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Top 100 baby names in the US, 1988

The 100 names given to the most girls and boys born in the US in 1988, from Social Security card applications.

In 1988, Jessica was the most popular girls' name in the US, given to 51,556 girls, and Michael the most popular boys' name, given to 64,171 boys. New to the top 100 since 1987: Katelyn, Kara, Brianna, Alexis, Kaitlin and Melanie for girls; Taylor and Mitchell for boys. The biggest climbers were Jasmine for girls, up 26 places to #53, and Cameron for boys, up 27 places to #69.

Girls, 1988

  1. 1Jessica51,556
  2. 2Ashley49,977
  3. 3Amanda39,459
  4. 4Sarahup 128,374
  5. 5Jenniferdown 127,893
  6. 6Brittanyup 126,816
  7. 7Stephaniedown 122,843
  8. 8Samanthaup 320,700
  9. 9Nicoledown 120,315
  10. 10Elizabeth20,042
  11. 11Laurenup 519,637
  12. 12Megan18,570
  13. 13Tiffanyup 518,364
  14. 14Heatherdown 518,033
  15. 15Amber16,676
  16. 16Melissadown 316,546
  17. 17Danielledown 316,253
  18. 18Emilyup 115,869
  19. 19Racheldown 215,348
  20. 20Kaylaup 713,433
  21. 21Michelle13,339
  22. 22Christinadown 212,954
  23. 23Lauradown 112,126
  24. 24Courtneyup 912,043
  25. 25Kimberlydown 211,948
  26. 26Rebeccadown 111,877
  27. 27Katherineup 111,154
  28. 28Crystaldown 210,101
  29. 29Amydown 510,034
  30. 30Saradown 110,020
  31. 31Erica9,591
  32. 32Kellydown 28,917
  33. 33Chelseaup 148,879
  34. 34Maryup 38,518
  35. 35Andreaup 18,392
  36. 36Kristenup 68,382
  37. 37Erindown 38,267
  38. 38Angeladown 37,914
  39. 39Whitneydown 77,853
  40. 40Katiedown 27,770
  41. 41Vanessaup 27,516
  42. 42Victoriaup 87,283
  43. 43Lisadown 37,267
  44. 44Caitlinup 197,246
  45. 45Jamiedown 67,187
  46. 46Allisondown 27,145
  47. 47Alyssaup 137,135
  48. 48Lindseydown 77,001
  49. 49Alexandraup 106,972
  50. 50Aliciadown 46,700
  51. 51Christinedown 36,612
  52. 52Brittneyup 96,576
  53. 53Jasmineup 266,446
  54. 54Annadown 26,444
  55. 55Kathryndown 46,342
  56. 56Shannondown 116,256
  57. 57Lindsaydown 86,025
  58. 58Kristindown 36,019
  59. 59Cassandraup 95,727
  60. 60Mariadown 75,713
  61. 61Hannahup 55,562
  62. 62Jacquelinedown 85,544
  63. 63Nataliedown 75,483
  64. 64Kelseyup 35,452
  65. 65Aprildown 74,840
  66. 66Jennadown 94,607
  67. 67Taraup 24,606
  68. 68Kristinadown 64,578
  69. 69Catherineup 54,504
  70. 70Monicadown 64,463
  71. 71Juliedown 64,462
  72. 72Hollydown 14,217
  73. 73Natasha4,039
  74. 74Krystaldown 44,019
  75. 75Kathleendown 33,927
  76. 76Erikadown 13,886
  77. 77Patriciadown 13,799
  78. 78Morganup 173,796
  79. 79Cynthiaup 53,784
  80. 80Kendradown 33,761
  81. 81Meghandown 33,609
  82. 82Leah3,558
  83. 83Veronicadown 33,525
  84. 84Katelynnew3,510
  85. 85Diana3,489
  86. 86Mollyup 113,461
  87. 87Brookeup 73,416
  88. 88Juliadown 23,359
  89. 89Bethanydown 23,270
  90. 90Danadown 73,192
  91. 91Brandidown 33,169
  92. 92Caseydown 113,150
  93. 93Margaretdown 33,139
  94. 94Lesliedown 53,079
  95. 95Karanew3,039
  96. 96Briannanew2,963
  97. 97Alexisnew2,900
  98. 98Kaitlinnew2,841
  99. 99Melanienew2,834
  100. 100Rachaeldown 22,831

Boys, 1988

  1. 1Michael64,171
  2. 2Christopher53,014
  3. 3Matthew45,876
  4. 4Joshua42,653
  5. 5Andrewup 135,745
  6. 6Daviddown 135,329
  7. 7Justinup 235,055
  8. 8Danieldown 134,718
  9. 9Jamesdown 132,523
  10. 10Robert30,319
  11. 11John29,427
  12. 12Joseph29,019
  13. 13Ryan27,747
  14. 14Nicholasup 225,303
  15. 15Jonathanup 324,349
  16. 16Williamdown 124,126
  17. 17Brandondown 323,744
  18. 18Anthonydown 123,644
  19. 19Ericup 220,175
  20. 20Kevindown 120,168
  21. 21Kyleup 119,895
  22. 22Briandown 219,532
  23. 23Thomasup 118,806
  24. 24Stevenup 117,865
  25. 25Timothyup 116,807
  26. 26Adamup 116,467
  27. 27Jasondown 415,917
  28. 28Jacobup 315,883
  29. 29Zacharyup 415,870
  30. 30Benjamindown 215,187
  31. 31Aaronup 314,408
  32. 32Richarddown 214,144
  33. 33Tylerup 613,349
  34. 34Alexanderup 313,341
  35. 35Jeremydown 613,169
  36. 36Jeffreydown 412,401
  37. 37Charlesdown 212,109
  38. 38Seanup 211,794
  39. 39Markdown 311,715
  40. 40Stephendown 211,607
  41. 41Travisup 111,423
  42. 42Patrickdown 111,400
  43. 43Codyup 610,583
  44. 44Nathanup 110,154
  45. 45Samuelup 59,564
  46. 46Paul9,438
  47. 47Scottdown 49,351
  48. 48Dustindown 49,337
  49. 49Josedown 19,007
  50. 50Gregorydown 38,629
  51. 51Kennethup 28,567
  52. 52Jordan8,490
  53. 53Derekup 18,073
  54. 54Bryandown 38,036
  55. 55Jesse7,914
  56. 56Coreyup 17,328
  57. 57Bradleydown 17,017
  58. 58Alexup 26,408
  59. 59Coryup 36,266
  60. 60Jareddown 26,211
  61. 61Shawndown 25,893
  62. 62Edwarddown 15,801
  63. 63Austinup 135,588
  64. 64Peter5,425
  65. 65Chaddown 25,299
  66. 66Marcusup 15,207
  67. 67Shanedown 25,173
  68. 68Juandown 25,171
  69. 69Cameronup 274,985
  70. 70Keithdown 14,949
  71. 71Phillipdown 34,576
  72. 72Antonio4,461
  73. 73Brettdown 24,375
  74. 74Evanup 94,337
  75. 75Luisup 74,333
  76. 76Donalddown 64,328
  77. 77Ianup 44,315
  78. 78Georgedown 14,296
  79. 79Ronalddown 64,173
  80. 80Carlosdown 64,127
  81. 81Nathanieldown 34,054
  82. 81Vincentup 144,054
  83. 83Caseydown 34,039
  84. 84Raymonddown 54,036
  85. 85Joeldown 103,940
  86. 86Christianup 43,937
  87. 87Trevorup 63,695
  88. 88Douglasdown 33,655
  89. 89Victorup 23,628
  90. 90Sethdown 13,493
  91. 91Taylornew3,492
  92. 92Erikup 23,478
  93. 92Wesley3,478
  94. 94Philipdown 103,373
  95. 95Mitchellnew3,323
  96. 96Craigdown 83,306
  97. 97Derrickdown 113,304
  98. 98Devinup 13,302
  99. 99Frankdown 23,271
  100. 100Garydown 133,244

With how many babies were given each name, and how its rank changed since 1987. 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, 1988”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/top/us/1988, updated 20 October 2026.