Total births
1,119
Boys' name · since 1882
French
French has 1,119 recorded births since 1882 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1915 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- 1,119
- total births
- 1882–1999
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 22%
- born in that decade
French is not among the current top-ranked boys names; 1,119 have been recorded since 1882.
Social Security Administration records show French recorded 1,119 times among boys since 1882, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used boys names, peaking in the 1920s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1882 to 1999.
- 1,119 total births
- 1882–1999 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 22% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
1,119 boys have been named French since 1882, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 1999.
- 1,119
- total births
- 1882–1999
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 22%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
22% of everyone ever named French was born in this single decade.
1915
Single peak year
31 babies were named French in 1915 - its busiest year on record.
French's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide French's SSA record in two at 1934 and the more recent half accounts for 43% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 57%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1885, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1915 peak of 31, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
French at a glance
Last recorded 1999Peak year
1915
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1882
French popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1882–1999
- Peak year (1915)
- 31
- Annual births at peak, across 118 years of records
French popularity over time - girls
10 total births recorded since 1918 (French as girls' name)
French by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was French's strongest decade.
247 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 22% of all-time use.
French births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 35
1880s
35 births
- 1890s 81
1890s
81 births
- 1900s 36
1900s
36 births
- 1910s
1910s
177 births
- 1920s
1920s
247 births
- 1930s
1930s
168 births
- 1940s
1940s
141 births
- 1950s 94
1950s
94 births
- 1960s 75
1960s
75 births
- 1970s 46
1970s
46 births
- 1980s 12
1980s
12 births
- 1990s 7
1990s
7 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 247 births (22% of all-time use).
How French 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 French's total volume
French vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
French by state
Where French concentrates geographically, total births since 1882
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | West Virginia | | 165 | 14.7% |
| #2 | Virginia | | 45 | 4.0% |
| #3 | Kentucky | | 26 | 2.3% |
| #4 | Alabama | | 5 | 0.4% |
West Virginia share of French's total US births 14.7%
Even split
165 of 1,119 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 4 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name French? ▼
Since 1882, Social Security records show 1,119 babies named French. The most recent recorded year was 1999. Its busiest year on record was 1915, with 31 births.
When was French most popular? ▼
French was most popular in the 1920s decade with 247 total births. The single peak year was 1915.
Where is French most popular? ▼
The top states for the name French are West Virginia (165 births), Virginia (45 births), Kentucky (26 births).
How long has the name French been used? ▼
French has been recorded in Social Security data since 1882, spanning 118 years of data through 1999.
What names are similar to French? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Fred, Frederick, Freddie, Fredrick, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with French's data
- French's decade-level peak was the 1920s (247 total births); usage has since declined to 7 in the 1990s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- West Virginia records the most Frenchs (165 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. West Virginia 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 French
Nearby Names Like French
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to French
Fred Boy
#1685 343,655 births
Frederick Boy
#422 266,060 births
Freddie Boy
#1957 73,315 births
Fredrick Boy
#1631 64,527 births
Freddy Boy
#1333 26,796 births
Compare French side by side: French vs Fred French vs Frederick French vs Freddie
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of July 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, 1882–1999 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "French: Baby Name Since 1882 - 1,119 Births, Peak 1915." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/french. 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 French 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 July 2026.