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.

925
total births
1911–2004
years on record
1920s
peak decade
17%
born in that 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.

  • 925 total births
  • 1911–2004 years on record
  • 1920s peak decade
  • 17% born in that decade

Data updated Jun 2026

The verdict

925 boys have been named Hiawatha since 1911, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 2004.

925
total births
1911–2004
years on record
1920s
peak decade
17%
born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade

17% of everyone ever named Hiawatha was born in this single decade.

1934
Single peak year

26 babies were named Hiawatha in 1934 - its busiest year on record.

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 at a glance

Last recorded 2004

Total births

925

Since 1911

94 years of records

Peak year

1934

26 births that year

Strongest decade: 1920s

Current rank

Unranked

Outside the modern top-1,000

As of 2004

Active since

1911

Recorded for 94 years

Last year on file: 2004

Hiawatha popularity over time - boys

Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1911–2004

Last recorded 2004
Peak year (1934)
26
Annual births at peak, across 94 years of records
051015202530 191119211931194119511961197119842004 5

Hiawatha popularity over time - girls

303 total births recorded since 1912 (Hiawatha as girls' name)

Unisex variant - 303 births
4681012 191219191926193419451953196119761977 8

Hiawatha by decade

Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance

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

births

What this shows Peak: 1920s at 161 births (17% of all-time use).

Source U.S. Social Security Administration · Baby Names As of June 2026

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 vs 15 similarly-sized boys names

Hiawatha vs 15 similarly-sized boys names Scatter plot of 16 data points. 0%5%10%15%20% 050100150200 New & already peakedOld name, single-era peakNew & still diversifyingLong history, steady all along Years in SSA records % of total births in the single peak year Hiawatha
Hiawatha vs 15 similarly-sized boys names

Hiawatha by state

Where Hiawatha concentrates geographically, total births since 1911

Geographically diffuse
Top 4 states by recorded births for the name Hiawatha
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%
Texas share of Hiawatha's total US births 1.8%
Even split

17 of 925 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 4 reporting states.

Frequently Asked Questions

How popular is the name Hiawatha?
Hiawatha has been given to 925 babies in the U.S. since 1911, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 2004. 26 babies were born in 1934, its single highest year.
When was Hiawatha most popular?
Hiawatha was most popular in the 1920s decade with 161 total births. The single peak year was 1934.
Where is Hiawatha most popular?
The top states for the name Hiawatha are Texas (17 births), Alabama (11 births), North Carolina (5 births).
Is Hiawatha a unisex name?
Yes, Hiawatha is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 925 births, and as a girl's name it has 303 births.
How long has the name Hiawatha been used?
Records for Hiawatha go back to 1911, giving 94 years of history through 2004.
What names are similar to Hiawatha?
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Hiatt, Hian, Hiam. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.

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
  • 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.

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, 1911–2004 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).

State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).

Cite this page

NameAlmanac Editorial. "Hiawatha: Baby Name Since 1911 - 925 Births, Peak 1934." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/hiawatha. 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 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 June 2026.