Total births
2,911
Boys' name · since 1953
Iain
Since 1953, U.S. Social Security records show 2,911 babies named Iain, peaking in 2003. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #4230
- among boys today
- 2,911
- born since 1953
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 70%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Iain is the #4230 most popular boys' name in the U.S. today, with 2,911 recorded since 1953.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Iain has been recorded 2,911 times among boys since 1953, currently ranked #4230 nationally and more common than 70% of boys, with its heaviest use in the 2000s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1953 to 2025.
- #4230 among boys today
- 2,911 born since 1953
- 2000s peak decade
- 70% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Iain is currently the #4230 boys' name in America, more common than 70% of boys - 2,911 born since 1953, peaking in the 2000s.
- #4230
- among boys today
- 2,911
- born since 1953
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 70%
- more common than other boys
Iain vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#4230
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 70% of names given to boys today.
2000s
Peak decade
35% of everyone ever named Iain was born in this single decade.
2003
Single peak year
126 babies were named Iain in 2003 - its busiest year on record.
How Iain compares
2,911 Top 17% higher than 83% 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
Iain's all-time total is 8x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Iain | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 2,911 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 126 | 23 | 22,252 |
Iain's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Iain's SSA record in two at 1991 and the more recent half accounts for 78% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 22%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1956, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 2003 peak of 126, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Iain at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2003
Current rank
#4,230
Active since
1953
Iain popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1953–2025
- Peak year (2003)
- 126
- Annual births at peak, across 73 years of records
Iain by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2000s was Iain's strongest decade.
1,011 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 35% of all-time use.
Iain births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1950s 16
1950s
16 births
- 1960s 112
1960s
112 births
- 1970s 157
1970s
157 births
- 1980s 320
1980s
320 births
- 1990s
1990s
618 births
- 2000s
2000s
1,011 births
- 2010s
2010s
522 births
- 2020s 155
2020s
155 births
What this shows Peak: 2000s at 1,011 births (35% of all-time use).
How Iain 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 Iain's total volume
Iain vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Iain by state
Where Iain concentrates geographically, total births since 1953
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 323 | 11.1% |
| #2 | Texas | | 156 | 5.4% |
| #3 | New York | | 86 | 3.0% |
| #4 | Virginia | | 51 | 1.8% |
| #5 | Washington | | 39 | 1.3% |
| #6 | Michigan | | 33 | 1.1% |
| #7 | Colorado | | 24 | 0.8% |
| #8 | Massachusetts | | 24 | 0.8% |
California share of Iain's total US births 11.1%
Even split
323 of 2,911 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 21 reporting states.
Iain appears in 21 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Iain? ▼
2,911 babies have been named Iain since 1953. It currently ranks #4230 among boys. The peak year was 2003 with 126 births.
When was Iain most popular? ▼
Iain was most popular in the 2000s decade with 1,011 total births. The single peak year was 2003.
Where is Iain most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Iain are California (323 births), Texas (156 births), New York (86 births).
How long has the name Iain been used? ▼
Records for Iain go back to 1953, giving 73 years of history through 2025.
What to do with Iain's data
- Iain's decade-level peak was the 2000s (1,011 total births); usage has since declined to 155 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Iains (323 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California 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 Iain
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Iain
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, 1953–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Iain: #4230 Boys' Name - 2,911 Births, Peak 2003." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/iain. 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 Iain 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.