Total births
32,507
Boys' name · since 1902
Holden
Holden has 32,507 recorded births since 1902 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 2018 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #281
- among boys today
- 32,507
- born since 1902
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 98%
- more common than other boys
Holden currently ranks #281 among boys' names in America, with 32,507 babies recorded since 1902.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Holden has been recorded 32,507 times among boys since 1902, currently ranked #281 nationally and more common than 98% of boys, with its heaviest use in the 2010s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1902 to 2025.
- #281 among boys today
- 32,507 born since 1902
- 2010s peak decade
- 98% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Holden is currently the #281 boys' name in America, more common than 98% of boys - 32,507 born since 1902, peaking in the 2010s.
- #281
- among boys today
- 32,507
- born since 1902
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 98%
- more common than other boys
Holden vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#281
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 98% of names given to boys today.
2010s
Peak decade
40% of everyone ever named Holden was born in this single decade.
2018
Single peak year
1,732 babies were named Holden in 2018 - its busiest year on record.
How Holden compares
32,507 Top 5% higher than 95% 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
Holden's all-time total is 89x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Holden | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 32,507 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 1,732 | 23 | 22,252 |
Holden's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Holden's SSA record in two at 1979 and the more recent half accounts for 99% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 1%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1902, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 2018 peak of 1,732, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Holden at a glance
Top 1,000 boys' namePeak year
2018
Current rank
#281
Active since
1902
Holden popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1902–2025
- Peak year (2018)
- 1,732
- Annual births at peak, across 124 years of records
Holden popularity over time - girls
288 total births recorded since 1994 (Holden as girls' name)
Holden by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2010s was Holden's strongest decade.
13,067 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 40% of all-time use.
Holden births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1900s 5
1900s
5 births
- 1910s 28
1910s
28 births
- 1920s 68
1920s
68 births
- 1930s 34
1930s
34 births
- 1940s 32
1940s
32 births
- 1950s 47
1950s
47 births
- 1960s 70
1960s
70 births
- 1970s 44
1970s
44 births
- 1980s 526
1980s
526 births
- 1990s 3,382
1990s
3,382 births
- 2000s
2000s
7,305 births
- 2010s
2010s
13,067 births
- 2020s
2020s
7,899 births
What this shows Peak: 2010s at 13,067 births (40% of all-time use).
How Holden 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 Holden's total volume
Holden vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Holden by state
Where Holden concentrates geographically, total births since 1902
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Texas | | 2,694 | 8.3% |
| #2 | California | | 2,196 | 6.8% |
| #3 | North Carolina | | 1,877 | 5.8% |
| #4 | Ohio | | 1,693 | 5.2% |
| #5 | Florida | | 1,244 | 3.8% |
| #6 | Pennsylvania | | 1,158 | 3.6% |
| #7 | Virginia | | 1,047 | 3.2% |
| #8 | Illinois | | 1,017 | 3.1% |
Texas share of Holden's total US births 8.3%
Even split
2,694 of 32,507 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 51 reporting states.
Holden appears in 51 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Holden? ▼
Since 1902, Social Security records show 32,507 babies named Holden. Today it holds rank #281 among boys. Its busiest year on record was 2018, with 1,732 births.
When was Holden most popular? ▼
Holden was most popular in the 2010s decade with 13,067 total births. The single peak year was 2018.
Where is Holden most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Holden are Texas (2,694 births), California (2,196 births), North Carolina (1,877 births).
How long has the name Holden been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Holden since 1902 -- 124 years through the most recent 2025 data.
What names are similar to Holden? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Hollis, Holland, Holt, Holly, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Holden's data
- Holden's usage has stayed within range of its 2010s decade-level peak (13,067 total births) through the 2020s (7,899) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- Texas records the most Holdens (2,694 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.
Keep exploring Holden
Nearby Names Like Holden
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Holden
Hollis Boy
#1055 16,014 births
Holland Boy
#1565 3,172 births
Holt Boy
#1907 1,924 births
Holly Boy
1,541 births
Hollie Boy
1,453 births
Compare Holden side by side: Holden vs Hollis Holden vs Holland Holden vs Holt
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Holden
Tobias #280
29,322 births · Peak 2016
Saint #282
7,288 births · Peak 2025
Kaleb #279
86,649 births · Peak 2007
Romeo #283
26,864 births · Peak 2024
Israel #278
71,237 births · Peak 2007
Kenneth #284
1,283,974 births · Peak 1957
Colt #277
27,869 births · Peak 2019
Jorge #285
139,476 births · Peak 2006
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, 1902–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Holden: #281 Boys' Name - 32,507 Births, Peak 2018." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/holden. 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 Holden 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.