Most Popular Baby Names in 1985

In this article we'll look at what the most popular baby names were for the year 1985. 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 1985, 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 64,924 Jessica 48,347
2 Christopher 59,613 Ashley 47,006
3 Matthew 47,085 Jennifer 42,655
4 Joshua 42,204 Amanda 39,054
5 Daniel 38,552 Sarah 24,882
6 David 38,528 Stephanie 23,242
7 James 35,866 Nicole 22,965
8 Robert 32,092 Heather 21,153
9 John 31,503 Elizabeth 20,543
10 Joseph 30,218 Megan 20,013
11 Andrew 30,171 Melissa 19,961
12 Ryan 29,911 Christina 16,597
13 Brandon 29,307 Rachel 16,361
14 Jason 26,039 Laura 16,002
15 Justin 25,544 Lauren 15,768
16 William 24,610 Amber 15,505
17 Jonathan 24,122 Brittany 15,439
18 Brian 23,072 Danielle 15,411
19 Nicholas 22,403 Kimberly 14,912
20 Anthony 22,088 Amy 14,428
21 Eric 20,841 Crystal 14,397
22 Adam 20,172 Michelle 13,972
23 Kevin 18,814 Tiffany 13,681
24 Steven 18,729 Emily 13,136
25 Thomas 17,605 Rebecca 12,703
26 Timothy 17,142 Erin 11,386
27 Kyle 16,517 Jamie 11,038
28 Richard 15,333 Kelly 11,031
29 Jeffrey 14,499 Samantha 10,659
30 Jeremy 13,449 Sara 10,559
31 Benjamin 13,430 Angela 10,225
32 Mark 13,197 Katherine 10,130
33 Aaron 13,137 Andrea 10,051
34 Charles 12,897 Erica 9,526
35 Jacob 12,283 Mary 9,243
36 Stephen 12,210 Lisa 9,015
37 Patrick 11,646 Lindsey 8,468
38 Sean 11,452 Kristen 8,445
39 Zachary 11,346 Katie 7,995
40 Nathan 10,652 Lindsay 7,872
41 Dustin 10,444 Shannon 7,714
42 Paul 10,313 Vanessa 7,566
43 Tyler 10,214 Courtney 7,534
44 Scott 10,145 Christine 7,439
45 Gregory 9,770 Alicia 7,122
46 Travis 9,095 Allison 7,029
47 Kenneth 8,999 April 6,691
48 Bryan 8,718 Kathryn 6,633
49 Jose 8,401 Kristin 6,565
50 Alexander 8,291 Jenna 6,435
51 Jesse 8,218 Tara 6,101
52 Cody 7,096 Maria 6,013
53 Bradley 7,012 Krystal 5,935
54 Samuel 7,008 Anna 5,883
55 Shawn 6,981 Julie 5,761
56 Derek 6,660 Holly 5,602
57 Chad 6,470 Kristina 5,566
58 Jared 5,881 Natalie 5,537
59 Edward 5,872 Victoria 5,427
60 Peter 5,666 Jacqueline 5,248
61 Marcus 5,588 Monica 4,991
62 Jordan 5,463 Cassandra 4,726
63 Corey 5,231 Meghan 4,670
64 Keith 5,215 Patricia 4,401
65 Juan 4,851 Catherine 4,293
66 Donald 4,749 Cynthia 4,131
67 Joel 4,625 Stacy 4,110
68 Shane 4,548 Kathleen 4,087
69 Phillip 4,495 Brandi 4,043
70 Brett 4,327 Brandy 3,901
71 Ronald 4,300 Valerie 3,880
72 George 4,257 Veronica 3,878
73 Antonio 4,149 Whitney 3,833
74 Raymond 4,090 Diana 3,686
75 Carlos 4,087 Chelsea 3,614
76 Douglas 4,024 Caitlin 3,606
77 Nathaniel 4,004 Leslie 3,606
78 Ian 3,997 Leah 3,573
79 Craig 3,954 Natasha 3,555
80 Alex 3,907 Erika 3,502
81 Cory 3,870 Latoya 3,402
82 Gary 3,812 Dana 3,347
83 Derrick 3,780 Dominique 3,299
84 Philip 3,734 Brittney 3,224
85 Luis 3,703 Julia 3,206
86 Casey 3,490 Candice 3,196
87 Erik 3,373 Karen 3,139
88 Victor 3,337 Melanie 3,133
89 Brent 3,319 Stacey 3,115
90 Frank 3,302 Margaret 3,071
91 Evan 3,218 Sheena 3,062
92 Gabriel 3,213 Alexandra 3,013
93 Adrian 3,132 Katrina 2,979
94 Wesley 3,044 Bethany 2,957
95 Vincent 3,041 Nichole 2,949
96 Larry 2,947 Carrie 2,941
97 Jeffery 2,946 Alison 2,829
98 Curtis 2,943 Kara 2,811
99 Todd 2,940 Joanna 2,771
100 Blake 2,921 Rachael 2,761
101 Christian 2,914 Felicia 2,738
102 Randy 2,881 Brooke 2,727
103 Dennis 2,844 Jasmine 2,708
104 Trevor 2,823 Candace 2,706
105 Seth 2,820 Sandra 2,661
106 Luke 2,743 Susan 2,661
107 Austin 2,725 Tracy 2,653
108 Jesus 2,683 Kayla 2,607
109 Alan 2,682 Nancy 2,606
110 Russell 2,572 Tina 2,601
111 Jeremiah 2,538 Krystle 2,579
112 Carl 2,526 Alexis 2,517
113 Miguel 2,526 Casey 2,478
114 Tony 2,524 Gina 2,476
115 Mitchell 2,453 Jillian 2,476
116 Jerry 2,423 Pamela 2,467
117 Mario 2,415 Hannah 2,449
118 Johnathan 2,392 Renee 2,441
119 Terry 2,374 Denise 2,433
120 Shaun 2,352 Molly 2,433
121 Devin 2,331 Misty 2,414
122 Lucas 2,318 Brenda 2,387
123 Troy 2,314 Jaclyn 2,385
124 Jorge 2,293 Lacey 2,359
125 Andre 2,291 Heidi 2,322
126 Drew 2,277 Desiree 2,304
127 Johnny 2,208 Morgan 2,281
128 Allen 2,186 Miranda 2,268
129 Marc 2,159 Sabrina 2,268
130 Lance 2,152 Alyssa 2,258
131 Ricardo 2,139 Alisha 2,212
132 Martin 2,136 Teresa 2,211
133 Chase 2,131 Meagan 2,204
134 Kristopher 2,099 Krista 2,182
135 Bobby 2,094 Tabitha 2,153
136 Caleb 2,083 Theresa 2,121
137 Henry 2,065 Linda 2,114
138 Garrett 2,055 Melinda 2,114
139 Jonathon 2,030 Tanya 2,113
140 Danny 2,015 Monique 2,112
141 Francisco 2,015 Ashlee 2,064
142 Lee 2,009 Kelli 2,058
143 Manuel 1,975 Jill 2,039
144 Lawrence 1,942 Mallory 2,039
145 Ricky 1,933 Kristy 2,022
146 Randall 1,908 Anne 2,020
147 Ross 1,885 Robin 2,012
148 Mathew 1,880 Tamara 1,991
149 Jimmy 1,867 Meredith 1,959
150 Billy 1,832 Colleen 1,951
151 Jon 1,803 Christy 1,940
152 Albert 1,797 Marissa 1,890
153 Taylor 1,794 Abigail 1,848
154 Cameron 1,792 Kendra 1,840
155 Micheal 1,758 Carolyn 1,838
156 Colin 1,737 Deanna 1,817
157 Clayton 1,718 Jenny 1,810
158 Arthur 1,714 Lori 1,792
159 Roberto 1,706 Rebekah 1,791
160 Roger 1,706 Ebony 1,787
161 Darren 1,700 Angel 1,781
162 Clinton 1,691 Wendy 1,781
163 Walter 1,689 Kristi 1,755
164 Louis 1,688 Caroline 1,751
165 Isaac 1,671 Dawn 1,731
166 Grant 1,654 Kari 1,721
167 Jamie 1,629 Priscilla 1,701
168 Rodney 1,620 Kelsey 1,699
169 Oscar 1,592 Barbara 1,676
170 Joe 1,591 Cassie 1,660
171 Willie 1,574 Cristina 1,651
172 Angel 1,562 Tonya 1,643
173 Maurice 1,559 Bridget 1,613
174 Julian 1,528 Cindy 1,594
175 Jack 1,523 Jaime 1,558
176 Calvin 1,521 Angelica 1,542
177 Jay 1,521 Sharon 1,535
178 Hector 1,493 Marie 1,511
179 Alejandro 1,460 Kate 1,491
180 Ruben 1,455 Adrienne 1,490
181 Gerald 1,447 Tasha 1,479
182 Javier 1,423 Michele 1,477
183 Bruce 1,412 Ana 1,468
184 Wayne 1,384 Cara 1,465
185 Brendan 1,382 Stefanie 1,462
186 Roy 1,380 Audrey 1,448
187 Dominic 1,330 Ann 1,443
188 Dylan 1,330 Kristine 1,442
189 Edwin 1,329 Shana 1,423
190 Darrell 1,323 Brianna 1,421
191 Geoffrey 1,320 Katelyn 1,418
192 Reginald 1,312 Deborah 1,400
193 Fernando 1,290 Claudia 1,397
194 Sergio 1,265 Carla 1,395
195 Rafael 1,249 Virginia 1,379
196 Pedro 1,246 Haley 1,378
197 Frederick 1,224 Jacquelyn 1,360
198 Tyrone 1,222 Janelle 1,360
199 Omar 1,215 Beth 1,341
200 Jerome 1,211 Latasha 1,323
201 Theodore 1,211 Savannah 1,322
202 Neil 1,207 Carly 1,311
203 Terrance 1,188 Ashleigh 1,277
204 Cole 1,184 Regina 1,275
205 Jaime 1,182 Aimee 1,274
206 Jermaine 1,155 Mandy 1,268
207 Eddie 1,150 Janet 1,242
208 Micah 1,147 Kaitlin 1,236
209 Levi 1,145 Cheryl 1,223
210 Brad 1,144 Autumn 1,221
211 Marvin 1,143 Martha 1,221
212 Emmanuel 1,141 Lydia 1,219
213 Jessie 1,131 Abby 1,208
214 Ronnie 1,127 Shawna 1,200
215 Darryl 1,126 Nina 1,199
216 Spencer 1,114 Sierra 1,199
217 Raul 1,108 Tammy 1,196
218 Noah 1,107 Nikki 1,195
219 Dale 1,094 Donna 1,191
220 Jake 1,073 Claire 1,189
221 Ernest 1,072 Bonnie 1,177
222 Tristan 1,060 Trisha 1,175
223 Eduardo 1,050 Diane 1,169
224 Ivan 1,050 Carmen 1,168
225 Andres 1,042 Summer 1,167
226 Alberto 1,041 Mayra 1,166
227 Armando 1,018 Taryn 1,135
228 Kurt 1,017 Toni 1,133
229 Dane 1,006 Evelyn 1,131
230 Glenn 1,004 Joy 1,122
231 Logan 998 Adriana 1,120
232 Nicolas 998 Ruth 1,116
233 Eugene 995 Mindy 1,115
234 Ramon 990 Jessie 1,111
235 Steve 989 Sophia 1,100
236 Bryce 983 Suzanne 1,099
237 Tommy 981 Jodi 1,086
238 Preston 978 Raquel 1,082
239 Devon 976 Christie 1,082
240 Barry 966 Naomi 1,077
241 Marco 964 Kellie 1,072
242 Karl 959 Grace 1,064
243 Leonard 955 Shanna 1,058
244 Terrence 942 Hilary 1,054
245 Francis 936 Taylor 1,051
246 Tyson 935 Hillary 1,047
247 Stanley 922 Yolanda 1,043
248 Brady 916 Olivia 1,026
249 Melvin 907 Amelia 1,014
250 Jarrod 900 Paula 1,013

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 'Francis' or 'Hillary', still top the charts. As the birth rate declines, we won't see baby names like 'Michael' or 'Jessica' 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 'Joshua' or 'Heather' 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 'Matthews' or 'Ashleys' 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 'Daniel' or 'Nicole' 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 'David' or 'Elizabeth' 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 'Joseph' or 'Amanda' are on repeat, you'll likely see them in the baby name charts.

Family Tradition

Some names like 'James' or 'Rachel' 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 'Robert' or 'Stephanie' show the lasting impact of religion and politics on baby names.

So, while we can't always predict why a name like 'John' or 'Erin' 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 1985". NameCensus.com. Accessed on March 28, 2024. https://namecensus.com/baby-names/popular-baby-names-in-1985/.

  • "Most Popular Baby Names in 1985". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/baby-names/popular-baby-names-in-1985/. Accessed 28 March, 2024

  • Most Popular Baby Names in 1985. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from https://namecensus.com/baby-names/popular-baby-names-in-1985/.