Total births
1,717
Boys' name · since 1882
Gaines
Since 1882, U.S. Social Security records show 1,717 babies named Gaines, peaking in 1915. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #6485
- among boys today
- 1,717
- born since 1882
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 55%
- more common than other boys
Gaines currently ranks #6485 among boys' names in America, with 1,717 babies recorded since 1882.
Social Security Administration records show Gaines recorded 1,717 times among boys since 1882, holding rank #6485 nationally today, ahead of 55% of boys, 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 2025.
- #6485 among boys today
- 1,717 born since 1882
- 1920s peak decade
- 55% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Gaines is currently the #6485 boys' name in America, more common than 55% of boys - 1,717 born since 1882, peaking in the 1920s.
- #6485
- among boys today
- 1,717
- born since 1882
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 55%
- more common than other boys
Gaines vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#6485
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 55% of names given to boys today.
1920s
Peak decade
14% of everyone ever named Gaines was born in this single decade.
1915
Single peak year
32 babies were named Gaines in 1915 - its busiest year on record.
How Gaines compares
1,717 Top 23% higher than 77% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Gaines's all-time total is 5x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Gaines | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,717 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 32 | 23 | 22,252 |
Gaines's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Gaines splits its recorded history at 1958: 40% of all births land in the more recent half, 60% in the earlier half, leaning more toward its earlier era than today's. The single quietest year was 1882 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1915 peak of 32 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Gaines at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1915
Current rank
#6,485
Active since
1882
Gaines popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1882–2025
- Peak year (1915)
- 32
- Annual births at peak, across 144 years of records
Gaines by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Gaines's strongest decade.
239 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 14% of all-time use.
Gaines births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 10
1880s
10 births
- 1890s 26
1890s
26 births
- 1900s 19
1900s
19 births
- 1910s
1910s
183 births
- 1920s
1920s
239 births
- 1930s
1930s
217 births
- 1940s
1940s
202 births
- 1950s
1950s
171 births
- 1960s 94
1960s
94 births
- 1970s 49
1970s
49 births
- 1980s 50
1980s
50 births
- 1990s 58
1990s
58 births
- 2000s 94
2000s
94 births
- 2010s
2010s
187 births
- 2020s
2020s
118 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 239 births (14% of all-time use).
How Gaines 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 Gaines's total volume
Gaines vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Gaines by state
Where Gaines concentrates geographically, total births since 1882
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Alabama | | 169 | 9.8% |
| #2 | Georgia | | 30 | 1.7% |
| #3 | Tennessee | | 23 | 1.3% |
| #4 | Texas | | 16 | 0.9% |
| #5 | Mississippi | | 11 | 0.6% |
| #6 | Kentucky | | 5 | 0.3% |
| #7 | South Carolina | | 5 | 0.3% |
Alabama share of Gaines's total US births 9.8%
Even split
169 of 1,717 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 7 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Gaines? ▼
1,717 babies have been named Gaines since 1882. It currently ranks #6485 among boys. The peak year was 1915 with 32 births.
When was Gaines most popular? ▼
Gaines was most popular in the 1920s decade with 239 total births. The single peak year was 1915.
Where is Gaines most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Gaines are Alabama (169 births), Georgia (30 births), Tennessee (23 births).
How long has the name Gaines been used? ▼
Records for Gaines go back to 1882, giving 144 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Gaines? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Gail, Gaige, Gaither, Gaius, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Gaines's data
- Gaines's usage has stayed within range of its 1920s decade-level peak (239 total births) through the 2020s (118) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- Alabama records the most Gainess (169 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Alabama 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 Gaines
Nearby Names Like Gaines
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Gaines
Gail Boy
8,952 births
Gaige Boy
#6629 4,417 births
Gaither Boy
642 births
Gaius Boy
#3624 529 births
Gailen Boy
250 births
Compare Gaines side by side: Gaines vs Gail Gaines vs Gaige Gaines vs Gaither
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Gaines
Elwin #6484
5,176 births · Peak 1923
Rosco #6486
1,440 births · Peak 1922
Wiliam #6483
1,256 births · Peak 1982
Gale #6487
12,437 births · Peak 1947
Talmage #6482
2,281 births · Peak 1922
Whitney #6488
5,994 births · Peak 1986
Antone #6481
5,967 births · Peak 1921
Oneal #6489
3,049 births · Peak 1932
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, 1882–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Gaines: #6485 Boys' Name - 1,717 Births, Peak 1915." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/gaines. 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 Gaines 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.