Most Popular Baby Names in 1996

In this article we'll look at what the most popular baby names were for the year 1996. 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 1996, 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 38,365 Emily 25,151
2 Matthew 32,073 Jessica 24,201
3 Jacob 31,927 Ashley 23,678
4 Christopher 30,903 Sarah 21,040
5 Joshua 29,172 Samantha 20,549
6 Nicholas 27,721 Taylor 19,153
7 Tyler 26,954 Hannah 18,596
8 Brandon 25,845 Alexis 16,591
9 Austin 25,661 Rachel 16,120
10 Andrew 25,237 Elizabeth 16,001
11 Daniel 25,117 Kayla 15,269
12 Joseph 24,755 Megan 14,769
13 David 23,018 Amanda 13,976
14 Zachary 22,367 Brittany 13,796
15 John 22,182 Madison 13,410
16 Ryan 21,808 Lauren 12,593
17 James 21,157 Brianna 11,925
18 William 20,542 Victoria 11,859
19 Anthony 20,504 Jennifer 11,728
20 Justin 20,007 Stephanie 11,642
21 Jonathan 18,593 Courtney 11,343
22 Alexander 17,962 Nicole 11,132
23 Robert 17,673 Alyssa 11,022
24 Christian 15,823 Rebecca 10,627
25 Kyle 15,601 Morgan 10,293
26 Kevin 14,586 Alexandra 10,024
27 Jordan 13,852 Amber 9,772
28 Thomas 13,801 Jasmine 9,708
29 Benjamin 13,780 Danielle 9,284
30 Samuel 13,626 Haley 9,042
31 Cody 12,951 Katherine 8,876
32 Jose 12,154 Abigail 8,604
33 Dylan 12,035 Anna 8,571
34 Aaron 11,972 Olivia 8,124
35 Eric 11,607 Shelby 7,949
36 Brian 10,472 Kelsey 7,655
37 Nathan 10,283 Maria 7,596
38 Steven 9,650 Allison 7,453
39 Adam 9,555 Sydney 7,259
40 Timothy 8,919 Kaitlyn 7,240
41 Jason 8,696 Kimberly 7,175
42 Logan 8,374 Melissa 7,170
43 Charles 8,247 Savannah 6,999
44 Patrick 8,193 Mary 6,963
45 Richard 8,180 Brooke 6,724
46 Sean 7,896 Natalie 6,692
47 Hunter 7,602 Michelle 6,596
48 Caleb 7,549 Julia 6,314
49 Cameron 7,388 Jordan 6,298
50 Noah 7,183 Sara 6,288
51 Jesse 7,075 Erin 6,256
52 Juan 7,011 Tiffany 6,158
53 Alex 6,912 Emma 6,144
54 Connor 6,911 Gabrielle 5,887
55 Mark 6,597 Chelsea 5,864
56 Jeremy 6,411 Destiny 5,856
57 Luis 6,407 Christina 5,804
58 Dakota 6,066 Sabrina 5,774
59 Stephen 6,007 Marissa 5,753
60 Devin 6,002 Vanessa 5,745
61 Gabriel 5,897 Andrea 5,670
62 Ethan 5,852 Sierra 5,487
63 Trevor 5,841 Mariah 5,446
64 Jared 5,821 Katelyn 5,421
65 Evan 5,579 Paige 5,342
66 Bryan 5,560 Laura 5,227
67 Carlos 5,464 Madeline 4,911
68 Tristan 5,458 Cheyenne 4,864
69 Nathaniel 5,419 Jacqueline 4,863
70 Ian 5,409 Kristen 4,851
71 Isaiah 5,324 Heather 4,758
72 Jeffrey 5,263 Briana 4,735
73 Travis 5,158 Kelly 4,734
74 Jesus 5,114 Breanna 4,700
75 Luke 5,016 Mackenzie 4,596
76 Chase 4,991 Miranda 4,568
77 Kenneth 4,975 Alexandria 4,562
78 Paul 4,880 Caroline 4,466
79 Dustin 4,873 Erica 4,459
80 Antonio 4,864 Shannon 4,337
81 Elijah 4,815 Katie 4,326
82 Taylor 4,796 Monica 4,325
83 Bradley 4,756 Jenna 4,287
84 Blake 4,747 Caitlin 4,269
85 Garrett 4,652 Bailey 4,191
86 Isaac 4,565 Lindsey 4,112
87 Marcus 4,546 Kathryn 4,102
88 Mitchell 4,390 Amy 4,067
89 Jack 4,244 Cassandra 4,017
90 Tanner 4,180 Angela 3,864
91 Miguel 4,160 Alicia 3,861
92 Adrian 4,109 Crystal 3,786
93 Lucas 4,103 Hailey 3,760
94 Corey 4,086 Grace 3,741
95 Peter 4,080 Catherine 3,738
96 Edward 4,074 Jamie 3,599
97 Malik 4,025 Angelica 3,404
98 Gregory 3,994 Leah 3,325
99 Dalton 3,979 Molly 3,311
100 Victor 3,924 Alexa 3,260
101 Derek 3,920 Cynthia 3,189
102 Angel 3,912 Michaela 3,176
103 Seth 3,886 Kaitlin 3,135
104 Mason 3,881 Autumn 3,110
105 Colton 3,787 Margaret 3,104
106 Cole 3,737 Erika 3,079
107 Alejandro 3,676 Diana 2,950
108 Scott 3,671 Karina 2,867
109 Spencer 3,609 Cassidy 2,844
110 Brett 3,577 Kaylee 2,804
111 Shawn 3,505 Kylie 2,798
112 Shane 3,488 Chloe 2,781
113 Jorge 3,463 Meghan 2,773
114 Jake 3,447 Veronica 2,745
115 Collin 3,358 Brittney 2,741
116 Vincent 3,341 Claire 2,737
117 Alec 3,308 Bethany 2,699
118 George 3,227 Leslie 2,664
119 Grant 3,205 Melanie 2,664
120 Bryce 3,090 Hayley 2,577
121 Dillon 3,024 Casey 2,550
122 Erik 3,020 Dominique 2,547
123 Eduardo 3,017 Bianca 2,523
124 Joel 3,004 Daisy 2,514
125 Oscar 2,998 Sophia 2,513
126 Colin 2,953 Carly 2,510
127 Devon 2,906 Jocelyn 2,508
128 Ricardo 2,882 Rachael 2,485
129 Julian 2,855 Makayla 2,462
130 Cristian 2,847 Holly 2,438
131 Raymond 2,814 Brenda 2,416
132 Brendan 2,812 Gabriela 2,412
133 Francisco 2,811 Karen 2,401
134 Wyatt 2,789 Lindsay 2,397
135 Dominic 2,669 Christine 2,371
136 Jackson 2,644 Kendra 2,367
137 Wesley 2,616 Summer 2,345
138 Johnathan 2,563 Caitlyn 2,332
139 Henry 2,556 Gabriella 2,323
140 Omar 2,518 Whitney 2,310
141 Xavier 2,506 Ana 2,307
142 Casey 2,464 Selena 2,291
143 Alan 2,447 Mikayla 2,284
144 Cory 2,446 Desiree 2,277
145 Manuel 2,410 Jade 2,238
146 Riley 2,393 Rebekah 2,222
147 Mario 2,378 Kristin 2,193
148 Edgar 2,359 Kristina 2,180
149 Clayton 2,338 Faith 2,159
150 Phillip 2,308 Julie 2,139
151 Nicolas 2,296 Isabella 2,110
152 Martin 2,282 Kathleen 2,107
153 Javier 2,247 Adriana 2,102
154 Chance 2,243 Valerie 2,082
155 Troy 2,238 Zoe 2,065
156 Ronald 2,230 Ariana 2,043
157 Chandler 2,185 Alondra 2,020
158 Keith 2,183 Mckenzie 1,978
159 Donald 2,182 Patricia 1,970
160 Andres 2,170 Alejandra 1,955
161 Chad 2,167 Brandi 1,952
162 Frank 2,149 Angel 1,939
163 Levi 2,126 Ariel 1,923
164 Jeremiah 2,103 Audrey 1,915
165 Drew 2,100 Kara 1,910
166 Ivan 2,093 Alison 1,901
167 Sergio 2,047 Tara 1,899
168 Hayden 2,015 Lisa 1,864
169 Derrick 1,995 Marisa 1,857
170 Cesar 1,988 Natasha 1,845
171 Jonathon 1,972 Shania 1,836
172 Andre 1,964 Nancy 1,825
173 Hector 1,964 Lydia 1,812
174 Marco 1,923 Claudia 1,806
175 Roberto 1,919 Dana 1,800
176 Brady 1,915 Kirsten 1,773
177 Maxwell 1,901 April 1,763
178 Fernando 1,876 Alexus 1,703
179 Parker 1,797 Diamond 1,697
180 Alexis 1,795 Mia 1,689
181 Douglas 1,791 Sandra 1,658
182 Darius 1,768 Deja 1,638
183 Calvin 1,757 Mallory 1,629
184 Liam 1,747 Raven 1,622
185 Philip 1,725 Tori 1,614
186 Kaleb 1,717 Hope 1,611
187 Trenton 1,707 Cierra 1,596
188 Erick 1,705 Evelyn 1,595
189 Preston 1,667 Jasmin 1,587
190 Ruben 1,662 Kiana 1,585
191 Curtis 1,643 Katrina 1,543
192 Gavin 1,633 Bridget 1,530
193 Johnny 1,611 Meagan 1,503
194 Jerry 1,608 Yesenia 1,503
195 Sebastian 1,589 Cindy 1,497
196 Edwin 1,586 Monique 1,490
197 Jonah 1,569 Isabel 1,469
198 Pedro 1,566 Kendall 1,468
199 Conner 1,560 Jillian 1,462
200 Bailey 1,550 Asia 1,447
201 Dennis 1,542 Maya 1,444
202 Gary 1,542 Ashlee 1,438
203 Gage 1,541 Kassandra 1,436
204 Mathew 1,514 Karla 1,434
205 Gerardo 1,510 Ciara 1,429
206 Randy 1,509 Hanna 1,422
207 Raul 1,492 Abby 1,418
208 Max 1,486 Kennedy 1,418
209 Harrison 1,479 Joanna 1,405
210 Micah 1,478 Deanna 1,390
211 Emmanuel 1,471 Mercedes 1,390
212 Allen 1,467 Naomi 1,390
213 Julio 1,448 Kiara 1,389
214 Damian 1,408 Arianna 1,369
215 Rafael 1,399 Brandy 1,365
216 Landon 1,395 Jazmin 1,343
217 Skyler 1,392 Krystal 1,336
218 Diego 1,379 Guadalupe 1,328
219 Zachery 1,373 Anne 1,324
220 Larry 1,371 Tatiana 1,317
221 Armando 1,368 Krista 1,312
222 Jalen 1,367 Amelia 1,291
223 Jimmy 1,361 Chelsey 1,285
224 Marcos 1,350 Katelynn 1,284
225 Colby 1,344 Jada 1,257
226 Brent 1,337 Tessa 1,254
227 Abraham 1,336 Ashlyn 1,242
228 Enrique 1,326 Jazmine 1,242
229 Tony 1,315 Mckenna 1,230
230 Jaime 1,312 Denise 1,229
231 Albert 1,302 Tabitha 1,228
232 Andy 1,292 Allyson 1,222
233 Marc 1,292 Carolyn 1,209
234 Dallas 1,289 Gina 1,190
235 Louis 1,283 Marisol 1,189
236 Alberto 1,249 Katlyn 1,186
237 Trey 1,247 Meredith 1,180
238 Giovanni 1,245 Ashleigh 1,180
239 Josiah 1,242 Imani 1,171
240 Kristopher 1,238 Alisha 1,163
241 Zackary 1,238 Celeste 1,157
242 Ty 1,220 Clarissa 1,157
243 Morgan 1,216 Nina 1,157
244 Carter 1,216 Alana 1,155
245 Danny 1,206 Ellen 1,155
246 Donovan 1,201 Cristina 1,150
247 Craig 1,198 Brenna 1,149
248 Ricky 1,197 Riley 1,149
249 Tristen 1,188 Tiara 1,142
250 Carl 1,183 Savanna 1,135

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 'Danny' or 'Cristina', still top the charts. As the birth rate declines, we won't see baby names like 'Michael' or 'Emily' 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 'Christopher' or 'Alexis' 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 'Jacobs' or 'Jessicas' 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 'Joshua' or 'Hannah' 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 'Nicholas' or 'Rachel' 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 'Andrew' or 'Sarah' are on repeat, you'll likely see them in the baby name charts.

Family Tradition

Some names like 'Tyler' or 'Amanda' 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 'Brandon' or 'Taylor' show the lasting impact of religion and politics on baby names.

So, while we can't always predict why a name like 'Austin' or 'Alexandra' 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 1996". NameCensus.com. Accessed on March 29, 2024. https://namecensus.com/baby-names/popular-baby-names-in-1996/.

  • "Most Popular Baby Names in 1996". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/baby-names/popular-baby-names-in-1996/. Accessed 29 March, 2024

  • Most Popular Baby Names in 1996. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from https://namecensus.com/baby-names/popular-baby-names-in-1996/.