Boys' name · since 1880
Columbus
Columbus has 7,517 recorded births since 1880 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1922 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #1,416 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 7,517
- born since 1880
- 1920s
- peak decade
7,517 boys have been named Columbus since 1880, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Columbus has been recorded 7,517 times among boys since 1880, though it is not among the currently most-used boys names, with its heaviest use in the 1920s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1880 to 2023.
- #1,416 of 45,481 all-time among boys
- 7,517 born since 1880
- 1920s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Columbus ranks #1,416 of 45,481 boys' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 7,517 born since 1880, peaking in the 1920s.
- #1,416 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 7,517
- born since 1880
- 1920s
- peak decade
Columbus's 7,517 recorded births place it above 96.88% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.
17 jurisdictions carry state-level records, led by North Carolina.
Columbus's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Columbus's SSA record in two at 1948 and the more recent half accounts for 24% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 76%, consistent with a name more common in the past than in recent years. Its calmest year was 1996, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1922 peak of 187, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Columbus popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1880–2023
- Peak year (1922)
- 187
- Annual births at peak, across 144 years of records
Columbus by decade
1920s is the heaviest window (1,526 births, 20% of the file).
1920s was Columbus's strongest decade.
1,526 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 20% of all-time use.
Columbus births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 513
1880s
513 births
- 1890s 411
1890s
411 births
- 1900s 397
1900s
397 births
- 1910s
1910s
1,101 births
- 1920s
1920s
1,526 births
- 1930s
1930s
1,031 births
- 1940s
1940s
866 births
- 1950s
1950s
679 births
- 1960s 360
1960s
360 births
- 1970s 248
1970s
248 births
- 1980s 159
1980s
159 births
- 1990s 103
1990s
103 births
- 2000s 69
2000s
69 births
- 2010s 49
2010s
49 births
- 2020s 5
2020s
5 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 1,526 births (20% of all-time use).
How Columbus 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 Columbus's total volume
Columbus by state
Where Columbus concentrates geographically, total births since 1880
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | North Carolina | | 601 | 8.0% |
| #2 | Georgia | | 568 | 7.6% |
| #3 | Alabama | | 506 | 6.7% |
| #4 | Mississippi | | 477 | 6.3% |
| #5 | South Carolina | | 344 | 4.6% |
| #6 | Arkansas | | 330 | 4.4% |
| #7 | Louisiana | | 283 | 3.8% |
| #8 | Texas | | 267 | 3.6% |
601 of 7,517 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 17 reporting states.
Columbus appears in 17 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Columbus? ▼
Where does Columbus sit in the SSA name archive? ▼
When was Columbus most popular? ▼
Where is Columbus most popular? ▼
How long has the name Columbus been used? ▼
What names are similar to Columbus? ▼
What to do with Columbus's data
- Columbus's decade-level peak was the 1920s (1,526 total births); usage has since declined to 5 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- North Carolina records the most Columbuss (601 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. North Carolina names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Columbus
Nearby Names Like Columbus
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Columbus
Compare Columbus side by side: Columbus vs Cole Columbus vs Colton Columbus vs Colin
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Columbus: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1922)
Similar record span (~143 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, 1880–2023 (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 Columbus 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.