Birth year roster

Top names in 1952

Name: Top baby names in 1952
Creator: Social Security Administration

The names most likely to appear on 1952 birth certificates, ranked by SSA records.

Linda and James led the 1952 baby-name charts, a pair that captures the naming culture of mid-century America — Linda, which rose to prominence in this era and James, a perennial powerhouse that would anchor the decade. The full top 25 below reveals which names defined the 1952 classroom and how many have since faded or endured.

Explore the 1950s decade

Girls

#1Linda67,082
#2Mary65,629
#3Patricia53,101
#4Deborah49,811
#5Susan41,348
#6Barbara39,864
#7Nancy31,739
#8Karen28,956
#9Debra26,832
#10Sandra26,097
#11Kathleen25,767
#12Carol24,000
#13Donna23,718
#14Sharon23,386
#15Brenda21,439
#16Diane21,063
#17Pamela20,879
#18Cynthia19,878
#19Janet17,921
#20Christine17,548
#21Margaret17,102
#22Elizabeth16,022
#23Janice14,978
#24Carolyn14,272
#25Judith14,064

Boys

#1James87,065
#2Robert86,588
#3John83,140
#4Michael79,037
#5David71,752
#6William63,039
#7Richard58,350
#8Thomas48,647
#9Charles38,866
#10Gary38,754
#11Steven32,037
#12Joseph28,510
#13Donald28,269
#14Larry28,239
#15Ronald27,800
#16Kenneth25,909
#17Mark25,678
#18Dennis24,552
#19Paul24,292
#20Daniel23,418
#21Stephen23,055
#22George19,821
#23Edward19,501
#24Gregory15,191
#25Bruce14,480