Methods, systems, and computer readable media for generation of sequence numbers for insertion into a data stream are disclosed. According to one aspect, low-overhead sequence number generation includes reading a stored set of coefficients and using them to calculate a value for a sequence number according to an equation for calculating a sequence number value, but not changing the values of the stored set of coefficients during generation of the sequence numbers. According to another aspect, a sequence number generation method is selected from multiple available methods based on a desired pattern of sequence numbers and used to generate sequence numbers that are included in a data stream. According to yet another aspect, sequence numbers are calculated using multiple inputs, each input being a counter output or a value referenced by a counter output.