Total births
4,608
Girls' name · since 1885
China
China has 4,608 recorded births since 1885 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1992 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #12187
- among girls today
- 4,608
- born since 1885
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 31%
- more common than other girls
4,608 babies have been named China since 1885, making it today's #12187 girls' name.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, China has been recorded 4,608 times among girls since 1885, currently ranked #12187 nationally and more common than 31% of girls, with its heaviest use in the 1990s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1885 to 2025.
- #12187 among girls today
- 4,608 born since 1885
- 1990s peak decade
- 31% more common than other girls
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
China is currently the #12187 girls' name in America, more common than 31% of girls - 4,608 born since 1885, peaking in the 1990s.
- #12187
- among girls today
- 4,608
- born since 1885
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 31%
- more common than other girls
China vs. every other girls name in current SSA rankings
#12187
of 17,726 girls in use
More common than 31% of names given to girls today.
1990s
Peak decade
43% of everyone ever named China was born in this single decade.
1992
Single peak year
245 babies were named China in 1992 - its busiest year on record.
How China compares
4,608 Top 14% higher than 86% of 17,726 names currently given to girls
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked girls 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
China's all-time total is 12x the median girls name, and Olivia still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | China | Median girls name (Emerly) | #1 girls name (Olivia) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 4,608 | 382 | 567,345 |
| Peak-year births | 245 | 48 | 19,840 |
China's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide China's SSA record in two at 1967 and the more recent half accounts for 89% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 11%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1885, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1992 peak of 245, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
China at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1992
Current rank
#12,187
Active since
1885
China popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1885–2025
- Peak year (1992)
- 245
- Annual births at peak, across 141 years of records
China popularity over time - boys
10 total births recorded since 1994 (China as boys' name)
China by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1990s was China's strongest decade.
1,967 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 43% of all-time use.
China births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 10
1880s
10 births
- 1900s 37
1900s
37 births
- 1910s 71
1910s
71 births
- 1920s 91
1920s
91 births
- 1930s 58
1930s
58 births
- 1940s 65
1940s
65 births
- 1950s 84
1950s
84 births
- 1960s 126
1960s
126 births
- 1970s 322
1970s
322 births
- 1980s 736
1980s
736 births
- 1990s
1990s
1,967 births
- 2000s 637
2000s
637 births
- 2010s 343
2010s
343 births
- 2020s 61
2020s
61 births
What this shows Peak: 1990s at 1,967 births (43% of all-time use).
How China 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 China's total volume
China vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
China by state
Where China concentrates geographically, total births since 1885
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 336 | 7.3% |
| #2 | Michigan | | 242 | 5.3% |
| #3 | Illinois | | 231 | 5.0% |
| #4 | Georgia | | 209 | 4.5% |
| #5 | New York | | 193 | 4.2% |
| #6 | Ohio | | 141 | 3.1% |
| #7 | Texas | | 141 | 3.1% |
| #8 | Florida | | 134 | 2.9% |
California share of China's total US births 7.3%
Even split
336 of 4,608 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 24 reporting states.
China appears in 24 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name China? ▼
Since 1885, Social Security records show 4,608 babies named China. Today it holds rank #12187 among girls. Its busiest year on record was 1992, with 245 births.
When was China most popular? ▼
China was most popular in the 1990s decade with 1,967 total births. The single peak year was 1992.
Where is China most popular? ▼
The top states for the name China are California (336 births), Michigan (242 births), Illinois (231 births).
How long has the name China been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked China since 1885 -- 141 years through the most recent 2025 data.
What names are similar to China? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Chiquita, Chiara, Chioma, Chimere, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with China's data
- China's decade-level peak was the 1990s (1,967 total births); usage has since declined to 61 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Chinas (336 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California 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 China
Nearby Names Like China
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to China
Chiquita Girl
6,219 births
Chiara Girl
#1115 5,927 births
Chioma Girl
#6721 998 births
Chimere Girl
824 births
Chi Girl
#6455 763 births
Compare China side by side: China vs Chiquita China vs Chiara China vs Chioma
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to China
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, 1885–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "China: #12187 Girls' Name - 4,608 Births, Peak 1992." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/china. 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 China 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.