How far back does the data go?

To 1880. The Social Security Administration published national baby-name counts starting that year, and the record runs through 2024.

Why did my name disappear for some decades?

A name only shows a count for a year when at least 5 babies received it. If a name was very rare in a given decade, it can drop off the graph entirely for that stretch, then reappear when it came back into use.

Name Popularity Over Time

See a name rise and fall, decade by decade, from 1880 to today.

Try:

Names have a lifespan

Almost no name is popular forever. Type one in and the decade graph tells its story: when it first appeared, when it peaked, and whether it is climbing or fading right now. The data covers 1880 to 2024, so you get the full arc.

Read the shape

A tall bar on the right means a name that is hot today.
A tall bar on the left means a classic that has cooled off.
Two humps mean a name that came back around, which happens more than you would think as old names get rediscovered.

The tallest bar on your card is highlighted in gold, so the peak decade jumps out at a glance.

Why it matters

Popularity and rarity are two sides of the same record. A name can be rare overall but suddenly trendy, or common overall but out of style now. The graph is how you tell the difference, and it is the part of the card people find most fun to compare.

Frequently asked questions

How far back does the data go?: To 1880. The Social Security Administration published national baby-name counts starting that year, and the record runs through 2024.
Why did my name disappear for some decades?: A name only shows a count for a year when at least 5 babies received it. If a name was very rare in a given decade, it can drop off the graph entirely for that stretch, then reappear when it came back into use.