Birth year roster

Top names in 1974

Name: Top baby names in 1974
Creator: Social Security Administration

The names most likely to appear on 1974 birth certificates, ranked by SSA records.

Jennifer and Michael led the 1974 baby-name charts, a pair that captures the naming culture of mid-century America — Jennifer, which rose to prominence in this era and Michael, a perennial powerhouse that would anchor the decade. The full top 25 below reveals which names defined the 1974 classroom and how many have since faded or endured.

Explore the 1970s decade

Girls

#1Jennifer63,107
#2Amy29,566
#3Michelle25,826
#4Heather23,179
#5Angela22,803
#6Kimberly22,427
#7Melissa22,166
#8Lisa19,778
#9Stephanie16,984
#10Rebecca15,163
#11Nicole13,112
#12Elizabeth12,259
#13Mary11,738
#14Julie11,360
#15Kelly10,851
#16Christina10,849
#17Jessica10,656
#18Shannon10,608
#19Christine9,901
#20Sarah9,788
#21Laura9,716
#22Dawn9,417
#23Tracy9,286
#24Tammy9,238
#25Tina8,668

Boys

#1Michael67,534
#2Jason54,756
#3Christopher48,585
#4David41,786
#5James41,334
#6John37,612
#7Robert37,005
#8Brian34,449
#9Matthew27,194
#10William26,980
#11Daniel23,833
#12Joseph21,834
#13Eric20,193
#14Kevin19,461
#15Jeffrey19,320
#16Mark18,905
#17Richard18,636
#18Scott18,030
#19Steven17,663
#20Thomas17,268
#21Anthony16,391
#22Timothy15,890
#23Charles15,151
#24Jeremy13,295
#25Ryan13,179