Total births
65
Girls' name · since 1911
Modest
Modest has 65 recorded births since 1911 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1921 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- 65
- total births
- 1911–1927
- years on record
- 1910s
- peak decade
- 58%
- born in that decade
65 girls have been named Modest since 1911, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Modest has been recorded 65 times among girls since 1911, though it is not among the currently most-used girls names, with its heaviest use in the 1910s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1911 to 1927.
- 65 total births
- 1911–1927 years on record
- 1910s peak decade
- 58% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
65 girls have been named Modest since 1911, peaking in the 1910s, last recorded in 1927.
- 65
- total births
- 1911–1927
- years on record
- 1910s
- peak decade
- 58%
- born in that decade
1910s
Peak decade
58% of everyone ever named Modest was born in this single decade.
1921
Single peak year
11 babies were named Modest in 1921 - its busiest year on record.
Modest's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Modest's SSA record in two at 1918 and the more recent half accounts for 51% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 49%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1914, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1921 peak of 11, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Modest at a glance
Last recorded 1927Peak year
1921
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1911
Modest popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1911–1927
- Peak year (1921)
- 11
- Annual births at peak, across 17 years of records
Modest by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1910s was Modest's strongest decade.
38 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 58% of all-time use.
Modest births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s
1910s
38 births
- 1920s
1920s
27 births
What this shows Peak: 1910s at 38 births (58% of all-time use).
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Modest? ▼
Modest has been given to 65 babies in the U.S. since 1911, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 1927. 11 babies were born in 1921, its single highest year.
When was Modest most popular? ▼
Modest was most popular in the 1910s decade with 38 total births. The single peak year was 1921.
How long has the name Modest been used? ▼
Records for Modest go back to 1911, giving 17 years of history through 1927.
What names are similar to Modest? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Modesta, Modena, Modesty, Modean, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Modest's data
- Modest's usage has stayed within range of its 1910s decade-level peak (38 total births) through the 1920s (27) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- 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 Modest
Nearby Names Like Modest
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Modest
Modesta Girl
#12194 1,615 births
Modena Girl
683 births
Modesty Girl
#8530 583 births
Modean Girl
311 births
Modestine Girl
230 births
Compare Modest side by side: Modest vs Modesta Modest vs Modena Modest vs Modesty
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
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, 1911–1927 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Modest: Baby Name Since 1911 - 65 Births, Peak 1921." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/modest. 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 Modest 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.