Most Popular Baby Names of 1986

In 1986, Jessica (52,684 births) was the most common U.S. girl name and Michael (64,236 births) the most common boy name.

Top 100 boy names, 1986
Rank	Name	Births
1	Michael	64,236
2	Christopher	56,697
3	Matthew	46,924
4	Joshua	37,541
5	David	37,149
6	Daniel	36,574
7	James	34,055
8	Andrew	33,859
9	Robert	31,351
10	John	30,208
11	Ryan	29,525
12	Joseph	28,832
13	Brandon	27,253
14	Justin	26,636
15	William	24,333
16	Jonathan	23,973
17	Nicholas	22,800
18	Jason	22,417
19	Anthony	21,959
20	Brian	21,029
21	Kevin	19,935
22	Eric	19,528
23	Kyle	19,315
24	Adam	18,155
25	Steven	18,099
26	Thomas	17,363
27	Timothy	16,875
28	Jeremy	16,268
29	Richard	15,012
30	Benjamin	13,793
31	Jacob	13,651
32	Jeffrey	13,650
33	Aaron	12,691
34	Charles	12,625
35	Mark	12,614
36	Stephen	11,875
37	Sean	11,784
38	Zachary	11,727
39	Patrick	11,409
40	Tyler	10,912
41	Alexander	10,610
42	Dustin	10,317
43	Nathan	9,996
44	Scott	9,966
45	Paul	9,716
46	Gregory	9,533
47	Bryan	8,651
48	Jesse	8,542
49	Travis	8,480
50	Kenneth	8,453
51	Jose	8,363
52	Samuel	7,580
53	Jordan	7,304
54	Bradley	7,043
55	Shawn	7,018
56	Cody	6,934
57	Derek	6,901
58	Jared	6,118
59	Chad	6,026
60	Peter	5,797
61	Edward	5,779
62	Corey	5,762
63	Marcus	5,279
64	Alex	5,112
65	Juan	5,076
66	Keith	5,040
67	Shane	4,929
68	Cory	4,871
69	Brett	4,731
70	Phillip	4,706
71	Donald	4,662
72	Joel	4,506
73	Antonio	4,406
74	George	4,346
75	Ronald	4,224
76	Carlos	4,089
77	Raymond	4,055
78	Nathaniel	4,031
79	Luis	4,027
80	Craig	3,926
81	Evan	3,888
82	Douglas	3,763
83	Casey	3,762
84	Gary	3,719
85	Ian	3,714
86	Philip	3,665
87	Derrick	3,326
88	Victor	3,293
89	Christian	3,214
90	Austin	3,202
91	Frank	3,178
92	Erik	3,110
93	Vincent	3,092
94	Brent	3,061
95	Gabriel	3,046
96	Wesley	3,043
97	Seth	2,981
98	Trevor	2,979
99	Adrian	2,943
100	Curtis	2,909

Full Boy list for 1986

Top 100 girl names, 1986
Rank	Name	Births
1	Jessica	52,684
2	Ashley	49,672
3	Amanda	40,532
4	Jennifer	36,189
5	Sarah	28,164
6	Stephanie	22,648
7	Nicole	21,292
8	Brittany	20,313
9	Heather	19,789
10	Elizabeth	19,074
11	Megan	18,591
12	Melissa	17,667
13	Amber	16,955
14	Lauren	16,683
15	Rachel	15,456
16	Danielle	14,943
17	Tiffany	14,483
18	Kimberly	14,418
19	Christina	14,386
20	Laura	14,173
21	Samantha	14,092
22	Amy	13,451
23	Michelle	13,303
24	Emily	13,236
25	Crystal	12,689
26	Rebecca	11,793
27	Sara	11,052
28	Katherine	10,570
29	Kelly	10,411
30	Erin	10,068
31	Erica	9,972
32	Whitney	9,536
33	Angela	9,269
34	Jamie	9,234
35	Courtney	9,122
36	Andrea	8,640
37	Mary	8,507
38	Katie	8,333
39	Lindsey	8,051
40	Lisa	7,906
41	Kristen	7,844
42	Allison	7,575
43	Vanessa	7,468
44	Shannon	7,403
45	Alicia	7,017
46	Lindsay	6,952
47	Christine	6,917
48	Kathryn	6,393
49	Maria	6,141
50	Kristin	6,000
51	Anna	5,906
52	Natalie	5,707
53	April	5,677
54	Victoria	5,676
55	Jenna	5,416
56	Tara	5,085
57	Jacqueline	5,036
58	Julie	5,016
59	Monica	5,014
60	Cassandra	4,989
61	Krystal	4,929
62	Holly	4,839
62	Kristina	4,839
64	Kayla	4,657
65	Brittney	4,593
66	Patricia	4,246
67	Catherine	4,242
68	Kathleen	4,129
69	Caitlin	3,881
70	Natasha	3,872
71	Meghan	3,869
72	Alexandra	3,809
73	Chelsea	3,753
74	Erika	3,678
75	Diana	3,669
76	Valerie	3,618
77	Veronica	3,579
78	Leah	3,457
79	Brandi	3,432
80	Casey	3,423
81	Cynthia	3,422
82	Hannah	3,388
83	Mallory	3,325
84	Brandy	3,295
85	Alyssa	3,225
85	Leslie	3,225
87	Stacy	3,220
88	Julia	3,109
89	Margaret	3,085
90	Felicia	3,084
91	Bethany	3,082
92	Dana	3,076
93	Krista	3,054
94	Stacey	3,041
95	Jasmine	2,992
96	Alison	2,975
97	Melanie	2,973
98	Dominique	2,944
99	Katrina	2,829
100	Karen	2,801

Full Girl list for 1986

Biggest movers since 1985

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

Rising boy names, 1985 to 1986
Name	Births 1985	Births 1986	Change	Rank 1985 → 1986
Dylan	1,331	1,833	+38%	188 → 149
Jordan	5,461	7,304	+34%	62 → 53
Alex	3,907	5,112	+31%	80 → 64
Alexander	8,298	10,610	+28%	50 → 41
Cory	3,868	4,871	+26%	81 → 68
Jeremy	13,446	16,268	+21%	30 → 28
Evan	3,219	3,888	+21%	91 → 81
Austin	2,728	3,202	+17%	107 → 90
Kyle	16,520	19,315	+17%	27 → 23
Garrett	2,052	2,390	+16%	138 → 117

Falling boy names, 1985 to 1986
Name	Births 1985	Births 1986	Change	Rank 1985 → 1986
Jon	1,800	1,506	-16%	151 → 177
Jason	26,036	22,417	-14%	14 → 18
Shaun	2,354	2,066	-12%	120 → 132
Drew	2,276	2,000	-12%	126 → 138
Todd	2,939	2,585	-12%	99 → 110
Derrick	3,779	3,326	-12%	83 → 87
Larry	2,946	2,620	-11%	97 → 108
Joshua	42,198	37,541	-11%	4 → 4
Andre	2,295	2,053	-11%	124 → 133
Grant	1,651	1,484	-10%	166 → 179

Rising girl names, 1985 to 1986
Name	Births 1985	Births 1986	Change	Rank 1985 → 1986
Whitney	3,832	9,536	+149%	73 → 32
Kayla	2,608	4,657	+79%	109 → 64
Mallory	2,039	3,325	+63%	143 → 83
Kendra	1,840	2,759	+50%	154 → 101
Kelsey	1,700	2,517	+48%	168 → 112
Alyssa	2,258	3,225	+43%	130 → 85
Brittney	3,224	4,593	+42%	84 → 65
Krista	2,183	3,054	+40%	134 → 93
Angelica	1,542	2,146	+39%	176 → 130
Hannah	2,449	3,388	+38%	117 → 82

Falling girl names, 1985 to 1986
Name	Births 1985	Births 1986	Change	Rank 1985 → 1986
Sheena	3,062	1,574	-49%	91 → 173
Krystle	2,579	1,752	-32%	111 → 161
Latoya	3,402	2,537	-25%	81 → 111
Tina	2,599	1,962	-25%	110 → 146
Stacy	4,109	3,220	-22%	67 → 87
Christy	1,941	1,555	-20%	151 → 174
Candice	3,195	2,560	-20%	86 → 108
Joanna	2,772	2,227	-20%	99 → 126
Pamela	2,469	2,016	-18%	116 → 138
Misty	2,413	1,971	-18%	121 → 145

Top 100 boy names, 1986

Rank

Name

Births

Michael

64,236

Christopher

56,697

Matthew

46,924

Joshua

37,541

David

37,149

Daniel

36,574

James

34,055

Andrew

33,859

Robert

31,351

John

30,208

Ryan

29,525

Joseph

28,832

Brandon

27,253

26,636

24,333

23,973

22,800

22,417

Anthony

21,959

Brian

21,029

Kevin

19,935

Eric

19,528

Kyle

19,315

18,155

18,099

17,363

16,875

Jeremy

16,268

Richard

15,012

Benjamin

13,793

Jacob

13,651

Jeffrey

13,650

Aaron

12,691

Charles

12,625

Mark

12,614

11,875

11,784

11,727

11,409

10,912

10,610

10,317

9,996

Scott

9,966

Paul

9,716

Gregory

9,533

Bryan

8,651

Jesse

8,542

Travis

8,480

Kenneth

8,453

Jose

8,363

Samuel

7,580

Jordan

7,304

Bradley

7,043

Shawn

7,018

Cody

6,934

Derek

6,901

Jared

6,118

Chad

6,026

Peter

5,797

Edward

5,779

Corey

5,762

Marcus

5,279

Alex

5,112

Juan

5,076

Keith

5,040

Shane

4,929

Cory

4,871

Brett

4,731

Phillip

4,706

Donald

4,662

Joel

4,506

Antonio

4,406

George

4,346

Ronald

4,224

Carlos

4,089

Raymond

4,055

Nathaniel

4,031

Luis

4,027

3,926

3,888

3,763

3,762

Gary

3,719

Ian

3,714

Philip

3,665

Derrick

3,326

Victor

3,293

Christian

3,214

3,202

3,178

3,110

3,092

3,061

3,046

3,043

2,981

Trevor

2,979

Adrian

2,943

100

Curtis

2,909

Top 100 girl names, 1986

Rank

Name

Births

Jessica

52,684

Ashley

49,672

Amanda

40,532

Jennifer

36,189

Sarah

28,164

Stephanie

22,648

Nicole

21,292

Brittany

20,313

Heather

19,789

Elizabeth

19,074

Megan

18,591

Melissa

17,667

Amber

16,955

Lauren

16,683

Rachel

15,456

Danielle

14,943

Tiffany

14,483

Kimberly

14,418

14,386

14,173

14,092

13,451

13,303

13,236

Crystal

12,689

Rebecca

11,793

Sara

11,052

Katherine

10,570

Kelly

10,411

Erin

10,068

Erica

9,972

Whitney

9,536

Angela

9,269

Jamie

9,234

Courtney

9,122

Andrea

8,640

Mary

8,507

Katie

8,333

Lindsey

8,051

Lisa

7,906

Kristen

7,844

Allison

7,575

Vanessa

7,468

Shannon

7,403

Alicia

7,017

Lindsay

6,952

Christine

6,917

Kathryn

6,393

Maria

6,141

Kristin

6,000

Anna

5,906

Natalie

5,707

5,677

5,676

5,416

5,085

5,036

Julie

5,016

Monica

5,014

Cassandra

4,989

Krystal

4,929

Holly

4,839

Kristina

4,839

Kayla

4,657

Brittney

4,593

Patricia

4,246

Catherine

4,242

Kathleen

4,129

Caitlin

3,881

Natasha

3,872

Meghan

3,869

Alexandra

3,809

Chelsea

3,753

Erika

3,678

Diana

3,669

Valerie

3,618

Veronica

3,579

Leah

3,457

Brandi

3,432

Casey

3,423

Cynthia

3,422

Hannah

3,388

Mallory

3,325

Brandy

3,295

Alyssa

3,225

Leslie

3,225

Stacy

3,220

Julia

3,109

Margaret

3,085

Felicia

3,084

Bethany

3,082

Dana

3,076

Krista

3,054

Stacey

3,041

Jasmine

2,992

Alison

2,975

Melanie

2,973

Dominique

2,944

Katrina

2,829

100

Karen

2,801

Biggest movers since 1985

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

Rising boy names, 1985 to 1986
Name	Births 1985	Births 1986	Change	Rank 1985 → 1986
Dylan	1,331	1,833	+38%	188 → 149
Jordan	5,461	7,304	+34%	62 → 53
Alex	3,907	5,112	+31%	80 → 64
Alexander	8,298	10,610	+28%	50 → 41
Cory	3,868	4,871	+26%	81 → 68
Jeremy	13,446	16,268	+21%	30 → 28
Evan	3,219	3,888	+21%	91 → 81
Austin	2,728	3,202	+17%	107 → 90
Kyle	16,520	19,315	+17%	27 → 23
Garrett	2,052	2,390	+16%	138 → 117

Falling boy names, 1985 to 1986
Name	Births 1985	Births 1986	Change	Rank 1985 → 1986
Jon	1,800	1,506	-16%	151 → 177
Jason	26,036	22,417	-14%	14 → 18
Shaun	2,354	2,066	-12%	120 → 132
Drew	2,276	2,000	-12%	126 → 138
Todd	2,939	2,585	-12%	99 → 110
Derrick	3,779	3,326	-12%	83 → 87
Larry	2,946	2,620	-11%	97 → 108
Joshua	42,198	37,541	-11%	4 → 4
Andre	2,295	2,053	-11%	124 → 133
Grant	1,651	1,484	-10%	166 → 179

Rising girl names, 1985 to 1986
Name	Births 1985	Births 1986	Change	Rank 1985 → 1986
Whitney	3,832	9,536	+149%	73 → 32
Kayla	2,608	4,657	+79%	109 → 64
Mallory	2,039	3,325	+63%	143 → 83
Kendra	1,840	2,759	+50%	154 → 101
Kelsey	1,700	2,517	+48%	168 → 112
Alyssa	2,258	3,225	+43%	130 → 85
Brittney	3,224	4,593	+42%	84 → 65
Krista	2,183	3,054	+40%	134 → 93
Angelica	1,542	2,146	+39%	176 → 130
Hannah	2,449	3,388	+38%	117 → 82

Falling girl names, 1985 to 1986
Name	Births 1985	Births 1986	Change	Rank 1985 → 1986
Sheena	3,062	1,574	-49%	91 → 173
Krystle	2,579	1,752	-32%	111 → 161
Latoya	3,402	2,537	-25%	81 → 111
Tina	2,599	1,962	-25%	110 → 146
Stacy	4,109	3,220	-22%	67 → 87
Christy	1,941	1,555	-20%	151 → 174
Candice	3,195	2,560	-20%	86 → 108
Joanna	2,772	2,227	-20%	99 → 126
Pamela	2,469	2,016	-18%	116 → 138
Misty	2,413	1,971	-18%	121 → 145

Top 100 boy names of 1986

Top 100 girl names of 1986

Biggest movers since 1985

Top 100 boy names of 1986

Top 100 girl names of 1986

Biggest movers since 1985