Total births
2,590
Unisex name · since 1881
Curley
Since 1881, U.S. Social Security records show 2,590 babies named Curley, peaking in 1944. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 2,590
- total births
- 1881–2003
- years on record
- 1940s
- peak decade
- 18%
- born in that decade
Curley is not among the current top-ranked boys names; 2,590 have been recorded since 1881.
Social Security Administration records show Curley recorded 2,590 times among boys since 1881, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used boys names, peaking in the 1940s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1881 to 2003.
- 2,590 total births
- 1881–2003 years on record
- 1940s peak decade
- 18% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
2,590 boys have been named Curley since 1881, peaking in the 1940s, last recorded in 2003.
- 2,590
- total births
- 1881–2003
- years on record
- 1940s
- peak decade
- 18%
- born in that decade
1940s
Peak decade
18% of everyone ever named Curley was born in this single decade.
1944
Single peak year
68 babies were named Curley in 1944 - its busiest year on record.
Curley's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Curley's SSA record in two at 1945 and the more recent half accounts for 45% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 55%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1898, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1944 peak of 68, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Curley at a glance
Last recorded 2003Peak year
1944
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1881
Curley popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1881–2003
- Peak year (1944)
- 68
- Annual births at peak, across 123 years of records
Curley popularity over time - girls
534 total births recorded since 1904 (Curley as girls' name)
Curley by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1940s was Curley's strongest decade.
457 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 18% of all-time use.
Curley births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 19
1880s
19 births
- 1890s 47
1890s
47 births
- 1900s 108
1900s
108 births
- 1910s
1910s
295 births
- 1920s
1920s
345 births
- 1930s
1930s
372 births
- 1940s
1940s
457 births
- 1950s
1950s
403 births
- 1960s
1960s
240 births
- 1970s 157
1970s
157 births
- 1980s 102
1980s
102 births
- 1990s 35
1990s
35 births
- 2000s 10
2000s
10 births
What this shows Peak: 1940s at 457 births (18% of all-time use).
How Curley 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 Curley's total volume
Curley vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Curley by state
Where Curley concentrates geographically, total births since 1881
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Louisiana | | 612 | 23.6% |
| #2 | Texas | | 133 | 5.1% |
| #3 | Mississippi | | 116 | 4.5% |
| #4 | North Carolina | | 74 | 2.9% |
| #5 | Alabama | | 52 | 2.0% |
| #6 | Arkansas | | 21 | 0.8% |
| #7 | Georgia | | 16 | 0.6% |
| #8 | California | | 6 | 0.2% |
Louisiana share of Curley's total US births 23.6%
Even split
612 of 2,590 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 11 reporting states.
Curley appears in 11 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Curley? ▼
Since 1881, Social Security records show 2,590 babies named Curley. The most recent recorded year was 2003. Its busiest year on record was 1944, with 68 births.
When was Curley most popular? ▼
Curley was most popular in the 1940s decade with 457 total births. The single peak year was 1944.
Where is Curley most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Curley are Louisiana (612 births), Texas (133 births), Mississippi (116 births).
Is Curley a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Curley is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 2,590 births, and as a girl's name it has 534 births.
How long has the name Curley been used? ▼
Curley has been recorded in Social Security data since 1881, spanning 123 years of data through 2003.
What names are similar to Curley? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Curtis, Curt, Curtiss, Curry, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Curley's data
- Curley's decade-level peak was the 1940s (457 total births); usage has since declined to 10 in the 2000s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Louisiana records the most Curleys (612 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Louisiana 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 Curley
Nearby Names Like Curley
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Curley
Curtis Boy
#930 260,554 births
Curt Boy
#8319 16,680 births
Curtiss Boy
#12397 5,074 births
Curry Boy
#9930 1,570 births
Curran Boy
#8386 1,158 births
Compare Curley side by side: Curley vs Curtis Curley vs Curt Curley vs Curtiss
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
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, 1881–2003 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Curley: Baby Name Since 1881 - 2,590 Births, Peak 1944." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/curley. 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 Curley 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.