Most Popular Baby Names of 1978

In 1978, Jennifer (56,318 births) was the most common U.S. girl name and Michael (67,133 births) the most common boy name.

Top 100 boy names, 1978
Rank	Name	Births
1	Michael	67,133
2	Jason	51,604
3	Christopher	47,236
4	David	40,684
5	James	39,902
6	Matthew	34,285
7	John	34,018
8	Robert	33,379
9	Brian	29,435
10	Joseph	26,667
11	Daniel	26,442
12	Joshua	25,206
13	William	24,174
14	Ryan	21,322
15	Kevin	20,096
16	Eric	19,763
17	Timothy	19,597
18	Jeremy	19,510
19	Jeffrey	16,993
20	Anthony	16,809
21	Richard	16,733
22	Andrew	16,722
23	Thomas	16,483
24	Steven	16,391
25	Nicholas	16,343
26	Mark	14,854
27	Charles	14,845
28	Justin	14,184
29	Adam	13,919
30	Scott	13,540
31	Jonathan	12,514
32	Aaron	12,298
33	Paul	11,733
34	Benjamin	11,414
35	Chad	10,108
36	Nathan	9,892
37	Stephen	9,855
38	Gregory	9,342
39	Shawn	9,290
40	Brandon	9,241
41	Kenneth	9,021
42	Patrick	8,831
43	Bryan	7,291
44	Jose	7,147
45	Sean	7,062
46	Travis	6,955
47	Edward	6,480
48	Donald	6,423
49	Keith	6,172
50	Jacob	6,162
51	Jesse	6,107
52	Shaun	6,105
53	Bradley	6,096
54	Peter	5,874
55	Ronald	5,759
56	Todd	5,497
57	Samuel	5,393
58	George	5,299
59	Douglas	5,150
60	Gary	5,112
61	Corey	4,942
62	Juan	4,837
63	Kyle	4,517
64	Larry	4,514
65	Shane	4,480
66	Craig	4,473
67	Phillip	4,362
68	Dustin	4,177
69	Raymond	4,134
70	Marcus	3,996
71	Dennis	3,860
72	Jared	3,847
73	Cory	3,843
74	Joel	3,810
75	Derek	3,801
76	Derrick	3,786
77	Frank	3,776
78	Carlos	3,729
79	Antonio	3,677
80	Jeffery	3,543
81	Jeremiah	3,445
82	Jerry	3,427
83	Wesley	3,306
84	Philip	3,298
85	Erik	3,262
86	Randy	3,220
87	Brent	3,181
88	Troy	3,153
89	Zachary	3,129
90	Gabriel	3,126
91	Terry	3,089
92	Casey	3,003
93	Russell	2,984
94	Nathaniel	2,925
95	Jamie	2,865
96	Curtis	2,825
97	Tony	2,772
98	Alexander	2,739
99	Billy	2,695
100	Carl	2,606

Full Boy list for 1978

Top 100 girl names, 1978
Rank	Name	Births
1	Jennifer	56,318
2	Melissa	28,327
3	Jessica	26,103
4	Amy	23,214
5	Heather	22,270
6	Amanda	20,519
7	Angela	20,518
8	Sarah	19,976
9	Michelle	18,856
10	Nicole	17,280
11	Lisa	17,034
12	Kelly	16,977
13	Kimberly	16,878
14	Elizabeth	16,809
15	Christina	16,369
16	Stephanie	16,232
17	Rebecca	13,795
18	Crystal	12,592
19	Laura	11,242
20	Jamie	10,982
21	Erin	10,787
22	Shannon	10,599
23	Andrea	10,461
24	Mary	10,040
25	Rachel	9,802
26	Julie	9,794
27	April	9,591
28	Sara	8,869
29	Christine	8,272
30	Amber	8,174
31	Danielle	7,983
32	Tiffany	7,700
33	Emily	7,473
34	Erica	7,341
35	Carrie	7,318
36	Maria	7,019
37	Brandy	6,699
38	Katherine	6,625
39	Karen	6,371
40	Tara	6,330
41	Megan	5,897
42	Monica	5,867
43	Misty	5,834
44	Stacy	5,776
45	Tina	5,699
46	Jill	5,677
47	Tracy	5,631
48	Patricia	5,498
49	Susan	5,418
50	Cynthia	5,403
51	Kristy	5,332
52	Dawn	5,217
53	Stacey	4,998
54	Melanie	4,996
55	Holly	4,972
56	Wendy	4,918
57	Kathryn	4,808
58	Alicia	4,752
59	Christy	4,661
60	Lori	4,631
61	Brandi	4,500
62	Kristen	4,368
63	Leslie	4,342
64	Kristina	4,229
65	Anna	4,173
66	Natalie	4,165
67	Tammy	4,070
68	Courtney	4,031
69	Sandra	4,005
70	Dana	4,003
70	Jaime	4,003
72	Catherine	3,959
73	Veronica	3,934
74	Samantha	3,888
75	Allison	3,864
76	Vanessa	3,853
77	Tonya	3,826
78	Kristin	3,807
79	Kathleen	3,743
80	Lauren	3,670
81	Jacqueline	3,576
81	Tanya	3,576
83	Heidi	3,567
84	Melinda	3,563
85	Denise	3,519
86	Michele	3,484
87	Ashley	3,482
88	Teresa	3,472
89	Robin	3,440
90	Katie	3,426
91	Sabrina	3,350
92	Valerie	3,299
93	Gina	3,221
94	Cheryl	3,167
95	Lindsay	3,123
96	Mandy	3,110
97	Nancy	3,045
98	Kristi	2,992
99	Renee	2,969
100	Linda	2,930

Full Girl list for 1978

Biggest movers since 1977

Names with at least 500 births in both years, by percent change in births.

Rising boy names, 1977 to 1978
Name	Births 1977	Births 1978	Change	Rank 1977 → 1978
Nicholas	6,073	16,343	+169%	51 → 25
Shaun	2,578	6,105	+137%	103 → 52
Luke	1,242	1,882	+52%	190 → 139
Cody	1,266	1,683	+33%	183 → 152
Kyle	3,506	4,517	+29%	79 → 63
Adam	11,031	13,919	+26%	33 → 29
Tyler	1,452	1,755	+21%	165 → 149
Dustin	3,477	4,177	+20%	81 → 68
Justin	12,010	14,184	+18%	30 → 28
Erik	2,786	3,262	+17%	94 → 85

Falling boy names, 1977 to 1978
Name	Births 1977	Births 1978	Change	Rank 1977 → 1978
Wesley	4,301	3,306	-23%	66 → 83
Shannon	2,286	1,849	-19%	120 → 142
Corey	6,040	4,942	-18%	52 → 61
Jimmy	2,636	2,168	-18%	98 → 118
Jeremiah	4,151	3,445	-17%	69 → 81
Jamie	3,447	2,865	-17%	82 → 95
Brad	2,524	2,107	-17%	106 → 123
Damon	2,356	1,981	-16%	112 → 132
Dwayne	1,460	1,237	-15%	163 → 192
Harold	1,436	1,242	-14%	167 → 191

Rising girl names, 1977 to 1978
Name	Births 1977	Births 1978	Change	Rank 1977 → 1978
Tabitha	1,376	2,310	+68%	195 → 126
Cheryl	2,121	3,167	+49%	135 → 94
Lauren	2,549	3,670	+44%	114 → 80
Katie	2,507	3,426	+37%	115 → 90
Brooke	1,871	2,533	+35%	150 → 115
Kristy	4,045	5,332	+32%	68 → 51
Lindsey	1,381	1,812	+31%	194 → 152
Crystal	9,725	12,592	+29%	25 → 18
Ashley	2,706	3,482	+29%	106 → 87
Julia	2,061	2,594	+26%	143 → 112

Falling girl names, 1977 to 1978
Name	Births 1977	Births 1978	Change	Rank 1977 → 1978
Jaime	5,906	4,003	-32%	46 → 70
Tammy	5,310	4,070	-23%	55 → 67
Sabrina	4,305	3,350	-22%	63 → 91
Summer	2,447	1,917	-22%	119 → 143
Rhonda	2,162	1,726	-20%	131 → 160
Shelly	1,848	1,501	-19%	151 → 175
Shawna	2,082	1,702	-18%	139 → 161
Jodi	2,730	2,265	-17%	105 → 128
Aimee	2,288	1,905	-17%	127 → 144
Carrie	8,661	7,318	-16%	28 → 35

Top 100 boy names, 1978

Rank

Name

Births

67,133

51,604

47,236

40,684

James

39,902

Matthew

34,285

John

34,018

Robert

33,379

Brian

29,435

26,667

26,442

25,206

24,174

Ryan

21,322

Kevin

20,096

Eric

19,763

Timothy

19,597

Jeremy

19,510

Jeffrey

16,993

Anthony

16,809

Richard

16,733

16,722

16,483

16,391

16,343

Mark

14,854

Charles

14,845

Justin

14,184

Adam

13,919

Scott

13,540

12,514

12,298

11,733

11,414

Chad

10,108

Nathan

9,892

Stephen

9,855

Gregory

9,342

Shawn

9,290

Brandon

9,241

Kenneth

9,021

Patrick

8,831

Bryan

7,291

Jose

7,147

7,062

6,955

6,480

6,423

6,172

Jacob

6,162

Jesse

6,107

6,105

6,096

5,874

5,759

Todd

5,497

Samuel

5,393

George

5,299

Douglas

5,150

Gary

5,112

Corey

4,942

Juan

4,837

Kyle

4,517

Larry

4,514

Shane

4,480

Craig

4,473

Phillip

4,362

Dustin

4,177

Raymond

4,134

Marcus

3,996

Dennis

3,860

Jared

3,847

Cory

3,843

Joel

3,810

Derek

3,801

Derrick

3,786

Frank

3,776

Carlos

3,729

Antonio

3,677

Jeffery

3,543

Jeremiah

3,445

Jerry

3,427

Wesley

3,306

Philip

3,298

Erik

3,262

Randy

3,220

Brent

3,181

Troy

3,153

Zachary

3,129

Gabriel

3,126

Terry

3,089

Casey

3,003

Russell

2,984

Nathaniel

2,925

Jamie

2,865

Curtis

2,825

Tony

2,772

Alexander

2,739

Billy

2,695

100

Carl

2,606

Top 100 girl names, 1978

Rank

Name

Births

Jennifer

56,318

Melissa

28,327

Jessica

26,103

Amy

23,214

Heather

22,270

20,519

20,518

19,976

18,856

17,280

17,034

Kelly

16,977

Kimberly

16,878

Elizabeth

16,809

Christina

16,369

Stephanie

16,232

Rebecca

13,795

Crystal

12,592

Laura

11,242

Jamie

10,982

Erin

10,787

Shannon

10,599

Andrea

10,461

Mary

10,040

Rachel

9,802

Julie

9,794

April

9,591

Sara

8,869

Christine

8,272

8,174

7,983

7,700

7,473

7,341

Carrie

7,318

Maria

7,019

Brandy

6,699

Katherine

6,625

Karen

6,371

Tara

6,330

Megan

5,897

Monica

5,867

Misty

5,834

Stacy

5,776

Tina

5,699

Jill

5,677

Tracy

5,631

Patricia

5,498

Susan

5,418

Cynthia

5,403

Kristy

5,332

Dawn

5,217

Stacey

4,998

Melanie

4,996

Holly

4,972

Wendy

4,918

Kathryn

4,808

Alicia

4,752

Christy

4,661

Lori

4,631

Brandi

4,500

Kristen

4,368

Leslie

4,342

Kristina

4,229

Anna

4,173

Natalie

4,165

Tammy

4,070

Courtney

4,031

Sandra

4,005

Dana

4,003

Jaime

4,003

Catherine

3,959

Veronica

3,934

Samantha

3,888

Allison

3,864

Vanessa

3,853

Tonya

3,826

Kristin

3,807

Kathleen

3,743

Lauren

3,670

Jacqueline

3,576

Tanya

3,576

Heidi

3,567

Melinda

3,563

Denise

3,519

Michele

3,484

Ashley

3,482

Teresa

3,472

Robin

3,440

Katie

3,426

Sabrina

3,350

Valerie

3,299

Gina

3,221

Cheryl

3,167

Lindsay

3,123

Mandy

3,110

Nancy

3,045

Kristi

2,992

Renee

2,969

100

Linda

2,930

Biggest movers since 1977

Names with at least 500 births in both years, by percent change in births.

Rising boy names, 1977 to 1978
Name	Births 1977	Births 1978	Change	Rank 1977 → 1978
Nicholas	6,073	16,343	+169%	51 → 25
Shaun	2,578	6,105	+137%	103 → 52
Luke	1,242	1,882	+52%	190 → 139
Cody	1,266	1,683	+33%	183 → 152
Kyle	3,506	4,517	+29%	79 → 63
Adam	11,031	13,919	+26%	33 → 29
Tyler	1,452	1,755	+21%	165 → 149
Dustin	3,477	4,177	+20%	81 → 68
Justin	12,010	14,184	+18%	30 → 28
Erik	2,786	3,262	+17%	94 → 85

Falling boy names, 1977 to 1978
Name	Births 1977	Births 1978	Change	Rank 1977 → 1978
Wesley	4,301	3,306	-23%	66 → 83
Shannon	2,286	1,849	-19%	120 → 142
Corey	6,040	4,942	-18%	52 → 61
Jimmy	2,636	2,168	-18%	98 → 118
Jeremiah	4,151	3,445	-17%	69 → 81
Jamie	3,447	2,865	-17%	82 → 95
Brad	2,524	2,107	-17%	106 → 123
Damon	2,356	1,981	-16%	112 → 132
Dwayne	1,460	1,237	-15%	163 → 192
Harold	1,436	1,242	-14%	167 → 191

Rising girl names, 1977 to 1978
Name	Births 1977	Births 1978	Change	Rank 1977 → 1978
Tabitha	1,376	2,310	+68%	195 → 126
Cheryl	2,121	3,167	+49%	135 → 94
Lauren	2,549	3,670	+44%	114 → 80
Katie	2,507	3,426	+37%	115 → 90
Brooke	1,871	2,533	+35%	150 → 115
Kristy	4,045	5,332	+32%	68 → 51
Lindsey	1,381	1,812	+31%	194 → 152
Crystal	9,725	12,592	+29%	25 → 18
Ashley	2,706	3,482	+29%	106 → 87
Julia	2,061	2,594	+26%	143 → 112

Falling girl names, 1977 to 1978
Name	Births 1977	Births 1978	Change	Rank 1977 → 1978
Jaime	5,906	4,003	-32%	46 → 70
Tammy	5,310	4,070	-23%	55 → 67
Sabrina	4,305	3,350	-22%	63 → 91
Summer	2,447	1,917	-22%	119 → 143
Rhonda	2,162	1,726	-20%	131 → 160
Shelly	1,848	1,501	-19%	151 → 175
Shawna	2,082	1,702	-18%	139 → 161
Jodi	2,730	2,265	-17%	105 → 128
Aimee	2,288	1,905	-17%	127 → 144
Carrie	8,661	7,318	-16%	28 → 35

Top 100 boy names of 1978

Top 100 girl names of 1978

Biggest movers since 1977

Top 100 boy names of 1978

Top 100 girl names of 1978

Biggest movers since 1977