namelingSwipe names

Top 100 baby names in the US, 1986

The 100 names given to the most girls and boys born in the US in 1986, from Social Security card applications.

In 1986, Jessica was the most popular girls' name in the US, given to 52,682 girls, and Michael the most popular boys' name, given to 64,235 boys. New to the top 100 since 1985: Kayla, Casey, Hannah, Mallory, Alyssa, Felicia and 2 more for girls; Christian, Austin, Seth and Trevor for boys. The biggest climbers were Whitney for girls, up 41 places to #32, and Alex for boys, up 16 places to #64.

Girls, 1986

  1. 1Jessica52,682
  2. 2Ashley49,671
  3. 3Amandaup 140,532
  4. 4Jenniferdown 136,187
  5. 5Sarah28,163
  6. 6Stephanie22,651
  7. 7Nicole21,292
  8. 8Brittanyup 920,313
  9. 9Heatherdown 119,790
  10. 10Elizabethdown 119,074
  11. 11Megandown 118,590
  12. 12Melissadown 117,667
  13. 13Amberup 316,954
  14. 14Laurenup 116,684
  15. 15Racheldown 215,455
  16. 16Danielleup 214,942
  17. 17Tiffanyup 614,483
  18. 18Kimberlyup 114,420
  19. 19Christinadown 714,384
  20. 20Lauradown 614,172
  21. 21Samanthaup 814,092
  22. 22Amydown 213,452
  23. 23Michelledown 113,303
  24. 24Emily13,236
  25. 25Crystaldown 412,689
  26. 26Rebeccadown 111,793
  27. 27Saraup 311,052
  28. 28Katherineup 410,570
  29. 29Kellydown 110,411
  30. 30Erindown 410,068
  31. 31Ericaup 39,973
  32. 32Whitneyup 419,536
  33. 33Angeladown 29,267
  34. 34Jamiedown 79,234
  35. 35Courtneyup 89,122
  36. 36Andreadown 38,639
  37. 37Marydown 28,507
  38. 38Katieup 18,333
  39. 39Lindseydown 28,051
  40. 40Lisadown 47,907
  41. 41Kristendown 37,844
  42. 42Allisonup 47,575
  43. 43Vanessadown 17,469
  44. 44Shannondown 37,403
  45. 45Alicia7,017
  46. 46Lindsaydown 66,952
  47. 47Christinedown 36,917
  48. 48Kathryn6,393
  49. 49Mariaup 36,142
  50. 50Kristindown 16,000
  51. 51Annaup 35,908
  52. 52Natalieup 65,707
  53. 53Aprildown 65,677
  54. 54Victoriaup 55,676
  55. 55Jennadown 55,416
  56. 56Taradown 55,085
  57. 57Jacquelineup 35,036
  58. 58Juliedown 35,016
  59. 59Monicaup 25,013
  60. 60Cassandraup 24,989
  61. 61Krystaldown 84,929
  62. 62Kristinadown 54,840
  63. 63Hollydown 74,838
  64. 64Kaylanew4,657
  65. 65Brittneyup 194,593
  66. 66Patriciadown 24,246
  67. 67Catherinedown 24,242
  68. 68Kathleen4,129
  69. 69Caitlinup 83,881
  70. 70Natashaup 93,872
  71. 71Meghandown 83,869
  72. 72Alexandraup 203,808
  73. 73Chelseaup 23,753
  74. 74Erikaup 63,678
  75. 75Dianadown 13,669
  76. 76Valeriedown 53,618
  77. 77Veronicadown 53,580
  78. 78Leah3,457
  79. 79Brandidown 103,432
  80. 80Caseynew3,423
  81. 81Cynthiadown 153,422
  82. 82Hannahnew3,388
  83. 83Mallorynew3,325
  84. 84Brandydown 143,295
  85. 85Alyssanew3,225
  86. 86Lesliedown 103,224
  87. 87Stacydown 203,220
  88. 88Juliadown 33,109
  89. 89Felicianew3,084
  90. 89Margaretup 13,084
  91. 91Bethanyup 33,082
  92. 92Danadown 103,076
  93. 93Kristanew3,054
  94. 94Staceydown 53,043
  95. 95Jasminenew2,993
  96. 96Alisonup 12,975
  97. 97Melaniedown 92,973
  98. 98Dominiquedown 152,944
  99. 99Katrinadown 62,828
  100. 100Karendown 132,801

Boys, 1986

  1. 1Michael64,235
  2. 2Christopher56,693
  3. 3Matthew46,929
  4. 4Joshua37,542
  5. 5Davidup 137,150
  6. 6Danieldown 136,573
  7. 7James34,057
  8. 8Andrewup 333,858
  9. 9Robertdown 131,350
  10. 10Johndown 130,209
  11. 11Ryanup 129,524
  12. 12Josephdown 228,834
  13. 13Brandon27,254
  14. 14Justinup 126,638
  15. 15Williamup 124,333
  16. 16Jonathanup 123,973
  17. 17Nicholasup 222,800
  18. 18Jasondown 422,415
  19. 19Anthonyup 121,956
  20. 20Briandown 221,027
  21. 21Kevinup 219,935
  22. 22Ericdown 119,528
  23. 23Kyleup 419,315
  24. 24Adamdown 218,157
  25. 25Stevendown 118,099
  26. 26Thomasdown 117,362
  27. 27Timothydown 116,875
  28. 28Jeremyup 216,269
  29. 29Richarddown 115,014
  30. 30Benjaminup 113,793
  31. 31Jacobup 413,652
  32. 32Jeffreydown 313,651
  33. 33Aaron12,692
  34. 34Charles12,625
  35. 35Markdown 312,615
  36. 36Stephen11,877
  37. 37Seanup 111,784
  38. 38Zacharyup 111,725
  39. 39Patrickdown 211,410
  40. 40Tylerup 310,912
  41. 41Alexanderup 910,609
  42. 42Dustindown 110,317
  43. 43Nathandown 39,996
  44. 44Scott9,965
  45. 45Pauldown 39,715
  46. 46Gregorydown 19,529
  47. 47Bryanup 18,651
  48. 48Jesseup 38,542
  49. 49Travisdown 38,480
  50. 50Kennethdown 38,453
  51. 51Josedown 28,363
  52. 52Samuelup 27,579
  53. 53Jordanup 97,302
  54. 54Bradleydown 17,044
  55. 55Shawn7,018
  56. 56Codydown 46,934
  57. 57Derekdown 16,900
  58. 58Jared6,119
  59. 59Chaddown 26,026
  60. 60Peter5,797
  61. 61Edwarddown 25,777
  62. 62Coreyup 15,762
  63. 63Marcusdown 25,278
  64. 64Alexup 165,111
  65. 65Juan5,076
  66. 66Keithdown 25,040
  67. 67Shaneup 14,929
  68. 68Coryup 134,871
  69. 69Brettup 14,729
  70. 70Phillipdown 14,705
  71. 71Donalddown 54,661
  72. 72Joeldown 54,507
  73. 73Antonio4,406
  74. 74Georgedown 24,348
  75. 75Ronalddown 44,224
  76. 76Carlosdown 24,090
  77. 77Raymonddown 24,055
  78. 78Nathanieldown 14,032
  79. 79Luisup 64,028
  80. 80Craigdown 13,926
  81. 81Evanup 103,887
  82. 82Douglasdown 63,763
  83. 83Caseyup 33,762
  84. 84Garydown 23,719
  85. 85Iandown 73,713
  86. 86Philipdown 23,665
  87. 87Derrickdown 43,326
  88. 88Victor3,293
  89. 89Christiannew3,214
  90. 90Austinnew3,202
  91. 91Frankdown 13,178
  92. 92Erikdown 53,110
  93. 93Vincentup 23,092
  94. 94Brentdown 53,061
  95. 95Gabrieldown 33,046
  96. 96Wesleydown 23,043
  97. 97Sethnew2,980
  98. 98Trevornew2,978
  99. 99Adriandown 62,943
  100. 100Curtisdown 22,910

With how many babies were given each name, and how its rank changed since 1985. 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, 1986”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/top/us/1986, updated 20 October 2026.