Birth year roster

Top names in 1982

Name: Top baby names in 1982
Creator: Social Security Administration

The names most likely to appear on 1982 birth certificates, ranked by SSA records.

Jennifer and Michael led the 1982 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 1982 classroom and how many have since faded or endured.

Explore the 1980s decade

Girls

#1Jennifer57,120
#2Jessica45,453
#3Amanda34,214
#4Sarah28,483
#5Melissa25,864
#6Nicole21,706
#7Stephanie20,861
#8Elizabeth20,506
#9Crystal19,099
#10Amy18,799
#11Michelle17,765
#12Heather17,493
#13Tiffany17,175
#14Kimberly16,101
#15Rebecca15,730
#16Angela15,002
#17Ashley14,851
#18Amber14,678
#19Christina14,518
#20Erin14,362
#21Rachel13,871
#22Laura13,310
#23Lisa12,637
#24Emily12,519
#25Kelly12,170

Boys

#1Michael68,216
#2Christopher59,223
#3Matthew46,045
#4Jason40,628
#5David40,453
#6James38,874
#7Joshua38,004
#8John34,698
#9Robert34,409
#10Daniel32,652
#11Joseph31,035
#12Justin29,115
#13Ryan26,685
#14Brian25,829
#15William25,604
#16Jonathan23,113
#17Andrew22,833
#18Brandon20,212
#19Adam20,099
#20Eric19,878
#21Anthony19,648
#22Nicholas19,643
#23Thomas17,578
#24Timothy17,464
#25Kevin17,462