Total births
162
Unisex name · since 2008
Light
162 babies named Light in U.S. Social Security records since 2008, with the highest year being 2021. Year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state-level rankings drawn from federal birth data.
- #5614
- among boys today
- 162
- born since 2008
- 2020s
- peak decade
- 61%
- more common than other boys
162 babies have been named Light since 2008, making it today's #5614 unisex name.
Social Security Administration records show Light recorded 162 times among boys since 2008, holding rank #5614 nationally today, ahead of 61% of boys, peaking in the 2020s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 2008 to 2025.
- #5614 among boys today
- 162 born since 2008
- 2020s peak decade
- 61% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Light is currently the #5614 unisex name in America, more common than 61% of boys - 162 born since 2008, peaking in the 2020s.
- #5614
- among boys today
- 162
- born since 2008
- 2020s
- peak decade
- 61%
- more common than other boys
Light vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#5614
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 61% of names given to boys today.
2020s
Peak decade
62% of everyone ever named Light was born in this single decade.
2021
Single peak year
26 babies were named Light in 2021 - its busiest year on record.
How Light compares
162 34th percentile among 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
Light's all-time total is 56% below the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Light | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 162 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 26 | 23 | 22,252 |
Light's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Light's SSA record in two at 2019 and the more recent half accounts for 67% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 33%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 2010, with only 6 births recorded -- set against the 2021 peak of 26, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Light at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2021
Current rank
#5,614
Active since
2008
Light popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 2008–2025
- Peak year (2021)
- 26
- Annual births at peak, across 18 years of records
Light popularity over time - girls
78 total births recorded since 2014 (Light as girls' name)
Light by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2020s was Light's strongest decade.
100 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 62% of all-time use.
Light births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 2000s 7
2000s
7 births
- 2010s
2010s
55 births
- 2020s
2020s
100 births
What this shows Peak: 2020s at 100 births (62% of all-time use).
Light by state
Where Light concentrates geographically, total births since 2008
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Texas | | 11 | 6.8% |
Texas share of Light's total US births 6.8%
11 of 162 births nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Light? ▼
162 babies have been named Light since 2008. It currently ranks #5614 among boys. The peak year was 2021 with 26 births.
When was Light most popular? ▼
Light was most popular in the 2020s decade with 100 total births. The single peak year was 2021.
Where is Light most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Light are Texas (11 births).
Is Light a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Light is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 162 births, and as a girl's name it has 78 births.
How long has the name Light been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Light since 2008 -- 18 years through the most recent 2025 data.
What names are similar to Light? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Lige, Lightning. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Light's data
- Texas records the most Lights (11 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 Light
Nearby Names Like Light
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Light
Compare Light side by side: Light vs Lige Light vs Lightning
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Light
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, 2008–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Light: #5614 Unisex Name - 162 Births, Peak 2021." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/light. 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 Light 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.