NamelingSwipe names

Top 100 baby names in the US, 1985

The 100 names given to the most girls and boys born in the US in 1985, from Social Security card applications.

In 1985, Jessica was the most popular girls' name in the US, given to 48,345 girls, and Michael the most popular boys' name, given to 64,934 boys. New to the top 100 since 1984: Whitney, Caitlin, Dominique, Brittney, Katrina, Alison and 1 more for girls; Adrian, Wesley and Blake for boys. The biggest climbers were Brittany for girls, up 24 places to #17, and Shane for boys, up 17 places to #68.

Girls, 1985

  1. 1Jessicaup 148,345
  2. 2Ashleyup 147,010
  3. 3Jenniferdown 242,661
  4. 4Amanda39,055
  5. 5Sarah24,879
  6. 6Stephanie23,243
  7. 7Nicole22,966
  8. 8Heatherup 121,151
  9. 9Elizabethup 120,545
  10. 10Meganup 120,013
  11. 11Melissadown 319,963
  12. 12Christinaup 816,600
  13. 13Rachelup 216,360
  14. 14Lauraup 516,002
  15. 15Laurenup 615,768
  16. 16Amberup 215,506
  17. 17Brittanyup 2415,437
  18. 18Danielledown 215,417
  19. 19Kimberlyup 314,914
  20. 20Amydown 714,429
  21. 21Crystaldown 914,399
  22. 22Michelledown 513,973
  23. 23Tiffanydown 913,681
  24. 24Emily13,144
  25. 25Rebeccadown 212,705
  26. 26Erindown 111,384
  27. 27Jamieup 411,038
  28. 28Kellydown 111,031
  29. 29Samanthaup 1010,658
  30. 30Saraup 210,562
  31. 31Angeladown 510,227
  32. 32Katherinedown 210,128
  33. 33Andreadown 510,053
  34. 34Erica9,525
  35. 35Marydown 29,240
  36. 36Lisadown 79,012
  37. 37Lindseydown 28,468
  38. 38Kristen8,445
  39. 39Katieup 57,995
  40. 40Lindsaydown 47,871
  41. 41Shannondown 47,714
  42. 42Vanessaup 37,563
  43. 43Courtneyup 37,531
  44. 44Christinedown 17,441
  45. 45Aliciadown 57,122
  46. 46Allisonup 57,028
  47. 47Aprildown 56,691
  48. 48Kathryn6,634
  49. 49Kristindown 26,566
  50. 50Jennaup 46,436
  51. 51Taradown 26,102
  52. 52Mariadown 26,013
  53. 53Krystalup 215,933
  54. 54Annaup 35,883
  55. 55Juliedown 35,761
  56. 56Hollydown 35,602
  57. 57Kristinaup 115,566
  58. 58Nataliedown 35,535
  59. 59Victoria5,426
  60. 60Jacquelinedown 45,250
  61. 61Monicadown 34,990
  62. 62Cassandraup 14,726
  63. 63Meghanup 24,669
  64. 64Patriciaup 24,402
  65. 65Catherineup 44,297
  66. 66Cynthiadown 44,129
  67. 67Stacy4,109
  68. 68Kathleenup 34,087
  69. 69Brandidown 84,045
  70. 70Brandydown 63,901
  71. 71Valerieup 53,881
  72. 72Veronicadown 23,875
  73. 73Whitneynew3,832
  74. 74Dianadown 23,686
  75. 75Chelseaup 93,613
  76. 76Lesliedown 13,607
  77. 77Caitlinnew3,593
  78. 78Leahup 53,572
  79. 79Natashadown 23,553
  80. 80Erikaup 13,503
  81. 81Latoyadown 213,402
  82. 82Danadown 93,348
  83. 83Dominiquenew3,299
  84. 84Brittneynew3,224
  85. 85Juliaup 23,206
  86. 86Candice3,195
  87. 87Karendown 53,138
  88. 88Melaniedown 33,132
  89. 89Staceydown 103,114
  90. 90Margaretup 23,072
  91. 91Sheenadown 113,062
  92. 92Alexandraup 43,017
  93. 93Katrinanew2,978
  94. 94Bethanydown 12,959
  95. 95Nicholeup 22,950
  96. 96Carriedown 182,942
  97. 97Alisonnew2,829
  98. 98Karadown 32,811
  99. 99Joannadown 112,772
  100. 100Rachaelnew2,761

Boys, 1985

  1. 1Michael64,934
  2. 2Christopher59,609
  3. 3Matthew47,075
  4. 4Joshua42,194
  5. 5Danielup 138,559
  6. 6Daviddown 138,522
  7. 7James35,862
  8. 8Robertup 132,094
  9. 9Johndown 131,502
  10. 10Joseph30,222
  11. 11Andrewup 330,178
  12. 12Ryan29,905
  13. 13Brandonup 229,304
  14. 14Jasondown 326,039
  15. 15Justindown 225,537
  16. 16William24,606
  17. 17Jonathanup 224,116
  18. 18Briandown 123,069
  19. 19Nicholasup 122,384
  20. 20Anthonyup 122,104
  21. 21Ericup 120,844
  22. 22Adamdown 420,165
  23. 23Kevinup 118,814
  24. 24Stevendown 118,726
  25. 25Thomas17,609
  26. 26Timothy17,140
  27. 27Kyleup 716,523
  28. 28Richarddown 115,330
  29. 29Jeffreydown 114,500
  30. 30Jeremyup 113,445
  31. 31Benjamindown 113,423
  32. 32Mark13,194
  33. 33Aarondown 413,137
  34. 34Charlesdown 112,900
  35. 35Jacobup 212,284
  36. 36Stephendown 112,210
  37. 37Patrickdown 111,638
  38. 38Seanup 511,455
  39. 39Zacharyup 611,346
  40. 40Nathandown 210,653
  41. 41Dustin10,439
  42. 42Pauldown 210,315
  43. 43Tylerup 410,211
  44. 44Scottdown 510,145
  45. 45Gregorydown 19,767
  46. 46Travisdown 49,094
  47. 47Kennethdown 18,992
  48. 48Bryan8,717
  49. 49Jose8,403
  50. 50Alexanderup 48,295
  51. 51Jessedown 18,221
  52. 52Codyup 107,096
  53. 53Bradley7,011
  54. 54Samuelup 17,009
  55. 55Shawnup 16,982
  56. 56Derekdown 46,661
  57. 57Chaddown 66,466
  58. 58Jaredup 15,883
  59. 59Edwarddown 15,869
  60. 60Peter5,671
  61. 61Marcusdown 45,586
  62. 62Jordanup 35,460
  63. 63Coreyup 65,228
  64. 64Keithdown 35,214
  65. 65Juandown 14,851
  66. 66Donalddown 34,750
  67. 67Joeldown 14,623
  68. 68Shaneup 174,549
  69. 69Phillipup 14,496
  70. 70Brettup 24,328
  71. 71Ronalddown 44,299
  72. 72Georgedown 44,259
  73. 73Antonioup 44,151
  74. 74Carlos4,089
  75. 75Raymonddown 24,085
  76. 76Douglasdown 54,021
  77. 77Nathanielup 34,004
  78. 78Ian3,998
  79. 79Craigdown 43,952
  80. 80Alexup 133,909
  81. 81Coryup 23,868
  82. 82Garydown 63,812
  83. 83Derrickdown 43,779
  84. 84Philipdown 33,735
  85. 85Luisup 33,706
  86. 86Caseydown 43,490
  87. 87Erikdown 33,372
  88. 88Victorup 23,341
  89. 89Brent3,321
  90. 90Frankdown 43,302
  91. 91Evanup 73,219
  92. 92Gabrieldown 53,215
  93. 93Adriannew3,132
  94. 94Wesleynew3,043
  95. 95Vincent3,040
  96. 96Jefferydown 22,947
  97. 97Larrydown 62,946
  98. 98Curtisdown 22,943
  99. 99Todddown 72,941
  100. 100Blakenew2,922

With how many babies were given each name, and how its rank changed since 1984. 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, 1985”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/top/us/1985, updated 20 October 2026.