Most popular baby names of 1956

In the battle for America's most popular baby names, 1956 saw remarkable stability at the very top, with Michael and Mary maintaining their crowns as the most favored names for boys and girls respectively. Among the top three names for boys, the rankings held steady with Michael, James, and Robert claiming the same positions they held in 1955. For girls, however, there was a subtle shift as Debra rose from the #4 position to claim the second spot, bumping Deborah down to #4, while Linda maintained its #3 position from the previous year.

The top 10 girls' names in 1956 showcased some interesting movements within the upper echelon of popularity. Cynthia made a notable climb from #11 in 1955 to break into the top 10 at #8. Sharon also saw impressive momentum, jumping three spots from #16 to #13. Meanwhile, Barbara slipped slightly from #7 to #9, and Nancy fell from the top 10 altogether, moving from #9 to #11. Names ending with the feminine 'a' sound remained particularly favored, with Mary, Linda, Debra, and Donna all maintaining strong positions.

For boys, the top 10 rankings showed remarkable consistency between 1955 and 1956. The only significant shift was Mark rising one position from #9 to #8, while Thomas dropped from #8 to #9. Traditional, biblical names continued to dominate the highest rankings, with Michael, James, Robert, David, and John forming an unchanging top five. Strong, single-syllable names like Mark and John maintained their appeal, suggesting parents' continued preference for simple, classic masculine names with historical significance.

Looking at broader naming patterns, short, punchy names for both genders remained fashionable in 1956. For girls, names starting with 'M' and 'D' were particularly prevalent in the top rankings, while 'J' and 'R' initials dominated the boys' list. Interestingly, the popularity of nickname-style names was evident, with Kathy (#20) and Debbie (#39) ranking independently from their longer forms Katherine and Deborah. The traditional nature of top American names in the mid-1950s reflects the cultural values of the post-war era, emphasizing conventional gender roles and classic, familiar choices over innovation.

Top baby names of 1956