Boys' name · since 1880
Mat
Mat has 794 recorded births since 1880 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1917 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #5,938 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 794
- born since 1880
- 1920s
- peak decade
794 boys have been named Mat since 1880, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Social Security Administration records show Mat recorded 794 times among boys since 1880, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used boys names, peaking in the 1920s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1880 to 2013.
- #5,938 of 45,481 all-time among boys
- 794 born since 1880
- 1920s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Mat ranks #5,938 of 45,481 boys' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 794 born since 1880, peaking in the 1920s.
- #5,938 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 794
- born since 1880
- 1920s
- peak decade
Mat's 794 recorded births place it above 86.94% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 2 jurisdictions, led by California.
Mat's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Mat's SSA record in two at 1927 and the more recent half accounts for 46% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 54%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1894, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1917 peak of 21, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Mat popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1880–2013
- Peak year (1917)
- 21
- Annual births at peak, across 134 years of records
Mat by decade
1920s is the heaviest window (129 births, 16% of the file).
1920s was Mat's strongest decade.
129 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 16% of all-time use.
Mat births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s
1880s
115 births
- 1890s
1890s
64 births
- 1900s 37
1900s
37 births
- 1910s
1910s
120 births
- 1920s
1920s
129 births
- 1930s
1930s
60 births
- 1940s 31
1940s
31 births
- 1950s
1950s
55 births
- 1960s
1960s
109 births
- 1970s
1970s
58 births
- 1980s 5
1980s
5 births
- 2010s 11
2010s
11 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 129 births (16% of all-time use).
How Mat 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 Mat's total volume
Mat by state
Where Mat concentrates geographically, total births since 1880
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 5 | 0.6% |
| #2 | Kentucky | | 5 | 0.6% |
5 of 794 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 2 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Mat? ▼
Where does Mat sit in the SSA name archive? ▼
When was Mat most popular? ▼
Where is Mat most popular? ▼
How long has the name Mat been used? ▼
What names are similar to Mat? ▼
What to do with Mat's data
- Mat's decade-level peak was the 1920s (129 total births); usage has since declined to 11 in the 2010s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Mats (5 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Mat
Nearby Names Like Mat
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Mat
Compare Mat side by side: Mat vs Matthew Mat vs Mateo Mat vs Mathew
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Mat: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1917)
Similar record span (~133 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, 1880–2013 (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 Mat 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.