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Top 100 baby names in the US, 1996

The 100 names given to the most girls and boys born in the US in 1996, from Social Security card applications.

In 1996, Emily was the most popular girls' name in the US, given to 25,150 girls, and Michael the most popular boys' name, given to 38,373 boys. New to the top 100 since 1995: Hailey, Angelica and Leah for girls; Tristan, Isaiah, Jack and Malik for boys. The biggest climbers were Sabrina for girls, up 37 places to #58, and Noah for boys, up 49 places to #50.

Girls, 1996

  1. 1Emilyup 225,150
  2. 2Jessicadown 124,201
  3. 3Ashleydown 123,678
  4. 4Sarahup 121,048
  5. 5Samanthadown 120,552
  6. 6Taylor19,155
  7. 7Hannah18,596
  8. 8Alexisup 616,592
  9. 9Rachelup 316,121
  10. 10Elizabeth16,003
  11. 11Kayla15,269
  12. 12Meganup 114,770
  13. 13Amandadown 413,980
  14. 14Brittanydown 613,797
  15. 15Madisonup 1413,412
  16. 16Laurendown 112,595
  17. 17Briannaup 411,925
  18. 18Victoriaup 211,859
  19. 19Jenniferdown 111,732
  20. 20Stephaniedown 411,643
  21. 21Courtneydown 411,344
  22. 22Nicoledown 311,135
  23. 23Alyssaup 411,024
  24. 24Rebeccaup 410,626
  25. 25Morgandown 210,295
  26. 26Alexandra10,025
  27. 27Amberdown 59,771
  28. 28Jasminedown 39,707
  29. 29Danielledown 59,286
  30. 30Haleyup 29,042
  31. 31Katherinedown 18,877
  32. 32Abigailup 48,604
  33. 33Annadown 28,575
  34. 34Oliviaup 58,126
  35. 35Shelbyup 37,950
  36. 36Kelseydown 37,655
  37. 37Mariaup 77,598
  38. 38Allisondown 47,455
  39. 39Sydneyup 47,259
  40. 40Kaitlynup 27,241
  41. 41Kimberlydown 47,176
  42. 42Melissadown 77,170
  43. 43Savannahup 257,000
  44. 44Marydown 46,968
  45. 45Brookeup 76,724
  46. 46Natalieup 56,693
  47. 47Michelledown 66,598
  48. 48Juliaup 146,314
  49. 49Jordanup 16,299
  50. 50Saradown 26,288
  51. 51Erindown 26,256
  52. 52Tiffanydown 66,158
  53. 53Emmaup 146,151
  54. 54Gabrielleup 75,888
  55. 55Chelseadown 85,864
  56. 56Destinyup 105,856
  57. 57Christinadown 125,804
  58. 58Sabrinaup 375,774
  59. 59Marissadown 65,752
  60. 60Vanessaup 35,746
  61. 61Andreadown 65,671
  62. 62Sierradown 25,487
  63. 63Mariahup 85,446
  64. 64Katelyndown 55,421
  65. 65Paigedown 75,342
  66. 66Lauradown 115,227
  67. 67Madelineup 124,912
  68. 68Cheyenneup 184,866
  69. 69Jacquelineup 14,862
  70. 70Kristendown 64,851
  71. 71Heatherdown 174,759
  72. 72Brianaup 24,735
  73. 73Kellydown 94,734
  74. 74Breannaup 24,701
  75. 75Mackenzieup 134,597
  76. 76Mirandadown 194,568
  77. 77Alexandriadown 54,563
  78. 78Carolineup 144,466
  79. 79Ericadown 104,460
  80. 80Shannondown 74,337
  81. 81Katiedown 44,329
  82. 82Monicaup 54,326
  83. 83Jennaup 14,288
  84. 84Caitlindown 34,268
  85. 85Baileyup 114,192
  86. 86Lindseydown 44,112
  87. 87Kathryndown 44,102
  88. 88Amydown 134,067
  89. 89Cassandradown 114,018
  90. 90Angeladown 53,867
  91. 91Aliciadown 23,861
  92. 92Crystaldown 123,786
  93. 93Haileynew3,762
  94. 94Graceup 33,742
  95. 95Catherinedown 53,739
  96. 96Jamiedown 33,599
  97. 97Angelicanew3,404
  98. 98Leahnew3,326
  99. 99Mollydown 13,312
  100. 100Alexa3,260

Boys, 1996

  1. 1Michael38,373
  2. 2Matthew32,077
  3. 3Jacobup 131,925
  4. 4Christopherdown 130,904
  5. 5Joshua29,175
  6. 6Nicholasup 127,724
  7. 7Tylerdown 126,956
  8. 8Brandon25,847
  9. 9Austinup 125,663
  10. 10Andrewup 125,244
  11. 11Danieldown 225,128
  12. 12Joseph24,758
  13. 13Davidup 323,022
  14. 14Zachary22,369
  15. 15Johndown 222,188
  16. 16Ryandown 121,809
  17. 17James21,165
  18. 18Williamup 220,546
  19. 19Anthony20,508
  20. 20Justindown 220,015
  21. 21Jonathanup 218,602
  22. 22Alexanderdown 117,964
  23. 23Robertdown 117,676
  24. 24Christianup 415,824
  25. 25Kyledown 115,600
  26. 26Kevindown 114,589
  27. 27Jordanup 213,852
  28. 28Thomasdown 113,804
  29. 29Benjaminup 213,784
  30. 30Samuelup 313,629
  31. 31Codydown 512,954
  32. 32Joseup 312,155
  33. 33Dylanup 112,037
  34. 34Aarondown 411,971
  35. 35Ericdown 311,611
  36. 36Brian10,476
  37. 37Nathanup 210,287
  38. 38Stevendown 19,650
  39. 39Adamdown 19,557
  40. 40Timothy8,919
  41. 41Jason8,695
  42. 42Loganup 98,374
  43. 43Charlesup 18,248
  44. 44Patrickdown 18,194
  45. 45Richarddown 38,182
  46. 46Seandown 17,896
  47. 47Hunterup 67,603
  48. 48Calebup 67,550
  49. 49Cameron7,388
  50. 50Noahup 497,184
  51. 51Jessedown 57,075
  52. 52Juandown 27,010
  53. 53Alexdown 66,915
  54. 54Connorup 16,911
  55. 55Markdown 36,599
  56. 56Jeremydown 86,412
  57. 57Luisup 26,407
  58. 58Dakotadown 26,067
  59. 59Stephendown 26,008
  60. 60Devindown 26,001
  61. 61Gabrielup 45,900
  62. 62Ethanup 135,853
  63. 63Trevordown 25,842
  64. 64Jareddown 15,821
  65. 65Evandown 55,577
  66. 66Bryanup 45,560
  67. 67Carlosup 15,464
  68. 68Tristannew5,458
  69. 69Nathanielup 45,420
  70. 70Iandown 35,411
  71. 71Isaiahnew5,324
  72. 72Jeffreydown 85,263
  73. 73Travisdown 75,159
  74. 74Jesusup 25,115
  75. 75Lukeup 75,017
  76. 76Chaseup 194,992
  77. 77Kennethdown 54,973
  78. 78Pauldown 74,883
  79. 79Dustindown 174,874
  80. 80Antonioup 54,866
  81. 81Elijahup 124,818
  82. 82Taylordown 134,798
  83. 83Bradleydown 54,755
  84. 84Blakedown 74,747
  85. 85Garrettdown 54,653
  86. 86Isaacup 124,566
  87. 87Marcusdown 64,546
  88. 88Mitchelldown 94,391
  89. 89Jacknew4,245
  90. 90Tannerdown 44,180
  91. 91Miguelup 34,160
  92. 92Adrianup 44,112
  93. 93Lucasdown 24,106
  94. 94Coreydown 204,087
  95. 95Peterdown 64,082
  96. 96Edwarddown 84,073
  97. 97Maliknew4,026
  98. 98Gregorydown 143,994
  99. 99Daltondown 123,980
  100. 100Victordown 103,924

With how many babies were given each name, and how its rank changed since 1995. 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, 1996”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/top/us/1996, updated 20 October 2026.