Total births
2,761
Boys' name · since 1969
Anwar
Since 1969, U.S. Social Security records show 2,761 babies named Anwar, peaking in 1978. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #2886
- among boys today
- 2,761
- born since 1969
- 1980s
- peak decade
- 80%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Anwar is the #2886 most popular boys' name in the U.S. today, with 2,761 recorded since 1969.
Social Security Administration records show Anwar recorded 2,761 times among boys since 1969, holding rank #2886 nationally today, ahead of 80% of boys, peaking in the 1980s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1969 to 2025.
- #2886 among boys today
- 2,761 born since 1969
- 1980s peak decade
- 80% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Anwar is currently the #2886 boys' name in America, more common than 80% of boys - 2,761 born since 1969, peaking in the 1980s.
- #2886
- among boys today
- 2,761
- born since 1969
- 1980s
- peak decade
- 80%
- more common than other boys
Anwar vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#2886
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 80% of names given to boys today.
1980s
Peak decade
27% of everyone ever named Anwar was born in this single decade.
1978
Single peak year
144 babies were named Anwar in 1978 - its busiest year on record.
How Anwar compares
2,761 Top 18% higher than 82% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Anwar's all-time total is 8x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Anwar | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 2,761 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 144 | 23 | 22,252 |
Anwar's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Anwar's SSA record in two at 1997 and the more recent half accounts for 46% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 54%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1970, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1978 peak of 144, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Anwar at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1978
Current rank
#2,886
Active since
1969
Anwar popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1969–2025
- Peak year (1978)
- 144
- Annual births at peak, across 57 years of records
Anwar popularity over time - girls
103 total births recorded since 1980 (Anwar as girls' name)
Anwar by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1980s was Anwar's strongest decade.
735 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 27% of all-time use.
Anwar births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1960s 6
1960s
6 births
- 1970s
1970s
487 births
- 1980s
1980s
735 births
- 1990s
1990s
377 births
- 2000s
2000s
515 births
- 2010s
2010s
422 births
- 2020s 219
2020s
219 births
What this shows Peak: 1980s at 735 births (27% of all-time use).
How Anwar compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Anwar's total volume
Anwar vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Anwar by state
Where Anwar concentrates geographically, total births since 1969
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | New York | | 281 | 10.2% |
| #2 | Pennsylvania | | 172 | 6.2% |
| #3 | California | | 162 | 5.9% |
| #4 | Minnesota | | 77 | 2.8% |
| #5 | Illinois | | 72 | 2.6% |
| #6 | New Jersey | | 71 | 2.6% |
| #7 | Texas | | 66 | 2.4% |
| #8 | Florida | | 53 | 1.9% |
New York share of Anwar's total US births 10.2%
Even split
281 of 2,761 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 16 reporting states.
Anwar appears in 16 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Anwar? ▼
Anwar has been given to 2,761 babies in the U.S. since 1969, according to SSA data. Among boys, it ranks #2886 as of the latest data. 144 babies were born in 1978, its single highest year.
When was Anwar most popular? ▼
Anwar was most popular in the 1980s decade with 735 total births. The single peak year was 1978.
Where is Anwar most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Anwar are New York (281 births), Pennsylvania (172 births), California (162 births).
How long has the name Anwar been used? ▼
Anwar has been recorded in Social Security data since 1969, spanning 57 years of data through 2025.
What names are similar to Anwar? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Anwyll, Anwit, Anwon, Anwan. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Anwar's data
- Anwar's decade-level peak was the 1980s (735 total births); usage has since declined to 219 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- New York records the most Anwars (281 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. New York names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Anwar
Nearby Names Like Anwar
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Anwar
Compare Anwar side by side: Anwar vs Anwyll Anwar vs Anwit Anwar vs Anwon
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Anwar
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1969–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Anwar: #2886 Boys' Name - 2,761 Births, Peak 1978." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/anwar. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Anwar draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.