Total births
2,559
Boys' name · since 1908
Modesto
Modesto has 2,559 recorded births since 1908 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1927 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #7289
- among boys today
- 2,559
- born since 1908
- 1970s
- peak decade
- 49%
- more common than other boys
Modesto currently ranks #7289 among boys' names in America, with 2,559 babies recorded since 1908.
Social Security Administration records show Modesto recorded 2,559 times among boys since 1908, holding rank #7289 nationally today, ahead of 49% of boys, peaking in the 1970s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1908 to 2025.
- #7289 among boys today
- 2,559 born since 1908
- 1970s peak decade
- 49% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Modesto is currently the #7289 boys' name in America, more common than 49% of boys - 2,559 born since 1908, peaking in the 1970s.
- #7289
- among boys today
- 2,559
- born since 1908
- 1970s
- peak decade
- 49%
- more common than other boys
Modesto vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#7289
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 49% of names given to boys today.
1970s
Peak decade
12% of everyone ever named Modesto was born in this single decade.
1927
Single peak year
37 babies were named Modesto in 1927 - its busiest year on record.
How Modesto compares
2,559 Top 18% higher than 82% 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
Modesto's all-time total is 7x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Modesto | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 2,559 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 37 | 23 | 22,252 |
Modesto's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Modesto splits its recorded history at 1968: 51% of all births land in the more recent half, 49% in the earlier half, an evenly balanced pattern over time. The single quietest year was 1908 (7 births) -- compare that against the 1927 peak of 37 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Modesto at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1927
Current rank
#7,289
Active since
1908
Modesto popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1908–2025
- Peak year (1927)
- 37
- Annual births at peak, across 118 years of records
Modesto by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1970s was Modesto's strongest decade.
295 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 12% of all-time use.
Modesto births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1900s 7
1900s
7 births
- 1910s 115
1910s
115 births
- 1920s
1920s
233 births
- 1930s
1930s
203 births
- 1940s
1940s
245 births
- 1950s
1950s
247 births
- 1960s
1960s
260 births
- 1970s
1970s
295 births
- 1980s
1980s
273 births
- 1990s
1990s
280 births
- 2000s
2000s
220 births
- 2010s 107
2010s
107 births
- 2020s 74
2020s
74 births
What this shows Peak: 1970s at 295 births (12% of all-time use).
How Modesto 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 Modesto's total volume
Modesto vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Modesto by state
Where Modesto concentrates geographically, total births since 1908
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Texas | | 739 | 28.9% |
| #2 | California | | 351 | 13.7% |
| #3 | New York | | 121 | 4.7% |
| #4 | New Mexico | | 34 | 1.3% |
| #5 | Colorado | | 9 | 0.4% |
Texas share of Modesto's total US births 28.9%
Even split
739 of 2,559 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 5 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Modesto? ▼
Since 1908, Social Security records show 2,559 babies named Modesto. Today it holds rank #7289 among boys. Its busiest year on record was 1927, with 37 births.
When was Modesto most popular? ▼
Modesto was most popular in the 1970s decade with 295 total births. The single peak year was 1927.
Where is Modesto most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Modesto are Texas (739 births), California (351 births), New York (121 births).
How long has the name Modesto been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Modesto since 1908 -- 118 years through the most recent 2025 data.
What names are similar to Modesto? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Modou, Modibo, Modi, Modell, and 3 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Modesto's data
- Modesto's decade-level peak was the 1970s (295 total births); usage has since declined to 74 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Texas records the most Modestos (739 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 Modesto
Nearby Names Like Modesto
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Modesto
Compare Modesto side by side: Modesto vs Modou Modesto vs Modibo Modesto vs Modi
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Modesto
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, 1908–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Modesto: #7289 Boys' Name - 2,559 Births, Peak 1927." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/modesto. 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 Modesto 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.