Boys' name · since 1880
Holmes
Since 1880, U.S. Social Security records show 610 babies named Holmes, peaking in 1915. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #7,001 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 610
- born since 1880
- 1920s
- peak decade
Holmes is not among the current top-ranked boys names; 610 have been recorded since 1880.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Holmes has been recorded 610 times among boys since 1880, though it is not among the currently most-used boys names, with its heaviest use in the 1920s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1880 to 2024.
- #7,001 of 45,481 all-time among boys
- 610 born since 1880
- 1920s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Holmes ranks #7,001 of 45,481 boys' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 610 born since 1880, peaking in the 1920s.
- #7,001 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 610
- born since 1880
- 1920s
- peak decade
Holmes's 610 recorded births place it above 84.6% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 1 jurisdictions, led by Virginia.
Holmes's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Holmes splits its recorded history at 1935: 37% of all births land in the more recent half, 63% in the earlier half, leaning more toward its earlier era than today's. The single quietest year was 1884 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1915 peak of 24 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Holmes popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1880–2024
- Peak year (1915)
- 24
- Annual births at peak, across 145 years of records
Holmes by decade
1920s is the heaviest window (167 births, 27% of the file).
1920s was Holmes's strongest decade.
167 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 27% of all-time use.
Holmes births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 11
1880s
11 births
- 1900s 18
1900s
18 births
- 1910s
1910s
135 births
- 1920s
1920s
167 births
- 1930s
1930s
103 births
- 1940s
1940s
76 births
- 1950s 49
1950s
49 births
- 1960s 6
1960s
6 births
- 1970s 10
1970s
10 births
- 1980s 5
1980s
5 births
- 2010s 14
2010s
14 births
- 2020s 16
2020s
16 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 167 births (27% of all-time use).
How Holmes 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 Holmes's total volume
Holmes by state
Where Holmes concentrates geographically, total births since 1880
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Virginia | | 16 | 2.6% |
16 of 610 births nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Holmes? ▼
Where does Holmes sit in the SSA name archive? ▼
When was Holmes most popular? ▼
Where is Holmes most popular? ▼
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What to do with Holmes's data
- Holmes's decade-level peak was the 1920s (167 total births); usage has since declined to 16 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Virginia records the most Holmess (16 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Virginia names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Holmes
Nearby Names Like Holmes
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Holmes
Compare Holmes side by side: Holmes vs Holden Holmes vs Hollis Holmes vs Holland
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Holmes: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1915)
Similar record span (~144 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, 1880–2024 (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 Holmes 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.