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.
- #4,781 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 1,119
- born since 1882
- 1920s
- peak 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.
- #4,781 of 45,481 all-time among boys
- 1,119 born since 1882
- 1920s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, French ranks #4,781 of 45,481 boys' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 1,119 born since 1882, peaking in the 1920s.
- #4,781 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 1,119
- born since 1882
- 1920s
- peak decade
French's 1,119 recorded births place it above 89.48% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 4 jurisdictions, led by West Virginia.
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 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
1920s is the heaviest window (247 births, 22% of the file).
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 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% |
165 of 1,119 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 4 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name French? ▼
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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
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
Compare French side by side: French vs Fred French vs Frederick French vs Freddie
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for French: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1915)
Similar record span (~117 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, 1882–1999 (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 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 August 2026.