 24,788
  65. 65Joelup 24,540
  66. 66Phillipdown 14,539
  67. 67Marcusup 44,510
  68. 68Raymonddown 24,367
  69. 69Coreydown 14,247
  70. 70Alexanderup 214,237
  71. 71Carlosup 74,185
  72. 72Craigup 14,097
  73. 73Larrydown 33,955
  74. 74Toddup 13,953
  75. 75Antonioup 23,926
  76. 76Erikdown 123,921
  77. 77Jeremiahdown 13,896
  78. 78Derrickdown 43,850
  79. 79Brettup 173,775
  80. 80Nathanielup 63,719
  81. 81Shanedown 123,710
  82. 82Frankdown 13,638
  83. 83Dennisdown 33,634
  84. 84Philipdown 23,581
  85. 85Caseyup 83,518
  86. 86Shaundown 73,383
  87. 87Gabrieldown 23,373
  88. 88Brentdown 43,371
  89. 88Lucasup 103,371
  90. 90Corydown 73,352
  91. 91Randydown 43,343
  92. 92Luisdown 43,342
  93. 93Jefferydown 33,334
  94. 94Curtisdown 53,198
  95. 95Sethup 43,137
  96. 96Tylernew3,117
  97. 97Jerrydown 33,056
  98. 98Russelldown 63,048
  99. 99Wesleydown 43,040
  100. 100Lukedown 33,013

With how many babies were given each name, and how its rank changed since 1980. 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, 1981”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/top/us/1981, updated 20 October 2026.