Most Popular Baby Names of 1971

In 1971, Jennifer (56,771 births) was the most common U.S. girl name and Michael (77,585 births) the most common boy name.

Top 100 boy names, 1971
Rank	Name	Births
1	Michael	77,585
2	James	54,603
3	David	53,118
4	John	51,508
5	Robert	50,635
6	Christopher	48,224
7	William	35,416
8	Jason	34,179
9	Brian	32,625
10	Scott	30,902
11	Richard	26,157
12	Jeffrey	25,835
13	Mark	25,132
14	Kevin	24,850
15	Joseph	24,514
16	Steven	23,683
17	Thomas	23,150
18	Eric	22,964
19	Matthew	22,542
20	Daniel	21,787
21	Timothy	20,089
22	Charles	19,851
23	Anthony	19,225
24	Paul	17,468
25	Gregory	14,762
25	Kenneth	14,762
27	Stephen	13,101
28	Shawn	12,825
29	Chad	12,138
30	Todd	12,056
31	Ronald	11,618
32	Edward	11,061
33	Andrew	10,915
34	Donald	10,873
35	Patrick	10,810
36	Sean	10,510
37	Keith	9,852
38	Gary	9,189
39	Douglas	8,738
40	Jonathan	8,629
41	Aaron	8,403
42	George	8,226
43	Craig	7,958
44	Larry	7,764
45	Jeremy	7,499
46	Troy	7,338
47	Peter	7,024
48	Bryan	6,612
49	Dennis	6,583
50	Jerry	6,572
51	Ryan	6,184
52	Raymond	6,104
53	Jeffery	6,100
54	Frank	6,089
55	Jose	6,004
56	Terry	5,858
57	Adam	5,847
58	Bradley	5,781
59	Rodney	5,195
60	Shane	5,093
61	Travis	5,015
62	Tony	4,889
63	Derek	4,667
64	Russell	4,543
65	Marcus	4,409
66	Samuel	4,406
67	Randy	4,344
68	Chris	4,292
69	Benjamin	4,250
70	Marc	4,210
71	Roger	4,128
72	Carl	4,056
73	Brent	4,053
74	Johnny	3,939
75	Billy	3,907
76	Phillip	3,850
77	Corey	3,766
78	Jon	3,717
79	Bobby	3,652
80	Joshua	3,649
81	Juan	3,646
82	Danny	3,610
83	Gerald	3,588
84	Derrick	3,580
85	Lawrence	3,523
86	Joel	3,499
87	Vincent	3,434
88	Carlos	3,426
88	Curtis	3,426
90	Brett	3,359
91	Walter	3,356
92	Wayne	3,333
93	Jimmy	3,315
94	Philip	3,302
95	Brandon	3,262
96	Jamie	3,231
97	Erik	3,212
98	Lance	3,176
99	Alan	3,168
100	Darren	3,156

Full Boy list for 1971

Top 100 girl names, 1971
Rank	Name	Births
1	Jennifer	56,771
2	Michelle	33,159
3	Lisa	32,910
4	Kimberly	30,706
5	Amy	26,237
6	Angela	25,900
7	Melissa	23,876
8	Tammy	17,656
9	Mary	16,702
10	Julie	15,324
11	Stephanie	15,134
12	Heather	15,019
13	Tracy	14,329
14	Dawn	14,288
15	Karen	14,213
16	Laura	13,874
17	Susan	13,783
18	Christine	13,677
19	Elizabeth	13,605
20	Tina	13,265
21	Shannon	12,647
22	Kelly	12,599
23	Rebecca	12,192
24	Cynthia	12,144
25	Lori	11,829
26	Patricia	11,469
27	Nicole	10,423
28	Pamela	10,149
29	Wendy	10,063
30	Christina	9,916
31	Sandra	9,713
32	Stacy	9,116
33	Deborah	8,674
34	Teresa	8,562
35	Andrea	8,482
36	Denise	8,219
37	Maria	8,137
38	Donna	8,014
39	Michele	7,955
40	Sharon	7,523
41	Stacey	7,482
42	Linda	7,376
43	Brenda	7,161
44	Dana	6,934
45	Tonya	6,897
46	Rhonda	6,649
47	Barbara	6,454
48	Monica	6,427
49	Tara	6,335
50	Cheryl	6,327
51	Robin	6,213
52	Nancy	6,212
53	Kathleen	6,154
54	Rachel	6,113
55	Carrie	5,976
56	April	5,939
57	Debra	5,928
58	Sarah	5,844
59	Jill	5,724
60	Sherry	5,562
61	Theresa	5,446
62	Tiffany	5,413
63	Paula	5,378
64	Jessica	5,360
65	Catherine	5,336
66	Melanie	5,134
67	Katherine	5,122
68	Leslie	5,111
69	Gina	4,921
70	Cindy	4,905
71	Kristin	4,861
72	Tanya	4,854
73	Renee	4,830
74	Tracey	4,789
75	Jacqueline	4,785
76	Holly	4,746
77	Heidi	4,715
78	Ann	4,558
79	Crystal	4,530
80	Tamara	4,486
81	Sheila	4,333
82	Diana	4,211
83	Diane	4,209
84	Amanda	4,130
85	Melinda	4,057
86	Margaret	4,001
87	Kristen	3,967
88	Christy	3,931
88	Suzanne	3,931
90	Regina	3,874
91	Kathy	3,863
92	Carol	3,859
93	Erin	3,856
94	Jodi	3,827
95	Deanna	3,791
96	Laurie	3,750
97	Victoria	3,722
98	Yolanda	3,721
99	Danielle	3,718
100	Beth	3,686

Full Girl list for 1971

Biggest movers since 1970

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

Rising boy names, 1970 to 1971
Name	Births 1970	Births 1971	Change	Rank 1970 → 1971
Ryan	2,323	6,184	+166%	140 → 51
Chad	6,629	12,138	+83%	51 → 29
Jeremy	4,318	7,499	+74%	70 → 45
Joshua	2,174	3,649	+68%	150 → 80
Adam	4,314	5,847	+36%	72 → 57
Justin	2,382	3,056	+28%	138 → 103
Brandon	2,544	3,262	+28%	131 → 95
Aaron	6,583	8,403	+28%	52 → 41
Jason	27,274	34,179	+25%	13 → 8
Jamie	2,641	3,231	+22%	125 → 96

Falling boy names, 1970 to 1971
Name	Births 1970	Births 1971	Change	Rank 1970 → 1971
Jeff	2,881	2,155	-25%	116 → 140
Darren	4,197	3,156	-25%	75 → 100
Dean	2,941	2,245	-24%	112 → 137
Lance	4,160	3,176	-24%	76 → 98
Glen	1,998	1,533	-23%	155 → 174
Mike	2,465	1,923	-22%	136 → 153
Dwayne	2,317	1,826	-21%	141 → 157
Mark	31,464	25,132	-20%	9 → 13
Steve	2,932	2,372	-19%	113 → 131
Gerald	4,399	3,588	-18%	67 → 83

Rising girl names, 1970 to 1971
Name	Births 1970	Births 1971	Change	Rank 1970 → 1971
Tiffany	4,001	5,413	+35%	99 → 62
Jessica	4,022	5,360	+33%	98 → 64
April	4,602	5,939	+29%	82 → 56
Stacie	2,018	2,555	+27%	165 → 131
Alison	1,764	2,210	+25%	187 → 143
Erica	2,789	3,490	+25%	129 → 108
Jennifer	46,150	56,771	+23%	1 → 1
Kerry	1,831	2,206	+20%	176 → 145
Carrie	4,977	5,976	+20%	73 → 55
Tara	5,330	6,335	+19%	69 → 49

Falling girl names, 1970 to 1971
Name	Births 1970	Births 1971	Change	Rank 1970 → 1971
Sabrina	3,568	2,417	-32%	107 → 133
Kelli	3,331	2,381	-29%	115 → 135
Carol	5,063	3,859	-24%	71 → 92
Tracey	6,230	4,789	-23%	55 → 74
Vicki	2,604	2,009	-23%	134 → 156
Tracy	18,465	14,329	-22%	10 → 13
Kim	4,729	3,682	-22%	78 → 101
Pamela	12,906	10,149	-21%	26 → 28
Michele	10,090	7,955	-21%	31 → 39
Ann	5,740	4,558	-21%	62 → 78

Top 100 boy names, 1971

Rank

Name

Births

Michael

77,585

James

54,603

53,118

51,508

50,635

48,224

35,416

34,179

Brian

32,625

Scott

30,902

Richard

26,157

Jeffrey

25,835

Mark

25,132

24,850

24,514

23,683

23,150

Eric

22,964

Matthew

22,542

Daniel

21,787

Timothy

20,089

Charles

19,851

Anthony

19,225

Paul

17,468

Gregory

14,762

Kenneth

14,762

Stephen

13,101

Shawn

12,825

Chad

12,138

Todd

12,056

11,618

11,061

10,915

10,873

10,810

10,510

9,852

Gary

9,189

8,738

8,629

8,403

8,226

7,958

Larry

7,764

Jeremy

7,499

Troy

7,338

Peter

7,024

Bryan

6,612

Dennis

6,583

Jerry

6,572

Ryan

6,184

Raymond

6,104

Jeffery

6,100

Frank

6,089

Jose

6,004

Terry

5,858

5,847

5,781

5,195

5,093

5,015

Tony

4,889

Derek

4,667

Russell

4,543

Marcus

4,409

Samuel

4,406

Randy

4,344

Chris

4,292

Benjamin

4,250

Marc

4,210

Roger

4,128

Carl

4,056

Brent

4,053

Johnny

3,939

Billy

3,907

Phillip

3,850

Corey

3,766

Jon

3,717

Bobby

3,652

Joshua

3,649

Juan

3,646

Danny

3,610

Gerald

3,588

Derrick

3,580

Lawrence

3,523

Joel

3,499

Vincent

3,434

Carlos

3,426

Curtis

3,426

Brett

3,359

Walter

3,356

Wayne

3,333

Jimmy

3,315

Philip

3,302

Brandon

3,262

Jamie

3,231

Erik

3,212

Lance

3,176

Alan

3,168

100

Darren

3,156

Top 100 girl names, 1971

Rank

Name

Births

Jennifer

56,771

Michelle

33,159

Lisa

32,910

Kimberly

30,706

Amy

26,237

Angela

25,900

Melissa

23,876

Tammy

17,656

Mary

16,702

Julie

15,324

Stephanie

15,134

Heather

15,019

Tracy

14,329

Dawn

14,288

Karen

14,213

Laura

13,874

Susan

13,783

Christine

13,677

Elizabeth

13,605

Tina

13,265

Shannon

12,647

Kelly

12,599

Rebecca

12,192

Cynthia

12,144

Lori

11,829

11,469

10,423

10,149

10,063

9,916

Sandra

9,713

Stacy

9,116

Deborah

8,674

Teresa

8,562

Andrea

8,482

Denise

8,219

Maria

8,137

Donna

8,014

Michele

7,955

Sharon

7,523

Stacey

7,482

Linda

7,376

Brenda

7,161

Dana

6,934

Tonya

6,897

Rhonda

6,649

Barbara

6,454

Monica

6,427

Tara

6,335

Cheryl

6,327

Robin

6,213

Nancy

6,212

Kathleen

6,154

Rachel

6,113

Carrie

5,976

April

5,939

Debra

5,928

Sarah

5,844

Jill

5,724

Sherry

5,562

Theresa

5,446

5,413

5,378

5,360

5,336

5,134

5,122

5,111

Gina

4,921

Cindy

4,905

Kristin

4,861

Tanya

4,854

Renee

4,830

Tracey

4,789

Jacqueline

4,785

Holly

4,746

Heidi

4,715

Ann

4,558

Crystal

4,530

Tamara

4,486

Sheila

4,333

Diana

4,211

Diane

4,209

Amanda

4,130

Melinda

4,057

Margaret

4,001

Kristen

3,967

Christy

3,931

Suzanne

3,931

Regina

3,874

Kathy

3,863

Carol

3,859

Erin

3,856

Jodi

3,827

Deanna

3,791

Laurie

3,750

Victoria

3,722

Yolanda

3,721

Danielle

3,718

100

Beth

3,686

Biggest movers since 1970

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

Rising boy names, 1970 to 1971
Name	Births 1970	Births 1971	Change	Rank 1970 → 1971
Ryan	2,323	6,184	+166%	140 → 51
Chad	6,629	12,138	+83%	51 → 29
Jeremy	4,318	7,499	+74%	70 → 45
Joshua	2,174	3,649	+68%	150 → 80
Adam	4,314	5,847	+36%	72 → 57
Justin	2,382	3,056	+28%	138 → 103
Brandon	2,544	3,262	+28%	131 → 95
Aaron	6,583	8,403	+28%	52 → 41
Jason	27,274	34,179	+25%	13 → 8
Jamie	2,641	3,231	+22%	125 → 96

Falling boy names, 1970 to 1971
Name	Births 1970	Births 1971	Change	Rank 1970 → 1971
Jeff	2,881	2,155	-25%	116 → 140
Darren	4,197	3,156	-25%	75 → 100
Dean	2,941	2,245	-24%	112 → 137
Lance	4,160	3,176	-24%	76 → 98
Glen	1,998	1,533	-23%	155 → 174
Mike	2,465	1,923	-22%	136 → 153
Dwayne	2,317	1,826	-21%	141 → 157
Mark	31,464	25,132	-20%	9 → 13
Steve	2,932	2,372	-19%	113 → 131
Gerald	4,399	3,588	-18%	67 → 83

Rising girl names, 1970 to 1971
Name	Births 1970	Births 1971	Change	Rank 1970 → 1971
Tiffany	4,001	5,413	+35%	99 → 62
Jessica	4,022	5,360	+33%	98 → 64
April	4,602	5,939	+29%	82 → 56
Stacie	2,018	2,555	+27%	165 → 131
Alison	1,764	2,210	+25%	187 → 143
Erica	2,789	3,490	+25%	129 → 108
Jennifer	46,150	56,771	+23%	1 → 1
Kerry	1,831	2,206	+20%	176 → 145
Carrie	4,977	5,976	+20%	73 → 55
Tara	5,330	6,335	+19%	69 → 49

Falling girl names, 1970 to 1971
Name	Births 1970	Births 1971	Change	Rank 1970 → 1971
Sabrina	3,568	2,417	-32%	107 → 133
Kelli	3,331	2,381	-29%	115 → 135
Carol	5,063	3,859	-24%	71 → 92
Tracey	6,230	4,789	-23%	55 → 74
Vicki	2,604	2,009	-23%	134 → 156
Tracy	18,465	14,329	-22%	10 → 13
Kim	4,729	3,682	-22%	78 → 101
Pamela	12,906	10,149	-21%	26 → 28
Michele	10,090	7,955	-21%	31 → 39
Ann	5,740	4,558	-21%	62 → 78

Top 100 boy names of 1971

Top 100 girl names of 1971

Biggest movers since 1970

Top 100 boy names of 1971

Top 100 girl names of 1971

Biggest movers since 1970