Total births
265
Unisex name · since 1961
English
Since 1961, U.S. Social Security records show 265 babies named English, peaking in 1983. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 265
- total births
- 1961–2014
- years on record
- 1980s
- peak decade
- 44%
- born in that decade
English sits outside today's top ranks for girls, with 265 recorded since 1961.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, English has been recorded 265 times among girls since 1961, though it is not among the currently most-used girls names, with its heaviest use in the 1980s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1961 to 2014.
- 265 total births
- 1961–2014 years on record
- 1980s peak decade
- 44% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
265 girls have been named English since 1961, peaking in the 1980s, last recorded in 2014.
- 265
- total births
- 1961–2014
- years on record
- 1980s
- peak decade
- 44%
- born in that decade
1980s
Peak decade
44% of everyone ever named English was born in this single decade.
1983
Single peak year
22 babies were named English in 1983 - its busiest year on record.
English's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting English's full recorded timeline at 1988, 48% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 52% in the earlier half -- a fairly even split across the full record. Its quietest year on record was 1961, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 1983 peak of 22 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
English at a glance
Last recorded 2014Peak year
1983
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1961
English popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1961–2014
- Peak year (1983)
- 22
- Annual births at peak, across 54 years of records
English popularity over time - boys
186 total births recorded since 1889 (English as boys' name)
English by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1980s was English's strongest decade.
116 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 44% of all-time use.
English births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1960s 10
1960s
10 births
- 1970s 40
1970s
40 births
- 1980s
1980s
116 births
- 1990s
1990s
89 births
- 2000s 5
2000s
5 births
- 2010s 5
2010s
5 births
What this shows Peak: 1980s at 116 births (44% of all-time use).
English by state
Where English concentrates geographically, total births since 1961
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Louisiana | | 6 | 2.3% |
Louisiana share of English's total US births 2.3%
6 of 265 births nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name English? ▼
265 babies have been named English since 1961. It was last recorded in 2014. The peak year was 1983 with 22 births.
When was English most popular? ▼
English was most popular in the 1980s decade with 116 total births. The single peak year was 1983.
Where is English most popular? ▼
The top states for the name English are Louisiana (6 births).
Is English a unisex name? ▼
Yes, English is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name it has 265 births, and as a boy's name it has 186 births.
How long has the name English been used? ▼
English has been recorded in Social Security data since 1961, spanning 54 years of data through 2014.
What names are similar to English? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include England, Engracia, Engie, Enga, and 2 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with English's data
- English's decade-level peak was the 1980s (116 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.
- Louisiana records the most Englishs (6 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 English
Nearby Names Like English
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to English
England Girl
#12579 260 births
Engracia Girl
53 births
Engie Girl
31 births
Enga Girl
29 births
Engrid Girl
21 births
Compare English side by side: English vs England English vs Engracia English vs Engie
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, 1961–2014 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "English: Baby Name Since 1961 - 265 Births, Peak 1983." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/english. 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 English 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.