Girls' name · since 1940
Bev
Since 1940, U.S. Social Security records show 998 babies named Bev, peaking in 1959. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #7,520 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 998
- born since 1940
- 1960s
- peak decade
Bev sits outside today's top ranks for girls, with 998 recorded since 1940.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Bev has been recorded 998 times among girls since 1940, though it is not among the currently most-used girls names, with its heaviest use in the 1960s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1940 to 1971.
- #7,520 of 72,339 all-time among girls
- 998 born since 1940
- 1960s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Bev ranks #7,520 of 72,339 girls' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 998 born since 1940, peaking in the 1960s.
- #7,520 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 998
- born since 1940
- 1960s
- peak decade
Bev's 998 recorded births place it above 89.59% of the 72,339 girls names in the full SSA archive.
12 jurisdictions carry state-level records, led by Ohio.
Bev's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Bev's SSA record in two at 1957 and the more recent half accounts for 81% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 19%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1940, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1959 peak of 127, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Bev popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1940–1971
- Peak year (1959)
- 127
- Annual births at peak, across 32 years of records
Bev popularity over time - boys
5 total births recorded since 1917 (Bev as boys' name)
Bev by decade
1960s is the heaviest window (480 births, 48% of the file).
1960s was Bev's strongest decade.
480 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 48% of all-time use.
Bev births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1940s 123
1940s
123 births
- 1950s
1950s
379 births
- 1960s
1960s
480 births
- 1970s 16
1970s
16 births
What this shows Peak: 1960s at 480 births (48% of all-time use).
How Bev compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Bev's total volume
Bev by state
Where Bev concentrates geographically, total births since 1940
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Ohio | | 109 | 10.9% |
| #2 | California | | 64 | 6.4% |
| #3 | Michigan | | 63 | 6.3% |
| #4 | Pennsylvania | | 43 | 4.3% |
| #5 | Illinois | | 34 | 3.4% |
| #6 | Washington | | 27 | 2.7% |
| #7 | Minnesota | | 24 | 2.4% |
| #8 | Indiana | | 21 | 2.1% |
109 of 998 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 12 reporting states.
Bev appears in 12 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
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What to do with Bev's data
- Bev's decade-level peak was the 1960s (480 total births); usage has since declined to 16 in the 1970s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Ohio records the most Bevs (109 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Ohio names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Bev
Nearby Names Like Bev
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Bev
Compare Bev side by side: Bev vs Beverly Bev vs Beverley Bev vs Beverlee
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Bev: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1959)
Similar record span (~31 yrs)
Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.
Data Sources
Data as of August 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, 1940–1971 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
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 Bev 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 August 2026.