Boys' name · since 1880
Dow
Dow has 1,091 recorded births since 1880 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1962 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #4,849 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 1,091
- born since 1880
- 1920s
- peak decade
Dow is not among the current top-ranked boys names; 1,091 have been recorded since 1880.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Dow has been recorded 1,091 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 2015.
- #4,849 of 45,481 all-time among boys
- 1,091 born since 1880
- 1920s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Dow ranks #4,849 of 45,481 boys' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 1,091 born since 1880, peaking in the 1920s.
- #4,849 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 1,091
- born since 1880
- 1920s
- peak decade
Dow's 1,091 recorded births place it above 89.33% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 1 jurisdictions, led by Ohio.
Dow's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Dow's SSA record in two at 1944 and the more recent half accounts for 46% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 54%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1880, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1962 peak of 26, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Dow popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1880–2015
- Peak year (1962)
- 26
- Annual births at peak, across 136 years of records
Dow by decade
1920s is the heaviest window (174 births, 16% of the file).
1920s was Dow's strongest decade.
174 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 16% of all-time use.
Dow births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 31
1880s
31 births
- 1890s 47
1890s
47 births
- 1900s 6
1900s
6 births
- 1910s
1910s
130 births
- 1920s
1920s
174 births
- 1930s
1930s
145 births
- 1940s
1940s
125 births
- 1950s
1950s
153 births
- 1960s
1960s
149 births
- 1970s 61
1970s
61 births
- 1980s 29
1980s
29 births
- 1990s 18
1990s
18 births
- 2000s 18
2000s
18 births
- 2010s 5
2010s
5 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 174 births (16% of all-time use).
How Dow 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 Dow's total volume
Dow by state
Where Dow concentrates geographically, total births since 1880
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Ohio | | 5 | 0.5% |
5 of 1,091 births nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Dow? ▼
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What to do with Dow's data
- Dow's decade-level peak was the 1920s (174 total births); usage has since declined to 5 in the 2010s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Ohio records the most Dows (5 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 Dow
Nearby Names Like Dow
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Dow
Compare Dow side by side: Dow vs Dowell Dow vs Doward Dow vs Downing
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Dow: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1962)
Similar record span (~135 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, 1880–2015 (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 Dow 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.