Total births
2,987
Unisex name · since 1891
Lake
Since 1891, U.S. Social Security records show 2,987 babies named Lake, peaking in 2024. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #1622
- among boys today
- 2,987
- born since 1891
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 89%
- more common than other boys
2,987 babies have been named Lake since 1891, making it today's #1622 unisex name.
Lake has 2,987 recorded births among boys since 1891, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, ranked #1622 as of the latest data, more common than 89% of boys, busiest in the 2000s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1891 to 2025.
- #1622 among boys today
- 2,987 born since 1891
- 2000s peak decade
- 89% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Lake is currently the #1622 unisex name in America, more common than 89% of boys - 2,987 born since 1891, peaking in the 2000s.
- #1622
- among boys today
- 2,987
- born since 1891
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 89%
- more common than other boys
Lake vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#1622
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 89% of names given to boys today.
2000s
Peak decade
21% of everyone ever named Lake was born in this single decade.
2024
Single peak year
105 babies were named Lake in 2024 - its busiest year on record.
How Lake compares
2,987 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
Lake's all-time total is 8x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Lake | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 2,987 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 105 | 23 | 22,252 |
Lake's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Lake's SSA record in two at 1968 and the more recent half accounts for 82% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 18%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1891, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 2024 peak of 105, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Lake at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2024
Current rank
#1,622
Active since
1891
Lake popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1891–2025
- Peak year (2024)
- 105
- Annual births at peak, across 135 years of records
Lake popularity over time - girls
937 total births recorded since 1893 (Lake as girls' name)
Lake by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2000s was Lake's strongest decade.
629 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 21% of all-time use.
Lake births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1890s 16
1890s
16 births
- 1910s 111
1910s
111 births
- 1920s 149
1920s
149 births
- 1930s 91
1930s
91 births
- 1940s 72
1940s
72 births
- 1950s 60
1950s
60 births
- 1960s 38
1960s
38 births
- 1970s 64
1970s
64 births
- 1980s 96
1980s
96 births
- 1990s
1990s
509 births
- 2000s
2000s
629 births
- 2010s
2010s
620 births
- 2020s
2020s
532 births
What this shows Peak: 2000s at 629 births (21% of all-time use).
How Lake 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 Lake's total volume
Lake vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Lake by state
Where Lake concentrates geographically, total births since 1891
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Texas | | 131 | 4.4% |
| #2 | California | | 113 | 3.8% |
| #3 | Missouri | | 60 | 2.0% |
| #4 | Ohio | | 53 | 1.8% |
| #5 | Tennessee | | 52 | 1.7% |
| #6 | Florida | | 33 | 1.1% |
| #7 | Georgia | | 22 | 0.7% |
| #8 | Minnesota | | 21 | 0.7% |
Texas share of Lake's total US births 4.4%
Even split
131 of 2,987 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 20 reporting states.
Lake appears in 20 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Lake? ▼
2,987 babies have been named Lake since 1891. It currently ranks #1622 among boys. The peak year was 2024 with 105 births.
When was Lake most popular? ▼
Lake was most popular in the 2000s decade with 629 total births. The single peak year was 2024.
Where is Lake most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Lake are Texas (131 births), California (113 births), Missouri (60 births).
Is Lake a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Lake is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 2,987 births, and as a girl's name it has 937 births.
How long has the name Lake been used? ▼
Records for Lake go back to 1891, giving 135 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Lake? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Laken, Lakota, Lakendrick, Lakeith, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Lake's data
- Lake's usage has stayed within range of its 2000s decade-level peak (629 total births) through the 2020s (532) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- Texas records the most Lakes (131 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 Lake
Nearby Names Like Lake
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Lake
Laken Boy
#1491 2,259 births
Lakota Boy
#3647 1,556 births
Lakendrick Boy
#10133 861 births
Lakeith Boy
667 births
Lakai Boy
#3327 557 births
Compare Lake side by side: Lake vs Laken Lake vs Lakota Lake vs Lakendrick
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Lake
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, 1891–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Lake: #1622 Unisex Name - 2,987 Births, Peak 2024." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/lake. 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 Lake 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.