Most Popular Baby Names in 1956

In this article we'll look at what the most popular baby names were for the year 1956. These names are taken directly from the Social Security card applications for births that occurred in the United States.

The table below shows the top 250 most popular baby names in 1956, with a total count for the number of births registered with that given name.

You can also use the links below to research more about the most popular baby names.

Top 1000 most popular boy names: 1-250 | 251-500 | 501-750 | 751-1000

Top 1000 most popular girl names: 1-250 | 251-500 | 501-750 | 751-1000

Boys Girls
Rank Name Count Name Count
1 Michael 90,665 Mary 61,743
2 James 84,861 Debra 48,307
3 Robert 83,906 Linda 48,074
4 David 81,603 Deborah 47,832
5 John 80,787 Susan 46,566
6 William 58,962 Patricia 43,334
7 Richard 52,892 Karen 40,051
8 Mark 48,827 Cynthia 32,343
9 Thomas 44,815 Barbara 32,299
10 Steven 38,391 Donna 29,853
11 Charles 35,212 Nancy 28,785
12 Joseph 32,730 Pamela 26,927
13 Gary 31,816 Sharon 26,880
14 Donald 28,209 Sandra 24,297
15 Ronald 27,720 Diane 22,511
16 Kenneth 27,428 Carol 21,406
17 Paul 26,879 Kathleen 21,374
18 Daniel 26,639 Cheryl 21,279
19 Timothy 23,279 Brenda 19,340
20 Jeffrey 23,276 Kathy 17,177
21 Larry 22,309 Janet 16,762
22 Kevin 21,757 Elizabeth 16,344
23 Stephen 21,192 Denise 14,509
24 Gregory 21,088 Teresa 14,467
25 Edward 19,427 Margaret 13,919
26 Dennis 18,357 Janice 13,016
27 George 17,231 Rebecca 12,171
28 Randy 16,540 Catherine 12,059
29 Douglas 16,371 Robin 11,617
30 Anthony 15,558 Joyce 11,089
31 Terry 15,056 Lisa 11,012
32 Bruce 14,666 Theresa 10,843
33 Brian 14,662 Carolyn 10,638
34 Scott 13,215 Laura 10,570
35 Jerry 12,631 Judy 10,195
36 Keith 11,486 Cathy 10,136
37 Peter 11,328 Cindy 9,979
38 Frank 11,147 Kim 9,897
39 Raymond 11,103 Debbie 9,867
40 Patrick 10,320 Beverly 9,452
41 Roger 10,146 Shirley 9,425
42 Lawrence 8,885 Christine 9,375
43 Ricky 8,772 Connie 9,361
44 Alan 8,719 Betty 9,218
45 Wayne 8,719 Judith 9,111
46 Danny 8,559 Ann 8,989
47 Christopher 8,373 Paula 8,923
48 Carl 8,311 Julie 8,573
49 Gerald 7,986 Gail 8,434
50 Dale 7,713 Jane 8,245
51 Craig 7,424 Bonnie 8,136
52 Russell 7,402 Joan 8,079
53 Walter 7,006 Gloria 7,922
54 Randall 6,906 Sherry 7,902
55 Johnny 6,640 Sheila 7,874
56 Andrew 6,598 Diana 7,852
57 Jeffery 6,561 Vicki 7,765
58 Willie 6,509 Lynn 7,737
59 Steve 6,468 Martha 7,709
60 Arthur 6,278 Kathryn 7,595
61 Glenn 6,193 Wanda 7,551
62 Joe 6,131 Rhonda 7,520
63 Roy 6,128 Peggy 7,492
64 Philip 6,104 Rose 7,340
65 Rodney 6,071 Jean 7,177
66 Jack 6,053 Lori 7,145
67 Ralph 6,036 Katherine 7,080
68 Billy 6,013 Vickie 6,959
69 Barry 5,982 Jo 6,956
70 Stanley 5,977 Marilyn 6,928
71 Harold 5,957 Darlene 6,917
72 Henry 5,956 Dorothy 6,853
73 Martin 5,678 Kimberly 6,731
74 Samuel 5,582 Maria 6,731
75 Ronnie 5,498 Virginia 6,391
76 Phillip 5,419 Laurie 6,202
77 Bobby 5,354 Ruth 6,076
78 Jimmy 5,342 Jacqueline 6,066
79 Eric 5,249 Rita 6,053
80 Curtis 5,158 Valerie 5,911
81 Albert 5,148 Terri 5,747
82 Louis 4,905 Phyllis 5,649
83 Micheal 4,730 Anita 5,502
84 Howard 4,697 Ellen 5,431
85 Tony 4,673 Victoria 5,387
86 Eugene 4,614 Anne 5,352
87 Allen 4,605 Michelle 5,331
88 Darrell 4,465 Tina 5,329
89 Leonard 4,373 Elaine 5,311
90 Matthew 4,364 Helen 5,278
91 Frederick 4,302 Terry 5,273
92 Jay 4,119 Dawn 5,127
93 Eddie 3,995 Angela 5,033
94 Ernest 3,950 Suzanne 5,023
95 Harry 3,926 Wendy 4,860
96 Mike 3,904 Marie 4,796
97 Victor 3,902 Jennifer 4,708
98 Vincent 3,758 Alice 4,681
99 Dean 3,710 Joanne 4,670
100 Rick 3,654 Michele 4,616
101 Melvin 3,637 Jill 4,576
102 Fred 3,581 Maureen 4,503
103 Bradley 3,511 Anna 4,390
104 Lee 3,506 Leslie 4,384
105 Marvin 3,481 Sally 4,344
106 Joel 3,434 Renee 4,333
107 Norman 3,422 Frances 4,324
108 Jose 3,400 Sylvia 4,147
109 Calvin 3,345 Doris 4,096
110 Earl 3,302 Marcia 4,069
111 Francis 3,300 Stephanie 3,912
112 Rickey 3,264 Jeanne 3,907
113 Ray 3,231 Colleen 3,893
114 Jonathan 3,119 Sheryl 3,891
115 Tommy 3,108 Sarah 3,870
116 Jon 3,076 Roberta 3,867
117 Jerome 3,061 Beth 3,799
118 Kim 2,956 Annette 3,755
119 Theodore 2,955 Sue 3,755
120 Clarence 2,951 Evelyn 3,750
121 Alfred 2,945 Yvonne 3,584
122 Clifford 2,908 Amy 3,547
123 Don 2,899 Eileen 3,449
124 Edwin 2,771 Lorraine 3,427
125 Glen 2,718 Regina 3,425
126 Jesse 2,623 Loretta 3,407
127 Duane 2,594 Andrea 3,395
128 Chris 2,530 Gwendolyn 3,379
129 Bernard 2,480 Marsha 3,328
130 Gordon 2,480 Julia 3,322
131 Benjamin 2,468 Carla 3,318
132 Dan 2,439 Charlene 3,276
133 Bryan 2,437 Charlotte 3,273
134 Alvin 2,430 Glenda 3,243
135 Marc 2,427 Lois 3,222
136 Mitchell 2,401 Jan 3,199
137 Herbert 2,393 Dianne 3,067
138 Kurt 2,384 Norma 3,051
139 Dwight 2,367 Joann 2,998
140 Leroy 2,353 Joy 2,821
141 Warren 2,332 Constance 2,818
142 Brad 2,263 Melinda 2,714
143 Robin 2,245 Melanie 2,693
144 Reginald 2,227 Becky 2,688
145 Jeff 2,220 Vanessa 2,619
146 Guy 2,214 Vicky 2,612
147 Nicholas 2,210 Doreen 2,573
148 Jim 2,189 Vivian 2,560
149 Kent 2,136 Audrey 2,546
150 Karl 2,056 Melissa 2,527
151 Vernon 2,053 Toni 2,505
152 Leslie 2,048 Juanita 2,470
153 Garry 2,041 Patti 2,421
154 Leon 2,039 Kay 2,395
155 Todd 2,012 Melody 2,387
156 Lonnie 2,011 Lynne 2,371
157 Wesley 2,004 Janis 2,362
158 Lloyd 1,980 Penny 2,348
159 Gilbert 1,963 Irene 2,344
160 Bill 1,956 Jeanette 2,336
161 Tom 1,916 Debora 2,328
162 Kirk 1,905 Holly 2,325
163 Perry 1,869 Gayle 2,289
164 Jackie 1,857 Yolanda 2,275
165 Daryl 1,830 Louise 2,237
166 Carlos 1,795 Carmen 2,205
167 Franklin 1,788 Belinda 2,187
168 Lewis 1,763 Rosa 2,175
169 Gene 1,753 Monica 2,161
170 Juan 1,752 Marlene 2,127
171 Neil 1,748 Roxanne 2,115
172 Floyd 1,725 Annie 2,114
173 Donnie 1,723 Christina 2,113
174 Clyde 1,718 Dana 2,074
175 Tim 1,717 Geraldine 2,064
176 Lester 1,700 Rosemary 2,064
177 Allan 1,635 Sherri 2,034
178 Dana 1,633 Sara 2,004
179 Randolph 1,633 Ruby 1,993
180 Gerard 1,619 Jackie 1,984
181 Manuel 1,618 Gina 1,960
182 Greg 1,603 June 1,953
183 Kerry 1,582 Shelia 1,947
184 Leo 1,551 Lee 1,936
185 Charlie 1,529 Eva 1,928
186 Stuart 1,487 Claudia 1,915
187 Darryl 1,479 Marjorie 1,882
188 Milton 1,479 Delores 1,844
189 Jimmie 1,474 Grace 1,836
190 Kelly 1,470 Veronica 1,817
191 Ted 1,457 Arlene 1,807
192 Brent 1,456 Patsy 1,803
193 Rex 1,451 Lynda 1,759
194 Terrence 1,448 Jody 1,747
195 Gregg 1,434 Sheri 1,716
196 Freddie 1,422 Shelley 1,680
197 Tyrone 1,407 Rachel 1,672
198 Harvey 1,380 Dolores 1,659
199 Ruben 1,370 Ramona 1,644
200 Dave 1,354 Mildred 1,637
201 Herman 1,325 Lillian 1,628
202 Maurice 1,322 Marianne 1,617
203 Randal 1,321 Teri 1,599
204 Johnnie 1,318 Joni 1,576
205 Nathaniel 1,306 Edna 1,550
206 Aaron 1,278 Lydia 1,547
207 Chester 1,256 Marla 1,535
208 Lynn 1,253 Carrie 1,529
209 Byron 1,249 Esther 1,510
210 Antonio 1,243 Josephine 1,485
211 Alexander 1,237 Edith 1,477
212 Roland 1,220 Jayne 1,470
213 Arnold 1,216 Patty 1,446
214 Mario 1,210 Carole 1,417
215 Cecil 1,143 Janie 1,409
216 Fredrick 1,138 Candace 1,403
217 Oscar 1,135 Jacquelyn 1,395
218 Lance 1,115 Karla 1,390
219 Marshall 1,113 Tracy 1,387
220 Neal 1,102 Sheree 1,372
221 Ricardo 1,102 Pauline 1,368
222 Nathan 1,099 Lucy 1,361
223 Luis 1,095 Priscilla 1,352
224 Wade 1,079 Heidi 1,351
225 Marcus 1,062 Dianna 1,345
226 Terrance 1,057 Emma 1,340
227 Jessie 1,050 Sherrie 1,335
228 Bob 1,020 Nina 1,325
229 Marty 1,011 Georgia 1,306
230 Wendell 1,010 Emily 1,283
231 Claude 1,007 Margie 1,270
232 Clifton 1,000 Marian 1,249
233 Ross 991 Bobbie 1,239
234 Clayton 961 Paulette 1,234
235 Hugh 961 Robyn 1,227
236 Clinton 959 April 1,212
237 Sidney 956 Darla 1,209
238 Sam 949 Deanna 1,207
239 Joey 947 Luann 1,201
240 Wallace 935 Mona 1,187
241 Nelson 916 Laurel 1,181
242 Carlton 907 Bonita 1,174
243 Rocky 891 Gladys 1,172
244 Terence 888 Nora 1,170
245 Benny 886 Vera 1,151
246 Rickie 869 Jeannie 1,150
247 Edgar 855 Clara 1,146
248 Andre 842 Lynette 1,138
249 Jesus 822 Sandy 1,127
250 Mickey 820 Billie 1,125

What's in a (Popular) Name?

How do we know which baby names are hot each year? It's simple! The Social Security Administration collects data as parents register their newborns for a Social Security card. So, instead of waiting for the 10-year census, we get an annual update on the trending names!

Popular Baby Names vs. Popular First Names: Any Differences?

If you're wondering why the most popular baby names and the most popular first names aren't the same, remember: first names include everyone, not just babies. With 16.5% of the population over 65, names popular in their generation, like 'Benny' or 'Jeannie', still top the charts. As the birth rate declines, we won't see baby names like 'Michael' or 'Mary' topping the overall popular names list until the Baby Boomer generation decreases significantly.

What Factors Influence Baby Name Popularity?

Ever wondered how a name like 'David' or 'Cynthia' hits the charts? It's not an exact science, but here are some cool factors:

Celebrity Influence

Americans adore their stars! A favorite celeb can influence baby names, so if you see more little 'Roberts' or 'Debras' running around, you might have a Hollywood A-lister to thank!

Character-Inspired Names

Bookworms and movie buffs often name their kids after beloved characters. If 'John' or 'Karen' sound familiar, check out the latest bestseller or box-office hit!

Following the Trend

We humans are trend-followers. So, if a friend's baby 'William' or 'Barbara' has a cute ring to it, don't be surprised if it catches on!

The Power of Recall

Names heard repeatedly stick in our minds. So if 'Steven' or 'Deborah' are on repeat, you'll likely see them in the baby name charts.

Family Tradition

Some names like 'Richard' or 'Sharon' stand the test of time, thanks to the tradition of naming babies after older relatives.

Religion and Politics

Religious texts and political figures inspire many parents. Evergreen choices like 'Mark' or 'Patricia' show the lasting impact of religion and politics on baby names.

So, while we can't always predict why a name like 'Thomas' or 'Janice' becomes popular, these factors give us some fun insights into the ever-changing landscape of baby names!

Historical Data for Baby Names

If you're interested to see how the trends and popularity of baby names have changed, you can use the links below to view the historical data by decade.

Most popular first names, 1880-present | since 1950 | since 1960 | since 1970 | since 1980 | since 1990 | since 2000 | since 2010

Most popular boy names, 1880-present | since 1950 | since 1960 | since 1970 | since 1980 | since 1990 | since 2000 | since 2010

Most popular girl names, 1880-present | since 1950 | since 1960 | since 1970 | since 1980 | since 1990 | since 2000 | since 2010

Data Source(s)

All of the data on this page is sourced from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and excludes any names with fewer than 5 occurrences in any geographic area.

Link To or Reference This Page

We spent a lot of time downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

  • "Most Popular Baby Names in 1956". NameCensus.com. Accessed on March 29, 2024. https://namecensus.com/baby-names/popular-baby-names-in-1956/.

  • "Most Popular Baby Names in 1956". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/baby-names/popular-baby-names-in-1956/. Accessed 29 March, 2024

  • Most Popular Baby Names in 1956. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from https://namecensus.com/baby-names/popular-baby-names-in-1956/.