Total births
88
Boys' name · since 1959
Ark
Ark has 88 recorded births since 1959 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1970 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #9142
- among boys today
- 88
- born since 1959
- 1970s
- peak decade
- 36%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Ark is the #9142 most popular boys' name in the U.S. today, with 88 recorded since 1959.
Social Security Administration records show Ark recorded 88 times among boys since 1959, holding rank #9142 nationally today, ahead of 36% of boys, peaking in the 1970s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1959 to 2024.
- #9142 among boys today
- 88 born since 1959
- 1970s peak decade
- 36% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Ark is currently the #9142 boys' name in America, more common than 36% of boys - 88 born since 1959, peaking in the 1970s.
- #9142
- among boys today
- 88
- born since 1959
- 1970s
- peak decade
- 36%
- more common than other boys
Ark vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#9142
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 36% of names given to boys today.
1970s
Peak decade
40% of everyone ever named Ark was born in this single decade.
1970
Single peak year
9 babies were named Ark in 1970 - its busiest year on record.
How Ark compares
88 24th percentile among 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
Ark's all-time total is 76% below the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Ark | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 88 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 9 | 23 | 22,252 |
Ark's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Ark's SSA record in two at 1976 and the more recent half accounts for 50% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 50%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1974, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1970 peak of 9, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Ark at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1970
Current rank
#9,142
Active since
1959
Ark popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1959–2024
- Peak year (1970)
- 9
- Annual births at peak, across 66 years of records
Ark by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1970s was Ark's strongest decade.
35 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 40% of all-time use.
Ark births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1950s 8
1950s
8 births
- 1960s 6
1960s
6 births
- 1970s
1970s
35 births
- 1980s 12
1980s
12 births
- 2020s
2020s
27 births
What this shows Peak: 1970s at 35 births (40% of all-time use).
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Ark? ▼
Since 1959, Social Security records show 88 babies named Ark. Today it holds rank #9142 among boys. Its busiest year on record was 1970, with 9 births.
When was Ark most popular? ▼
Ark was most popular in the 1970s decade with 35 total births. The single peak year was 1970.
How long has the name Ark been used? ▼
Records for Ark go back to 1959, giving 66 years of history through 2024.
What names are similar to Ark? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Arkan, Arkin, Arkeem, Arkyn, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Ark's data
- Ark's usage has stayed within range of its 1970s decade-level peak (35 total births) through the 2020s (27) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- 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 Ark
Nearby Names Like Ark
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Ark
Arkan Boy
#3689 219 births
Arkin Boy
#8714 215 births
Arkeem Boy
213 births
Arkyn Boy
#5431 149 births
Arkham Boy
#11902 89 births
Compare Ark side by side: Ark vs Arkan Ark vs Arkin Ark vs Arkeem
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Ark
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, 1959–2024 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Ark: #9142 Boys' Name - 88 Births, Peak 1970." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/ark. 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 Ark 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.