Most Popular Baby Names of 1951

In 1951, Linda (73,982 births) was the most common U.S. girl name and James (87,257 births) the most common boy name.

Top 100 boy names, 1951
Rank	Name	Births
1	James	87,257
2	Robert	86,355
3	John	81,570
4	Michael	72,805
5	David	64,789
6	William	62,783
7	Richard	54,539
8	Thomas	48,275
9	Charles	39,408
10	Gary	38,161
11	Larry	30,559
12	Ronald	29,048
13	Steven	28,363
14	Joseph	28,148
15	Donald	27,915
16	Kenneth	25,843
17	Dennis	24,265
18	Paul	22,852
19	Stephen	22,472
20	Mark	21,202
21	Daniel	21,121
22	George	20,213
23	Edward	19,913
24	Jerry	15,165
25	Gregory	14,103
26	Bruce	14,090
27	Douglas	13,902
28	Timothy	12,704
29	Roger	12,425
30	Terry	12,216
31	Frank	11,477
32	Raymond	11,228
33	Lawrence	10,265
34	Anthony	9,838
35	Jeffrey	9,715
36	Gerald	9,539
37	Wayne	9,327
38	Peter	8,999
39	Patrick	8,752
40	Alan	8,408
41	Danny	8,179
42	Walter	8,037
43	Carl	7,640
44	Arthur	7,414
45	Willie	7,224
46	Harold	7,178
47	Henry	7,118
48	Jack	7,004
49	Dale	6,964
50	Johnny	6,700
51	Ralph	6,525
52	Roy	6,466
53	Kevin	6,350
54	Stanley	6,205
55	Philip	6,097
56	Randy	6,033
57	Joe	5,825
58	Glenn	5,803
59	Keith	5,767
60	Albert	5,760
61	Christopher	5,735
62	Jimmy	5,687
63	Craig	5,623
64	Billy	5,609
65	Eugene	5,579
66	Randall	5,533
67	Samuel	5,476
68	Scott	5,381
69	Andrew	5,372
70	Harry	5,304
71	Barry	5,284
72	Allen	5,179
73	Russell	5,175
74	Howard	5,108
75	Brian	5,100
76	Louis	5,089
77	Bobby	5,006
78	Frederick	4,984
79	Phillip	4,910
80	Leonard	4,738
81	Martin	4,596
82	Ronnie	4,531
83	Ernest	4,381
84	Rodney	4,297
85	Francis	4,200
86	Steve	4,053
87	Fred	3,994
88	Melvin	3,837
89	Eddie	3,747
90	Norman	3,729
91	Curtis	3,716
92	Lee	3,682
93	Eric	3,664
94	Tommy	3,582
95	Earl	3,571
96	Marvin	3,557
97	Micheal	3,276
98	Clarence	3,232
99	Theodore	3,217
100	Alfred	3,203

Full Boy list for 1951

Top 100 girl names, 1951
Rank	Name	Births
1	Linda	73,982
2	Mary	65,722
3	Patricia	56,446
4	Deborah	42,053
5	Barbara	40,619
6	Susan	40,228
7	Nancy	30,346
8	Karen	27,998
9	Sandra	27,666
10	Kathleen	26,716
11	Carol	24,781
12	Donna	24,075
13	Sharon	23,921
14	Brenda	21,717
15	Diane	19,841
16	Pamela	18,570
17	Margaret	17,692
18	Debra	17,065
19	Janet	16,947
20	Cynthia	16,295
21	Janice	15,959
22	Carolyn	15,208
23	Elizabeth	15,118
24	Christine	15,018
25	Judith	14,936
26	Judy	14,016
27	Shirley	13,918
28	Joyce	13,472
29	Betty	12,822
30	Cheryl	11,986
31	Gloria	10,952
32	Rebecca	10,931
33	Beverly	10,858
34	Catherine	10,566
35	Kathy	10,406
36	Gail	9,886
37	Bonnie	9,706
38	Martha	9,605
39	Joan	9,403
40	Peggy	9,208
41	Marilyn	9,148
42	Dorothy	9,090
43	Jane	8,942
44	Connie	8,722
45	Kathryn	8,460
46	Ann	8,423
47	Virginia	8,180
48	Denise	8,116
49	Jean	7,627
50	Diana	7,396
51	Paula	7,291
52	Wanda	7,232
53	Ruth	7,076
54	Helen	6,950
55	Katherine	6,930
56	Jacqueline	6,917
57	Phyllis	6,791
58	Vicki	6,631
59	Frances	6,584
60	Laura	6,466
61	Rita	6,415
62	Alice	6,315
63	Teresa	6,214
64	Theresa	6,190
65	Rose	6,185
66	Elaine	6,069
67	Jo	6,001
68	Ellen	5,945
69	Sheila	5,897
70	Sherry	5,889
71	Cathy	5,697
72	Lynn	5,628
73	Joanne	5,358
74	Marcia	5,299
75	Maria	5,236
76	Marsha	5,188
77	Sally	5,138
78	Marie	5,046
79	Darlene	5,030
80	Doris	5,025
81	Victoria	4,907
82	Anne	4,873
83	Suzanne	4,827
84	Charlotte	4,649
85	Lois	4,533
86	Constance	4,367
87	Vickie	4,320
88	Evelyn	4,232
89	Glenda	4,135
90	Dianne	4,034
91	Sarah	4,028
92	Roberta	3,979
93	Maureen	3,878
94	Anna	3,870
95	Eileen	3,816
96	Anita	3,785
97	Sylvia	3,777
98	Jeanne	3,768
99	Julie	3,686
100	Valerie	3,559

Full Girl list for 1951

Biggest movers since 1950

Names with at least 500 births in both years, by percent change in births.

Rising boy names, 1950 to 1951
Name	Births 1950	Births 1951	Change	Rank 1950 → 1951
Ricky	2,107	3,073	+46%	128 → 102
Rex	1,069	1,503	+41%	196 → 170
Randy	4,355	6,033	+39%	80 → 56
Jeffery	1,216	1,631	+34%	183 → 161
Kevin	4,751	6,350	+34%	73 → 53
Rick	1,484	1,896	+28%	168 → 143
Mark	16,605	21,202	+28%	23 → 20
Jeffrey	7,643	9,715	+27%	43 → 35
Keith	4,567	5,767	+26%	78 → 59
Scott	4,268	5,381	+26%	82 → 68

Falling boy names, 1950 to 1951
Name	Births 1950	Births 1951	Change	Rank 1950 → 1951
Bill	2,041	1,653	-19%	131 → 157
Jim	1,930	1,595	-17%	139 → 164
Tom	1,823	1,522	-17%	145 → 168
Mike	2,615	2,198	-16%	113 → 128
Harvey	1,811	1,642	-9%	147 → 159
Juan	2,025	1,838	-9%	133 → 144
Terrence	1,267	1,171	-8%	176 → 193
Willie	7,720	7,224	-6%	42 → 45
Maurice	1,197	1,121	-6%	185 → 195
Arnold	1,508	1,428	-5%	166 → 177

Rising girl names, 1950 to 1951
Name	Births 1950	Births 1951	Change	Rank 1950 → 1951
Debra	6,176	17,065	+176%	59 → 18
Denise	4,514	8,116	+80%	82 → 48
Laurie	1,391	2,353	+69%	194 → 139
Robin	1,991	2,891	+45%	149 → 122
Deborah	29,062	42,053	+45%	7 → 4
Cindy	1,467	2,031	+38%	185 → 154
Vickie	3,284	4,320	+32%	108 → 87
Teresa	4,724	6,214	+32%	81 → 63
Michelle	1,633	2,133	+31%	174 → 151
Victoria	3,781	4,907	+30%	94 → 81

Falling girl names, 1950 to 1951
Name	Births 1950	Births 1951	Change	Rank 1950 → 1951
Shirley	15,891	13,918	-12%	19 → 27
Carole	2,218	1,959	-12%	140 → 159
Irene	3,825	3,394	-11%	92 → 105
Emma	1,896	1,731	-9%	154 → 174
Loretta	2,720	2,489	-8%	120 → 135
Suzanne	5,267	4,827	-8%	71 → 83
Lynda	3,300	3,026	-8%	107 → 116
Sheryl	2,110	1,935	-8%	145 → 161
Annie	3,331	3,062	-8%	106 → 113
Linda	80,431	73,982	-8%	1 → 1

Top 100 boy names, 1951

Rank

Name

Births

James

87,257

86,355

81,570

72,805

64,789

62,783

Richard

54,539

Thomas

48,275

Charles

39,408

Gary

38,161

Larry

30,559

29,048

28,363

28,148

27,915

25,843

24,265

22,852

22,472

Mark

21,202

Daniel

21,121

George

20,213

Edward

19,913

Jerry

15,165

Gregory

14,103

Bruce

14,090

Douglas

13,902

Timothy

12,704

Roger

12,425

Terry

12,216

Frank

11,477

Raymond

11,228

Lawrence

10,265

Anthony

9,838

Jeffrey

9,715

9,539

9,327

8,999

8,752

8,408

Danny

8,179

Walter

8,037

Carl

7,640

Arthur

7,414

Willie

7,224

Harold

7,178

Henry

7,118

Jack

7,004

Dale

6,964

Johnny

6,700

Ralph

6,525

6,466

6,350

6,205

6,097

Randy

6,033

Joe

5,825

Glenn

5,803

Keith

5,767

Albert

5,760

Christopher

5,735

Jimmy

5,687

Craig

5,623

Billy

5,609

Eugene

5,579

Randall

5,533

Samuel

5,476

Scott

5,381

Andrew

5,372

Harry

5,304

Barry

5,284

Allen

5,179

Russell

5,175

Howard

5,108

Brian

5,100

Louis

5,089

Bobby

5,006

Frederick

4,984

Phillip

4,910

Leonard

4,738

Martin

4,596

Ronnie

4,531

4,381

4,297

4,200

4,053

Fred

3,994

Melvin

3,837

Eddie

3,747

Norman

3,729

Curtis

3,716

Lee

3,682

Eric

3,664

Tommy

3,582

Earl

3,571

Marvin

3,557

Micheal

3,276

Clarence

3,232

Theodore

3,217

100

Alfred

3,203

Top 100 girl names, 1951

Rank

Name

Births

Linda

73,982

Mary

65,722

Patricia

56,446

Deborah

42,053

Barbara

40,619

Susan

40,228

Nancy

30,346

Karen

27,998

Sandra

27,666

Kathleen

26,716

Carol

24,781

Donna

24,075

Sharon

23,921

Brenda

21,717

Diane

19,841

Pamela

18,570

Margaret

17,692

Debra

17,065

Janet

16,947

Cynthia

16,295

Janice

15,959

Carolyn

15,208

Elizabeth

15,118

Christine

15,018

Judith

14,936

Judy

14,016

Shirley

13,918

Joyce

13,472

Betty

12,822

Cheryl

11,986

Gloria

10,952

Rebecca

10,931

Beverly

10,858

Catherine

10,566

Kathy

10,406

Gail

9,886

Bonnie

9,706

Martha

9,605

Joan

9,403

Peggy

9,208

Marilyn

9,148

Dorothy

9,090

Jane

8,942

Connie

8,722

Kathryn

8,460

Ann

8,423

Virginia

8,180

Denise

8,116

Jean

7,627

Diana

7,396

Paula

7,291

Wanda

7,232

Ruth

7,076

Helen

6,950

Katherine

6,930

Jacqueline

6,917

Phyllis

6,791

Vicki

6,631

Frances

6,584

Laura

6,466

Rita

6,415

Alice

6,315

Teresa

6,214

Theresa

6,190

Rose

6,185

Elaine

6,069

6,001

Ellen

5,945

Sheila

5,897

Sherry

5,889

Cathy

5,697

Lynn

5,628

Joanne

5,358

Marcia

5,299

Maria

5,236

Marsha

5,188

Sally

5,138

Marie

5,046

Darlene

5,030

Doris

5,025

Victoria

4,907

Anne

4,873

Suzanne

4,827

Charlotte

4,649

Lois

4,533

Constance

4,367

Vickie

4,320

Evelyn

4,232

Glenda

4,135

Dianne

4,034

Sarah

4,028

Roberta

3,979

Maureen

3,878

3,870

3,816

3,785

3,777

Jeanne

3,768

Julie

3,686

100

Valerie

3,559

Biggest movers since 1950

Names with at least 500 births in both years, by percent change in births.

Rising boy names, 1950 to 1951
Name	Births 1950	Births 1951	Change	Rank 1950 → 1951
Ricky	2,107	3,073	+46%	128 → 102
Rex	1,069	1,503	+41%	196 → 170
Randy	4,355	6,033	+39%	80 → 56
Jeffery	1,216	1,631	+34%	183 → 161
Kevin	4,751	6,350	+34%	73 → 53
Rick	1,484	1,896	+28%	168 → 143
Mark	16,605	21,202	+28%	23 → 20
Jeffrey	7,643	9,715	+27%	43 → 35
Keith	4,567	5,767	+26%	78 → 59
Scott	4,268	5,381	+26%	82 → 68

Falling boy names, 1950 to 1951
Name	Births 1950	Births 1951	Change	Rank 1950 → 1951
Bill	2,041	1,653	-19%	131 → 157
Jim	1,930	1,595	-17%	139 → 164
Tom	1,823	1,522	-17%	145 → 168
Mike	2,615	2,198	-16%	113 → 128
Harvey	1,811	1,642	-9%	147 → 159
Juan	2,025	1,838	-9%	133 → 144
Terrence	1,267	1,171	-8%	176 → 193
Willie	7,720	7,224	-6%	42 → 45
Maurice	1,197	1,121	-6%	185 → 195
Arnold	1,508	1,428	-5%	166 → 177

Rising girl names, 1950 to 1951
Name	Births 1950	Births 1951	Change	Rank 1950 → 1951
Debra	6,176	17,065	+176%	59 → 18
Denise	4,514	8,116	+80%	82 → 48
Laurie	1,391	2,353	+69%	194 → 139
Robin	1,991	2,891	+45%	149 → 122
Deborah	29,062	42,053	+45%	7 → 4
Cindy	1,467	2,031	+38%	185 → 154
Vickie	3,284	4,320	+32%	108 → 87
Teresa	4,724	6,214	+32%	81 → 63
Michelle	1,633	2,133	+31%	174 → 151
Victoria	3,781	4,907	+30%	94 → 81

Falling girl names, 1950 to 1951
Name	Births 1950	Births 1951	Change	Rank 1950 → 1951
Shirley	15,891	13,918	-12%	19 → 27
Carole	2,218	1,959	-12%	140 → 159
Irene	3,825	3,394	-11%	92 → 105
Emma	1,896	1,731	-9%	154 → 174
Loretta	2,720	2,489	-8%	120 → 135
Suzanne	5,267	4,827	-8%	71 → 83
Lynda	3,300	3,026	-8%	107 → 116
Sheryl	2,110	1,935	-8%	145 → 161
Annie	3,331	3,062	-8%	106 → 113
Linda	80,431	73,982	-8%	1 → 1

Top 100 boy names of 1951

Top 100 girl names of 1951

Biggest movers since 1950

Top 100 boy names of 1951

Top 100 girl names of 1951

Biggest movers since 1950