Top Baby Names of 1986 by Pronunciation | NamePlay.org

learn why & how

Top 1,000 Baby Names of 1986

This list combines 6,309 spelling variations into 1,000 grouped names based on shared pronunciations. The most popular name in 1986 is Michael, given to 67,477 babies in total. Learn more about how this works.

Brittany has the most spelling variations with 61 different spellings, while Kiana has the highest confusion index at 92.7%, indicating the greatest diversity in how parents choose to spell it.

When combining spelling variations, Kaylin showed the biggest improvement, moving up 531 positions from 999 to 468, while Julia had the largest drop, falling 18 positions from 185 to 203.

Looking at trends, Mallory shows the strongest upward momentum (births in 1984–1986 are 2067.16% higher compared to 1977–1986), while Tammy shows the steepest decline (70.32% lower). Compared to 1985, Nikita had the largest rank improvement, moving up 385 positions to rank #333, while Sheena fell 115 positions to rank #304.

Navigation

Sort names by:

Sort direction:

#1

—

↓ 3%

—

67,477

#2

—

↑ 17%

—

60,492

#3

—

↑ 414%

↑ 1

55,858

#4

↑ 1

↑ 70%

↓ -1

53,618

#5

↓ 1

↑ 32%

—

49,269

7 spellings: Matthew 47.2k 95.82%Mathew 2k 4.03%Mathieu 39 0.08%Matthieu 18 0.04%Mattthew 10 0.02%Mathhew 5 0.01%Matthue 5 0.01%

#6

↑ 3

↑ 55%

—

40,725

6 spellings: Amanda 40.7k 99.84%Amanada 21 0.05%Amamda 18 0.04%Amenda 13 0.03%Ammanda 8 0.02%Aamanda 5 0.01%

#7

↑ 5

↑ 26%

↑ 10

39,603

16 spellings: Sarah 28.3k 71.40%Sara 11.1k 28.01%Ceara 34 0.09%Seirra 34 0.09%Sarrah 33 0.08%Sahra 23 0.06%Sera 23 0.06%Ceaira 16 0.04%Sarra 16 0.04%Cera 12 0.03%Serra 9 0.02%Cearra 8 0.02%Searra 8 0.02%Saraha 6 0.02%Cerra 5 0.01%Serah 5 0.01%

#8

↓ 1

↑ 48%

↓ -1

38,168

15 spellings: Joshua 37.8k 99.16%Joshuah 68 0.18%Jashua 61 0.16%Josua 49 0.13%Jousha 28 0.07%Josha 21 0.06%Johsua 18 0.05%Jushua 18 0.05%Joshuwa 12 0.03%Josuha 11 0.03%Joshaua 8 0.02%Joshia 7 0.02%Joshoa 7 0.02%Joushua 7 0.02%Joshuaa 5 0.01%

#9

↑ 1

↓ 6%

↓ -1

37,472

3 spellings: David 37.4k 99.86%Daivd 38 0.10%Dvid 14 0.04%

#10

↓ 2

↑ 32%

↓ -1

37,321

12 spellings: Daniel 36.9k 98.76%Danial 121 0.32%Daniell 119 0.32%Danyel 96 0.26%Daneil 34 0.09%Danniel 34 0.09%Danyale 18 0.05%Danyal 15 0.04%Danyle 8 0.02%Danialle 7 0.02%Danile 6 0.02%Danniell 6 0.02%

#11

↓ 5

↓ 25%

↓ -1

37,229

18 spellings: Jennifer 36.4k 97.64%Jenifer 455 1.22%Jeniffer 102 0.27%Jennafer 71 0.19%Jenniffer 65 0.17%Jennefer 47 0.13%Gennifer 22 0.06%Jenniefer 19 0.05%Jennipher 16 0.04%Jennyfer 15 0.04%Jennifier 14 0.04%Jenafer 12 0.03%Jennife 11 0.03%Jenefer 8 0.02%Jennifr 7 0.02%Jeneffer 5 0.01%Jenneffer 5 0.01%Jennnifer 5 0.01%

#12

↓ 1

↓ 10%

↓ -1

34,504

5 spellings: James 34.3k 99.48%Jaymes 144 0.42%Jamese 20 0.06%Jaimes 8 0.02%Jamez 6 0.02%

#13

↑ 7

↑ 69%

↓ -1

34,122

8 spellings: Andrew 34.1k 99.85%Amdrew 9 0.03%Andru 9 0.03%Andrue 9 0.03%Adnrew 7 0.02%Andrw 6 0.02%Anrew 6 0.02%Anderew 5 0.01%

#14

↓ 1

↓ 11%

—

32,008

7 spellings: John 30.4k 95.07%Jon 1.5k 4.76%Jhon 22 0.07%Jaun 12 0.04%Jahn 9 0.03%Johnn 7 0.02%Jonn 5 0.02%

#15

—

↓ 8%

↓ -2

31,606

3 spellings: Robert 31.6k 99.95%Robbert 10 0.03%Rpbert 7 0.02%

#16

↑ 1

↑ 35%

↓ -1

30,784

17 spellings: Ryan 30.2k 98.18%Ryann 135 0.44%Rian 103 0.33%Ryanne 63 0.20%Ryon 52 0.17%Rhyan 46 0.15%Ryen 27 0.09%Rayan 23 0.07%Rion 20 0.06%Ryane 19 0.06%Riane 17 0.06%Rianne 16 0.05%Rayon 13 0.04%Reann 10 0.03%Rheanne 5 0.02%Rhian 5 0.02%Rhianne 5 0.02%

#17

↓ 3

↓ 14%

↑ 10

30,577

15 spellings: Brian 21.2k 69.24%Bryan 8.7k 28.48%Bryon 242 0.79%Breann 175 0.57%Breon 51 0.17%Brien 48 0.16%Breeann 40 0.13%Brion 37 0.12%Bryanne 35 0.11%Briann 27 0.09%Briane 12 0.04%Breeanne 9 0.03%Bryann 9 0.03%Brayan 7 0.02%Bryen 7 0.02%

#18

↓ 2

↑ 13%

↑ 18

30,248

5 spellings: Steven 18.2k 60.25%Stephen 12k 39.54%Stevan 47 0.16%Stevon 11 0.04%Stpehen 7 0.02%

#19

↑ 15

↑ 880%

↑ 9

29,969

61 spellings: Brittany 20.4k 68.03%Brittney 4.6k 15.42%Britney 1.4k 4.71%Brittani 698 2.33%Brittni 328 1.09%Britni 317 1.06%Britany 294 0.98%Brittanie 259 0.86%Brittaney 203 0.68%Brittny 162 0.54%Brittnie 119 0.40%Brittnee 116 0.39%Britteny 99 0.33%Brittnay 94 0.31%Britnee 68 0.23%Britani 62 0.21%Brittini 51 0.17%Britnie 49 0.16%Brittiany 45 0.15%Brittainy 43 0.14%Britny 41 0.14%Brittiny 36 0.12%Britanny 33 0.11%Brittanee 33 0.11%Brittiney 33 0.11%Brittne 26 0.09%Brittanny 21 0.07%Britini 20 0.07%Britne 18 0.06%Britanie 17 0.06%Brittony 16 0.05%Bridney 15 0.05%Brittanni 15 0.05%Birttany 14 0.05%Bryttani 13 0.04%Britanee 12 0.04%Britnay 12 0.04%Britaney 11 0.04%Britainy 9 0.03%Brittannie 9 0.03%Brittinee 9 0.03%Britiany 8 0.03%Britteney 8 0.03%Brittinie 8 0.03%Brittnea 8 0.03%Brittnei 8 0.03%Briteny 7 0.02%Britlany 7 0.02%Britnei 7 0.02%Brytani 7 0.02%Brytni 7 0.02%Brithany 6 0.02%Britiny 6 0.02%Brittnye 6 0.02%Brittoni 6 0.02%Britiney 5 0.02%Britnye 5 0.02%Brittanye 5 0.02%Brittnae 5 0.02%Bryttany 5 0.02%Bryttney 5 0.02%

#20

↑ 1

↑ 55%

↑ 1

29,802

#21

↓ 3

↑ 10%

↓ -5

29,466

7 spellings: Joseph 29k 98.56%Joesph 170 0.58%Josef 159 0.54%Jospeh 44 0.15%Joeseph 33 0.11%Jozef 12 0.04%Jsoeph 6 0.02%

#22

↓ 3

↑ 115%

↓ -4

28,910

11 spellings: Brandon 27.5k 95.20%Branden 880 3.04%Brandan 200 0.69%Brandyn 154 0.53%Brandin 110 0.38%Brnadon 11 0.04%Brandn 8 0.03%Branndon 7 0.02%Brndon 7 0.02%Brandun 5 0.02%Brondon 5 0.02%

#23

↑ 2

↑ 45%

↓ -4

27,204

9 spellings: Justin 26.9k 98.81%Justen 108 0.40%Juston 90 0.33%Justyn 59 0.22%Justan 23 0.08%Jusitn 18 0.07%Justn 12 0.04%Justyne 8 0.03%Justun 5 0.02%

#24

↓ 2

↑ 153%

↑ 10

27,155

#25

↑ 4

↑ 63%

↓ -3

25,534

#26

—

↑ 30%

↓ -3

25,296

#27

↓ 3

↑ 22%

↓ -1

24,784

#28

↑ 2

↓ 2%

↓ -8

24,554

5 spellings: William 24.5k 99.76%Wiliam 25 0.10%Wm 24 0.10%Willliam 5 0.02%Wlliam 5 0.02%

#29

↓ 2

↓ 1%

↑ 2

24,129

11 spellings: Eric 19.7k 81.55%Erik 3.1k 12.98%Erick 849 3.52%Erich 210 0.87%Aric 132 0.55%Arik 35 0.15%Errick 32 0.13%Arick 24 0.10%Erek 24 0.10%Aaric 6 0.02%Eryk 6 0.02%

#30

↓ 7

↓ 46%

↓ -6

23,198

11 spellings: Jason 22.6k 97.31%Jayson 462 1.99%Jasen 69 0.30%Jaison 31 0.13%Jaysen 23 0.10%Jaeson 10 0.04%Jsaon 8 0.03%Jacen 6 0.03%Jasun 5 0.02%Jaycen 5 0.02%Json 5 0.02%

#31

↑ 1

↑ 34%

↑ 40

23,124

© 2025 NamePlay.org

Made with ❤️ by Aaron J Becker