Eras & decades
Millennial names (born 1981–1996)
100 names · 50 girls · 50 boys · records through 2025
The names of the generation now having children of its own, counted from the records of 1981 through 1996.
This guide has 100 names: 50 girl names and 50 boy names. Names ranked in the national top-100 in any year from 1981 to 1996. The total beside each name counts the births of the years it made that top 100 — a name ranked lower in a given year contributes nothing for it. Built from US Social Security birth records through 2025. Tap + beside any name to keep it on your shortlist as you read.
Before the names
Jennifer gave way to Jessica in 1985, Ashley took two years, then Jessica returned — the girls' chart had started turning over quickly. Michael held the boys' #1 without interruption for the entire span.
This is the list a Millennial reads and recognises from their own class register, which is also why these names sit at the bottom of their fashion cycle right now. The records say bottom, not gone: a few have already begun to turn.
Girl names
50 names
- Jessica683k in its top-100 years
- Ashley588k in its top-100 years
- Jennifer497k in its top-100 years
- Amanda492k in its top-100 years
- Sarah412k in its top-100 years
- Stephanie324k in its top-100 years
- Elizabeth306k in its top-100 years
- Brittany299k in its top-100 years
- Nicole297k in its top-100 years
- Emily282k in its top-100 years
- Samantha281k in its top-100 years
- Megan265k in its top-100 years
- Melissa259k in its top-100 years
- Lauren251k in its top-100 years
- Rachel247k in its top-100 years
- Heather233k in its top-100 years
- Amber233k in its top-100 years
- Danielle213k in its top-100 years
- Tiffany206k in its top-100 years
- Rebecca205k in its top-100 years
- Michelle205k in its top-100 years
- Christina191k in its top-100 years
- Kimberly188k in its top-100 years
- Laura176k in its top-100 years
- Amy172k in its top-100 years
- Courtney169k in its top-100 years
- Crystal169k in its top-100 years
- Kayla165k in its top-100 years
- Katherine163k in its top-100 years
- Erin151k in its top-100 years
- Sara148k in its top-100 years
- Mary141k in its top-100 years
- Kelly140k in its top-100 years
- Andrea137k in its top-100 years
- Angela133k in its top-100 years
- Victoria132k in its top-100 years
- Erica129k in its top-100 years
- Kristen119k in its top-100 years
- Taylor118k in its top-100 years
- Jamie118k in its top-100 years
- Hannah117k in its top-100 years
- Chelsea112k in its top-100 years
- Allison110k in its top-100 years
- Maria108k in its top-100 years
- Lindsey107k in its top-100 years
- Katie105k in its top-100 years
- Anna105k in its top-100 years
- Shannon105k in its top-100 years
- Lisa104k in its top-100 years
- Vanessa102k in its top-100 years
Boy names
50 names
- Michael949k in its top-100 years
- Christopher784k in its top-100 years
- Matthew680k in its top-100 years
- Joshua606k in its top-100 years
- David532k in its top-100 years
- Daniel518k in its top-100 years
- James504k in its top-100 years
- Andrew466k in its top-100 years
- John464k in its top-100 years
- Joseph460k in its top-100 years
- Robert446k in its top-100 years
- Ryan434k in its top-100 years
- Justin428k in its top-100 years
- Brandon407k in its top-100 years
- Nicholas398k in its top-100 years
- William379k in its top-100 years
- Jonathan355k in its top-100 years
- Anthony351k in its top-100 years
- Jacob309k in its top-100 years
- Jason308k in its top-100 years
- Kevin298k in its top-100 years
- Brian297k in its top-100 years
- Eric287k in its top-100 years
- Tyler275k in its top-100 years
- Kyle271k in its top-100 years
- Thomas268k in its top-100 years
- Zachary260k in its top-100 years
- Steven258k in its top-100 years
- Adam258k in its top-100 years
- Timothy238k in its top-100 years
- Aaron222k in its top-100 years
- Benjamin222k in its top-100 years
- Richard212k in its top-100 years
- Alexander211k in its top-100 years
- Jeremy195k in its top-100 years
- Charles186k in its top-100 years
- Jeffrey183k in its top-100 years
- Cody176k in its top-100 years
- Mark173k in its top-100 years
- Patrick173k in its top-100 years
- Nathan168k in its top-100 years
- Sean166k in its top-100 years
- Stephen164k in its top-100 years
- Jose161k in its top-100 years
- Jordan155k in its top-100 years
- Samuel151k in its top-100 years
- Travis148k in its top-100 years
- Austin141k in its top-100 years
- Paul138k in its top-100 years
- Dustin135k in its top-100 years
Every rank and count here is published by the US Social Security Administration and refreshed each year when the new figures land. The method is stated at the top of this page.
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