Baby Name Uniqueness Analyzer
So you're wondering if your name is actually rare? I get it. My friend Sarah always complained that there were three other Sarahs in her high school class, while my colleague Xiomara has never met another person with her name. The truth is, some names are everywhere, and others are practically one of a kind.
This whole thing started because I was curious about my own name and couldn't find a straight answer anywhere. Most websites gave vague responses or outdated information. That's when I decided to build this name analyzer using real Social Security Administration data. In fact, no guessing, so find the real data about how rare or common your name really is.
Whether you're just curious or you're picking a baby name and want to know what you're getting into, this tool will give you the real story. Trust me, some of the results might surprise you. Here is a list of top 100 girls baby name.
Discover How Rare Is My Name - Rarity Calculator
Look, finding out if your name is rare shouldn't be rocket science, but somehow it usually is. Most sites either don't have the data or make you jump through hoops to get basic information. Our tool cuts through all that nonsense.
Here's how it works: we take your first name and run it against millions of records from the Social Security database. Your last name gets the same treatment, but that's a whole different story since family names come from your ancestry, not current trends. Put them together and you'll finally know where you stand in the bigger picture.
The best part? We're using official government data, not some random survey or guesswork. When the SSA keeps track of every birth certificate, you know the numbers are legit. Our checker processes all that data so you don't have to dig through government websites yourself.
What Actually Makes a Name Rare?
Okay, so what determines if your name ends up being super rare or incredibly popular? It's actually pretty interesting when you think about it.
First off, timing is everything. If you were born in the 80s, you probably knew a ton of Jennifers and Michaels because those were the trending baby names back then. But if your parents picked something like Ezra or Luna in 1985, you were probably the only one in your school. Now those same "rare" names from the 80s are everywhere because celebrities started using them.
Where you grew up matters too. I know someone named Mason who moved from rural Montana to Los Angeles and suddenly wasn't unique anymore. Regional preferences are real, e.g, what's common in Texas might be unusual in Vermont.
Then there's the celebrity effect, which is honestly kind of wild. When Kim Kardashian named her daughter North, suddenly everyone was talking about directional names. When a popular TV show features a character with an uncommon name, you can literally track the spike in babies getting that name the following year.
A step by step guide to choose baby nameYour Birth Year Changes Everything
This is probably the biggest factor people don't think about. Every generation has its thing. My mom's generation was all about names like Linda and Barbara, which were super popular then, but you rarely hear them on kids today. Meanwhile, names like Emma and Olivia are everywhere now but were practically extinct in the 1970s.
Population booms make this even more interesting. The baby boom generation had so many kids that even "unique" names from that era still have thousands of people with them, just because there were more babies overall. Smaller generations often get more creative with naming, which means better odds of having something truly rare.
I've noticed that major events leave their mark too. After 9/11, patriotic names saw a bump. During the Obama presidency, names with African origins became more popular. It's like each generation's naming choices reflect what was happening in the world when they were born.
Why Modern Parents Think Differently
Parents today are totally different from previous generations when it comes to naming kids. My grandparents' generation mostly stuck with traditional names; in fact, there were rules about what was "appropriate." My parents' generation started getting creative but still played it pretty safe.
Now? Parents research everything. They're checking name popularity rankings, looking up meanings, and making sure the domain name is available (seriously, that's a real consideration now). They want something unique but not so weird that their kid will hate them for it.
The internet changed everything too. Parents can easily find unusual names from other cultures, see exactly how popular a name is, and even predict future trends. It's both a blessing and a curse also have more options, but also more anxiety about making the "right" choice.
Read more about modern parental psychologyThe Nickname Problem Nobody Talks About
Here's something funny that happens all the time: you might have a super rare given name, but everyone calls you by a popular nickname. My friend Alexandria goes by Alex, which is everywhere, but her full name is actually pretty uncommon for her age group.
This creates weird situations when trying to determine if your name is rare or common. Are we talking about what's on your birth certificate or what people actually call you? Because those can be completely different stories.
Middle names throw another wrench into things. Some parents give their kids a safe, popular first name and then go wild with the middle name. Others do the opposite, e.g, unusual first name, traditional middle name as a backup. Either way, your complete name combination might be way more rare than any individual part.
Try This Free Cute Nickname GeneratorHow Our Tool Actually Works
I'll be honest because building this thing was harder than I thought it would be. We had to process millions of SSA records and figure out how to make sense of all that data without making your computer crash.
The tool looks at your name from every angle. First, it checks your first name against 120+ years of birth records and also sees where you fit in current trends. Then it digs into your family name, which is a totally different beast since those don't change with fashion. Put it all together, and you get a complete picture of your name's rarity.
One thing that surprised me was how much regional differences matter. A name that's rare nationally might be super common in your specific state. The tool accounts for that, plus it's smart enough to handle different spellings of the same name. Catherine, Katherine, Kathryn - they're basically the same name, but the data treats them separately.
Understanding Your ResultsWhat Your Ranking Actually Means
When you get your results, you'll see where your name ranks compared to everyone else. Higher numbers mean your name is more unusual; for example, if you're in the top 10,000, you've got a fairly rare name on your hands.
But here's the thing about rankings that most people don't get: they're relative to the total population. Being ranked 5000 out of thousands of names is actually pretty rare, even though 5000 sounds like a high number.
Understanding Your Percentile Score
This is probably the easiest way to understand your results. If you're in the 90th percentile, your name is more unique than 10% of all names in the database. If you're in the 10th percentile, 90% of names are rarer than yours.
I like percentiles because they make the math simple. You don't have to be a statistics expert to understand that the 95th percentile means you have a really popular name.
Understanding Total Name Counts
Ever wondered how many people throughout history have shared your name? That's exactly what our total counts feature shows you!
These numbers aren't just rough estimates because they're based on real government data that spans over 120 years of records. When you see a total count for any name, you're looking at the actual number of people who've been given that name since we started keeping track.
Think of it like a giant tally sheet that's been running for more than a century. Every time someone is born and officially registered with a particular name, it gets added to the name lists count. So these counts give you the fascinating bigger picture of naming trends across generations.
Tracking Name Popularity Over Time
Want to see how your name's popularity has changed over the decades? Our popularity trend graph is like a time machine for names!
Starting back in 1910, this timeline shows you how many babies born each year. It's pretty cool to watch names rise and fall in popularity. You might find that your "unique" name was actually super trendy in the 1950s. Or see how celebrities and movies influenced what parents chose.
Some names stay steady over time. Others spike up during certain eras and then fade away completely. The graph makes these patterns easy to spot at a glance.
You can literally see when names became fashionable. And when they started feeling outdated. It's like watching American culture unfold through baby names, year by year.
The Gender Thing Gets Complicated
Boys' names and girls' names follow totally different patterns, and it's kind of fascinating. Historically, parents were more adventurous with girls' names and played it safer with boys. That's changing now, but you can still see the difference in the data.
What's really interesting is gender-neutral names. Names like Taylor, Jordan, or River work for anyone, but their popularity can vary wildly depending on whether parents are using them for boys or girls in a given year.
This tool will clearly show you how gender affects name popularity across different time periods and regions.
Regional Differences Are Wild
I had no idea how much geography affected name popularity until I started digging into this data. Names that are super common on the East Coast might be unheard of in the Midwest. Cultural pockets make a huge difference. Here, you'll find completely different naming patterns in areas with large Hispanic, Asian, or other ethnic populations.
This is why our tool shows you both national and regional data. You might have a rare name overall, but be one of five kids with that name in your specific area. So this tool provides you with the easiest way to find where your name stands.
Why We Use Social Security Data
The Social Security Administration keeps records of pretty much every birth in America, which makes their database the gold standard for name research. Private companies and websites often use incomplete data or surveys, but the SSA has the real deal.
Every time someone applies for a Social Security number (which is basically everyone), their name goes into the database. We update our tool whenever the SSA releases new information, usually once a year. It's not perfect - some people might use different names later in life - but it's the most accurate source available.
The cool thing is that this data goes back decades, so you can see how name trends have changed over time. Want to know what was popular the year you were born? We've got that. Curious about what your name's trajectory looks like? That too.
Popular Names and Current Trends
I put together some lists of the most popular names to give you context for where your name fits. These aren't just random lists because they're based on actual recent birth data from the SSA.
What's interesting is how predictable some trends are and how surprising others can be. Names go in cycles - what was popular with your grandparents might come back around. But then you get random hits like when Game of Thrones made Khaleesi a legitimate baby name choice.
Social media has sped up everything. A name can go viral and spike in popularity way faster than it used to. It used to take years for a name to catch on nationally, but now it can happen in months.
Finding the Right Baby Name
If you're actually trying to pick a name for a baby, this gets way more complicated than just checking rarity. You've got to think about how it sounds with your last name, whether it's easy to spell and pronounce, what the initials spell out, and about a million other things.
Some parents want something totally unique - they're shooting for that one-of-a-kind situation. Others want something recognizable but not too popular. There's no right answer, but having actual data helps you make an informed choice instead of just guessing.
The trick is finding that sweet spot where the name is interesting enough to be memorable but not so unusual that your kid will spend their entire life correcting people. Our tools help you explore different options and see exactly how rare or common they are.
Check Your Family History And DNATools That Actually Help
I've built some comparison features that let you put different names side by side and see how they stack up. You can filter by rarity level, check regional popularity, and even see how names have trended over time.
The goal isn't to make the decision for you - that's way too personal. But having good data makes the whole process less stressful. At least you'll know what you're getting into.
Check Your Name Right Now
Ready to find out how rare your name actually is? Just type it in and you'll get the full breakdown - your ranking, percentile, regional variations, the works.
The analysis covers both your first and last name, shows you historical trends , and puts everything in context so you actually understand what the numbers mean. No confusing jargon or buried information - just straight answers to the question you actually asked.
I've tried to make the results as clear as possible because nobody wants to decode complicated statistics just to find out if their name is common. You'll get the key information upfront, plus all the detailed data if you want to dig deeper.
So, try the analyzer now and see just how rare your name is.
Frequently Asked Questions
How rare is my last name?
Your family name comes from your ancestors, so it depends on where your family originated and how common that surname is in America. Most last names are actually pretty rare compared to first names because they represent specific family trees. I once looked up my friend's last name, "Kowalski," and found out it's way more common than she thought because it's Polish, and there was a big wave of Polish immigration. Use our analyzer to see exactly how many people in the SSA database share your family name.
How common is my first name?
This totally depends on when you were born and what was trending at the time. My name shows up about 15,000 times in the database, which sounds like a lot until you realize that's spread across decades of births. The tool will show you if you're dealing with a Jennifer situation (super popular for a specific generation) or if your parents picked something more unique. You'll see exactly where your given name ranks and how many people you're sharing it with.
How rare is my name filter?
You can set the tool to show you only names within specific rarity ranges, which is really helpful if you're trying to find that perfect balance. Want something rare but not completely unheard of? Filter for names that appear maybe 100-500 times in the data. Looking for something truly one of a kind? Set it to show names with fewer than 50 instances. It's a great way to explore options without getting overwhelmed by thousands of choices.
How can I find out how rare my name is?
Just use our name rarity analyzer - it's pretty straightforward. Type in your name and you'll get real statistics from the Social Security Administration database showing exactly how many people share it. The results break down your ranking, percentile, and even show regional differences. I built this because I was tired of getting vague answers to a simple question. Now you can finally get concrete numbers instead of "it's somewhat uncommon" or whatever.
How accurate is your name rarity data?
We're pulling straight from Social Security Administration records, which is basically the most official data you can get. Every birth certificate that gets a Social Security number ends up in their database, so we're talking about millions of real records going back decades. The SSA updates its data annually, and we update our tool when new information comes out. It's not 100% perfect - some people might change their names later or use nicknames - but it's way more accurate than surveys or guesswork.
What does name rarity mean?
Name rarity is just how uncommon your name is compared to everyone else in the population. If your name appears 10,000 times in the database and another name appears 100 times, the second one is rarer. It's pretty simple math, but what makes it interesting is seeing where you fit in the bigger picture. Some people are shocked to find out their "unique" name is actually pretty popular, while others discover their ordinary-seeming name is rarer than they thought.
How do I check my name's popularity using Social Security data?
Our checker connects directly to Social Security records to track how popular your name has been over time. You'll see not just current numbers but historical trends too - maybe your name was super popular in the 1990s but has dropped off recently, or maybe it's been steadily climbing for years. The data shows you exactly where your name ranked during your birth year and how it's changed since then. It's kind of fascinating to see these patterns play out.
What is the difference between a first name and a family name?
Your first name is what your parents picked when you were born - it reflects whatever was popular or appealing to them at that time. Your family name (last name) comes from your ancestry and doesn't change with trends. That's why first names can go in and out of style while family names stay relatively stable across generations. When I analyze name rarity, I look at both separately because they tell different stories about your identity and family history.
How do I use a name generator to find unique baby names?
Check out our [name generator page] where you can set specific parameters for what you're looking for. Want something rare but not too weird? Set the rarity filter to show names that appear maybe 50-200 times in recent data. You can filter by origin, gender, and other preferences to find options that match what you have in mind. The generator pulls from the same SSA database, so you'll know exactly how common or rare each suggestion is.
Where can I see the top baby names and the latest trends?
Visit our [top 100 names page] to see what's actually popular right now based on recent Social Security data. The lists show you which names are climbing, which ones are dropping, and how current trends compare to previous years. I update these regularly so you're seeing the most recent patterns. It's interesting to track how certain names explode in popularity and then fade out - you can literally see cultural moments reflected in the data.
How do statistics determine name Uniqueness?
It's basically just counting - we look at how many times each name appears in Social Security birth records and rank them from most to least common. The tricky part is making sense of all that data and presenting it in a way that's actually useful. We also track trends over time, look at regional differences, and account for variations in spelling. The statistics help you understand not just how rare your name is right now, but how it got that way and where it might be headed.
What are the top 100 baby names in the U.S.?
Head to our [top 100 names page] for the current rankings based on the latest Social Security data. You'll see separate lists for boys and girls, plus how each name has moved up or down compared to previous years. What's wild is how much these lists can change - a name can jump 50 spots in a single year if it catches on. The page also shows you longer-term trends so you can see which names have staying power versus which ones are just having a moment.
How do I discover baby girl names that are not in the top 1000?
Our Baby names going extinct is perfect for this. You can filter specifically for girls' names that fall outside the most popular 1000, which gives you options that are still real names but won't be shared by many people. I've found some really beautiful choices that way - names that are easy to spell and pronounce but rare enough that your daughter probably won't encounter another one in her class. The tool shows you exactly how rare each option is, so you can find that perfect balance.
What are the baby name trends for 2025?
The big trends this year are otherworldly names that sound mystical, "old people" names making a comeback like Clara and Theodore, and short minimalist choices like Beau and Theo. Celebrity baby names are also having a huge influence. You can track how quickly a name goes from unknown to trending using our tool. Here are the perfect baby names for baby boys and girls.