Total births
3,077
Girls' name · since 1880
Hedwig
Since 1880, U.S. Social Security records show 3,077 babies named Hedwig, peaking in 1918. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 3,077
- total births
- 1880–1968
- years on record
- 1910s
- peak decade
- 35%
- born in that decade
Hedwig sits outside today's top ranks for girls, with 3,077 recorded since 1880.
Social Security Administration records show Hedwig recorded 3,077 times among girls since 1880, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used girls names, peaking in the 1910s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1880 to 1968.
- 3,077 total births
- 1880–1968 years on record
- 1910s peak decade
- 35% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
3,077 girls have been named Hedwig since 1880, peaking in the 1910s, last recorded in 1968.
- 3,077
- total births
- 1880–1968
- years on record
- 1910s
- peak decade
- 35%
- born in that decade
1910s
Peak decade
35% of everyone ever named Hedwig was born in this single decade.
1918
Single peak year
159 babies were named Hedwig in 1918 - its busiest year on record.
Hedwig's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Hedwig splits its recorded history at 1921: 35% of all births land in the more recent half, 65% in the earlier half, leaning more toward its earlier era than today's. The single quietest year was 1881 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1918 peak of 159 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Hedwig at a glance
Last recorded 1968Peak year
1918
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1880
Hedwig popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1880–1968
- Peak year (1918)
- 159
- Annual births at peak, across 89 years of records
Hedwig by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1910s was Hedwig's strongest decade.
1,090 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 35% of all-time use.
Hedwig births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 151
1880s
151 births
- 1890s 336
1890s
336 births
- 1900s 295
1900s
295 births
- 1910s
1910s
1,090 births
- 1920s
1920s
808 births
- 1930s 173
1930s
173 births
- 1940s 117
1940s
117 births
- 1950s 79
1950s
79 births
- 1960s 28
1960s
28 births
What this shows Peak: 1910s at 1,090 births (35% of all-time use).
How Hedwig compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Hedwig's total volume
Hedwig vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Hedwig by state
Where Hedwig concentrates geographically, total births since 1880
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Pennsylvania | | 370 | 12.0% |
| #2 | New York | | 321 | 10.4% |
| #3 | New Jersey | | 223 | 7.2% |
| #4 | Michigan | | 143 | 4.6% |
| #5 | Connecticut | | 132 | 4.3% |
| #6 | Massachusetts | | 98 | 3.2% |
| #7 | Illinois | | 59 | 1.9% |
| #8 | Wisconsin | | 42 | 1.4% |
Pennsylvania share of Hedwig's total US births 12.0%
Even split
370 of 3,077 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 14 reporting states.
Hedwig appears in 14 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Hedwig? ▼
Hedwig has been given to 3,077 babies in the U.S. since 1880, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 1968. 159 babies were born in 1918, its single highest year.
When was Hedwig most popular? ▼
Hedwig was most popular in the 1910s decade with 1,090 total births. The single peak year was 1918.
Where is Hedwig most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Hedwig are Pennsylvania (370 births), New York (321 births), New Jersey (223 births).
How long has the name Hedwig been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Hedwig since 1880 -- 89 years through the most recent 1968 data.
What names are similar to Hedwig? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Hedy, Hedda, Heddy, Hedi, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Hedwig's data
- Hedwig's decade-level peak was the 1910s (1,090 total births); usage has since declined to 28 in the 1960s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Pennsylvania records the most Hedwigs (370 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Pennsylvania 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 Hedwig
Nearby Names Like Hedwig
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Hedwig
Hedy Girl
#11193 2,316 births
Hedda Girl
222 births
Heddy Girl
135 births
Hedi Girl
108 births
Hedaya Girl
#12733 91 births
Compare Hedwig side by side: Hedwig vs Hedy Hedwig vs Hedda Hedwig vs Heddy
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, 1880–1968 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Hedwig: Baby Name Since 1880 - 3,077 Births, Peak 1918." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/hedwig. 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 Hedwig 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.