Total births
164
Unisex name · since 1989
Nike
Since 1989, U.S. Social Security records show 164 babies named Nike, peaking in 1996. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #10236
- among boys today
- 164
- born since 1989
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 28%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Nike is the #10236 most popular unisex name in the U.S. today, with 164 recorded since 1989.
Social Security Administration records show Nike recorded 164 times among boys since 1989, holding rank #10236 nationally today, ahead of 28% of boys, peaking in the 1990s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1989 to 2024.
- #10236 among boys today
- 164 born since 1989
- 1990s peak decade
- 28% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Nike is currently the #10236 unisex name in America, more common than 28% of boys - 164 born since 1989, peaking in the 1990s.
- #10236
- among boys today
- 164
- born since 1989
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 28%
- more common than other boys
Nike vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#10236
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 28% of names given to boys today.
1990s
Peak decade
32% of everyone ever named Nike was born in this single decade.
1996
Single peak year
18 babies were named Nike in 1996 - its busiest year on record.
How Nike compares
164 35th 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
Nike's all-time total is 55% below the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Nike | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 164 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 18 | 23 | 22,252 |
Nike's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Nike splits its recorded history at 2007: 50% of all births land in the more recent half, 50% in the earlier half, an evenly balanced pattern over time. The single quietest year was 1989 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1996 peak of 18 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Nike at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1996
Current rank
#10,236
Active since
1989
Nike popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1989–2024
- Peak year (1996)
- 18
- Annual births at peak, across 36 years of records
Nike popularity over time - girls
150 total births recorded since 1953 (Nike as girls' name)
Nike by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1990s was Nike's strongest decade.
52 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 32% of all-time use.
Nike births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1980s 5
1980s
5 births
- 1990s
1990s
52 births
- 2000s
2000s
36 births
- 2010s
2010s
34 births
- 2020s
2020s
37 births
What this shows Peak: 1990s at 52 births (32% of all-time use).
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Nike? ▼
Since 1989, Social Security records show 164 babies named Nike. Today it holds rank #10236 among boys. Its busiest year on record was 1996, with 18 births.
When was Nike most popular? ▼
Nike was most popular in the 1990s decade with 52 total births. The single peak year was 1996.
Is Nike a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Nike is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 164 births, and as a girl's name it has 150 births.
How long has the name Nike been used? ▼
Nike has been recorded in Social Security data since 1989, spanning 36 years of data through 2024.
What names are similar to Nike? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Nikolas, Niko, Nikolai, Nikhil, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Nike's data
- Nike's usage has stayed within range of its 1990s decade-level peak (52 total births) through the 2020s (37) -- 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 Nike
Nearby Names Like Nike
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Nike
Nikolas Boy
#730 24,035 births
Niko Boy
#344 14,629 births
Nikolai Boy
#593 11,027 births
Nikhil Boy
#2541 5,404 births
Nikko Boy
#1280 4,526 births
Compare Nike side by side: Nike vs Nikolas Nike vs Niko Nike vs Nikolai
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Nike
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, 1989–2024 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Nike: #10236 Unisex Name - 164 Births, Peak 1996." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/nike. 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 Nike 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.