Total births
1,862
Unisex name · since 1945
Lark
Since 1945, U.S. Social Security records show 1,862 babies named Lark, peaking in 1950. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #3534
- among girls today
- 1,862
- born since 1945
- 1950s
- peak decade
- 80%
- more common than other girls
Yes -- Lark is the #3534 most popular unisex name in the U.S. today, with 1,862 recorded since 1945.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Lark has been recorded 1,862 times among girls since 1945, currently ranked #3534 nationally and more common than 80% of girls, with its heaviest use in the 1950s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1945 to 2025.
- #3534 among girls today
- 1,862 born since 1945
- 1950s peak decade
- 80% more common than other girls
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Lark is currently the #3534 unisex name in America, more common than 80% of girls - 1,862 born since 1945, peaking in the 1950s.
- #3534
- among girls today
- 1,862
- born since 1945
- 1950s
- peak decade
- 80%
- more common than other girls
Lark vs. every other girls name in current SSA rankings
#3534
of 17,726 girls in use
More common than 80% of names given to girls today.
1950s
Peak decade
23% of everyone ever named Lark was born in this single decade.
1950
Single peak year
67 babies were named Lark in 1950 - its busiest year on record.
How Lark compares
1,862 Top 23% higher than 77% of 17,726 names currently given to girls
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked girls 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
Lark's all-time total is 5x the median girls name, and Olivia still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Lark | Median girls name (Emerly) | #1 girls name (Olivia) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,862 | 382 | 567,345 |
| Peak-year births | 67 | 48 | 19,840 |
Lark's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Lark splits its recorded history at 1987: 53% of all births land in the more recent half, 47% in the earlier half, an evenly balanced pattern over time. The single quietest year was 1984 (6 births) -- compare that against the 1950 peak of 67 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Lark at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1950
Current rank
#3,534
Active since
1945
Lark popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1945–2025
- Peak year (1950)
- 67
- Annual births at peak, across 81 years of records
Lark popularity over time - boys
272 total births recorded since 1885 (Lark as boys' name)
Lark by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1950s was Lark's strongest decade.
430 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 23% of all-time use.
Lark births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1940s 73
1940s
73 births
- 1950s
1950s
430 births
- 1960s 133
1960s
133 births
- 1970s 141
1970s
141 births
- 1980s 121
1980s
121 births
- 1990s 124
1990s
124 births
- 2000s 145
2000s
145 births
- 2010s
2010s
398 births
- 2020s
2020s
297 births
What this shows Peak: 1950s at 430 births (23% of all-time use).
How Lark compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Lark's total volume
Lark vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Lark by state
Where Lark concentrates geographically, total births since 1945
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 169 | 9.1% |
| #2 | Texas | | 36 | 1.9% |
| #3 | Illinois | | 11 | 0.6% |
| #4 | New York | | 10 | 0.5% |
| #5 | Washington | | 10 | 0.5% |
| #6 | Colorado | | 5 | 0.3% |
| #7 | Wisconsin | | 5 | 0.3% |
California share of Lark's total US births 9.1%
Even split
169 of 1,862 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 7 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Lark? ▼
1,862 babies have been named Lark since 1945. It currently ranks #3534 among girls. The peak year was 1950 with 67 births.
When was Lark most popular? ▼
Lark was most popular in the 1950s decade with 430 total births. The single peak year was 1950.
Where is Lark most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Lark are California (169 births), Texas (36 births), Illinois (11 births).
Is Lark a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Lark is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name it has 1,862 births, and as a boy's name it has 272 births.
How long has the name Lark been used? ▼
Records for Lark go back to 1945, giving 81 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Lark? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Lara, Larissa, Larue, Larry, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Lark's data
- Lark's usage has stayed within range of its 1950s decade-level peak (430 total births) through the 2020s (297) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- California records the most Larks (169 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 Lark
Nearby Names Like Lark
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Lark
Lara Girl
#741 30,168 births
Larissa Girl
#1611 23,498 births
Larue Girl
#10306 3,980 births
Larry Girl
3,560 births
Laraine Girl
#13570 3,478 births
Compare Lark side by side: Lark vs Lara Lark vs Larissa Lark vs Larue
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Lark
Bronwyn #3533
3,729 births · Peak 1964
Maleia #3535
1,187 births · Peak 2023
Michal #3532
4,031 births · Peak 1985
Larkin #3536
2,019 births · Peak 2006
Marlen #3531
5,512 births · Peak 2007
Basya #3537
1,052 births · Peak 2024
Marlena #3530
11,321 births · Peak 1978
Leiah #3538
1,438 births · Peak 2012
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, 1945–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Lark: #3534 Unisex Name - 1,862 Births, Peak 1950." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/lark. 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 Lark 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.