Names That Peaked In 1972

These names hit their all-time highest U.S. ranking in 1972 and have never ranked as high since — the sound of that moment, frozen in the data. (The #1 names that year were Jennifer and Michael — reigning champions usually peak in a different year than they reign.)

Peaked in 1971 Peaked in 1973 Full 1972 top 100 The 1970s as a whole

Name & meaning	Babies 2025 · rank	5-year rank movement	Peak year
Christopher	4,748#68	Down 21 rank positions in five years	1984
Sean	616#489	Down 155 rank positions in five years	1990
Melanie	2,074#142	Down 37 rank positions in five years	1972
Chad	96#1,701	Down 460 rank positions in five years	1972
Yolanda	49#3,248	Down 618 rank positions in five years	1969
Shelley	13#8,278	Down 763 rank positions in five years	1964
Shannon	41#3,030	Down 986 rank positions in five years	1972
Nikki	44#3,503	Down 826 rank positions in five years	1972
Marlon	195#1,105	Down 121 rank positions in five years	1972
Luz	324#839	Up 171 rank positions in five years	1999
Lamont	47#2,739	Down 983 rank positions in five years	1972
Katina	—Unranked	—	1972
Latanya	—Unranked	—	1972
Kami	46#3,359	Down 520 rank positions in five years	1980
Lashawn	—Unranked	—	1970
Niki	13#8,212	Up 3,618 rank positions in five years	1972
Nikole	18#6,486	Down 1,359 rank positions in five years	1993
Sharla	8#11,777	Up 1,489 rank positions in five years	1972
Nicki	—Unranked	—	1972
Jenni	13#8,076	Down 1,622 rank positions in five years	1972
Latonia	—Unranked	—	1972
Nicola	12#8,718	Up 1,351 rank positions in five years	1972
Tawnya	—Unranked	—	1972
Shad	9#8,795	Down 1,383 rank positions in five years	1971
Abelardo	44#2,833	Down 621 rank positions in five years	2002
Brain	—Unranked	—	1982
Brian	—Unranked	—	1977
Vidal	39#3,120	Up 888 rank positions in five years	1972
Catina	—Unranked	—	1972
Yolonda	—Unranked	—	1972
Angelic	15#7,166	Down 514 rank positions in five years	1992
Marlo	95#1,720	Up 141 rank positions in five years	2023
Lamonte	15#6,020	Down 1,665 rank positions in five years	1971
Buffy	—Unranked	—	1972
Nichol	—Unranked	—	1979
Jenniffer	—Unranked	—	1972
Chadd	—Unranked	—	1989
Jammie	—Unranked	—	1975
Germaine	7#10,024	Up 1,034 rank positions in five years	1972
Cherilyn	5#15,402	new	1972
Keena	—Unranked	—	1972
Consuela	—Unranked	—	1972
Nicole	—Unranked	—	1989
Cher	—Unranked	—	1972
Lasonya	—Unranked	—	1971
Toriano	5#13,708	new	1972
Camisha	—Unranked	—	1972
Diallo	10#7,800	new	1972
Jabbar	6#11,195	Down 2,152 rank positions in five years	1972

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How this list is built

A name “peaked” in 1972 when that year holds its best-ever position in the national rankings — rank, not raw count, because raw counts track how many babies were born and would pile every “peak” into the boom years. To qualify, a name must have reached the top 1,000 at its height and have at least 500 all-time applications. Lists are ordered by that peak rank.

Ranks come from U.S. births, counted separately for girls and boys. “Unranked” today means fewer than 5 applications in the latest year — uncommon, never invalid.