Unisex name · since 1911
Hiawatha
Hiawatha has 925 recorded births since 1911 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1934 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #5,400 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 925
- born since 1911
- 1920s
- peak decade
Hiawatha sits outside today's top ranks for boys, with 925 recorded since 1911.
Social Security Administration records show Hiawatha recorded 925 times among boys since 1911, 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 1911 to 2004.
- #5,400 of 45,481 all-time among boys
- 925 born since 1911
- 1920s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Hiawatha ranks #5,400 of 45,481 boys' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 925 born since 1911, peaking in the 1920s.
- #5,400 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 925
- born since 1911
- 1920s
- peak decade
Hiawatha's 925 recorded births place it above 88.11% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 4 jurisdictions, led by Texas.
Hiawatha's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Hiawatha splits its recorded history at 1948: 42% of all births land in the more recent half, 58% in the earlier half, an evenly balanced pattern over time. The single quietest year was 1979 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1934 peak of 26 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Hiawatha popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1911–2004
- Peak year (1934)
- 26
- Annual births at peak, across 94 years of records
Hiawatha popularity over time - girls
303 total births recorded since 1912 (Hiawatha as girls' name)
Hiawatha by decade
1920s is the heaviest window (161 births, 17% of the file).
1920s was Hiawatha's strongest decade.
161 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 17% of all-time use.
Hiawatha births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s
1910s
107 births
- 1920s
1920s
161 births
- 1930s
1930s
158 births
- 1940s
1940s
142 births
- 1950s
1950s
146 births
- 1960s
1960s
91 births
- 1970s
1970s
69 births
- 1980s 46
1980s
46 births
- 2000s 5
2000s
5 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 161 births (17% of all-time use).
How Hiawatha 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 Hiawatha's total volume
Hiawatha by state
Where Hiawatha concentrates geographically, total births since 1911
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Texas | | 17 | 1.8% |
| #2 | Alabama | | 11 | 1.2% |
| #3 | North Carolina | | 5 | 0.5% |
| #4 | Virginia | | 5 | 0.5% |
17 of 925 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 4 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What to do with Hiawatha's data
- Hiawatha's decade-level peak was the 1920s (161 total births); usage has since declined to 5 in the 2000s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Texas records the most Hiawathas (17 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Texas names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Hiawatha
Nearby Names Like Hiawatha
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Hiawatha
Compare Hiawatha side by side: Hiawatha vs Hiatt Hiawatha vs Hian Hiawatha vs Hiam
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Hiawatha: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1934)
Similar record span (~93 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, 1911–2004 (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 Hiawatha 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.