Total births
1,246
Unisex name · since 1969
October
October has 1,246 recorded births since 1969 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 2008 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #3599
- among girls today
- 1,246
- born since 1969
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 80%
- more common than other girls
Yes -- October is the #3599 most popular unisex name in the U.S. today, with 1,246 recorded since 1969.
Social Security Administration records show October recorded 1,246 times among girls since 1969, holding rank #3599 nationally today, ahead of 80% of girls, peaking in the 2010s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1969 to 2025.
- #3599 among girls today
- 1,246 born since 1969
- 2010s peak decade
- 80% more common than other girls
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
October is currently the #3599 unisex name in America, more common than 80% of girls - 1,246 born since 1969, peaking in the 2010s.
- #3599
- among girls today
- 1,246
- born since 1969
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 80%
- more common than other girls
October vs. every other girls name in current SSA rankings
#3599
of 17,726 girls in use
More common than 80% of names given to girls today.
2010s
Peak decade
42% of everyone ever named October was born in this single decade.
2008
Single peak year
72 babies were named October in 2008 - its busiest year on record.
How October compares
1,246 Top 28% higher than 72% of 17,726 names currently given to girls
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked girls 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
October's all-time total is 3x the median girls name, and Olivia still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | October | Median girls name (Emerly) | #1 girls name (Olivia) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,246 | 382 | 567,345 |
| Peak-year births | 72 | 48 | 19,840 |
October's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting October's full recorded timeline at 2003, 85% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 15% in the earlier half -- usage has skewed toward the present, not a one-decade spike. Its quietest year on record was 1969, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 2008 peak of 72 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
October at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2008
Current rank
#3,599
Active since
1969
October popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1969–2025
- Peak year (2008)
- 72
- Annual births at peak, across 57 years of records
October popularity over time - boys
96 total births recorded since 2016 (October as boys' name)
October by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2010s was October's strongest decade.
528 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 42% of all-time use.
October births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1960s 5
1960s
5 births
- 1970s 65
1970s
65 births
- 1980s 42
1980s
42 births
- 1990s 50
1990s
50 births
- 2000s
2000s
247 births
- 2010s
2010s
528 births
- 2020s
2020s
309 births
What this shows Peak: 2010s at 528 births (42% of all-time use).
How October compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to October's total volume
October vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
October by state
Where October concentrates geographically, total births since 1969
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 71 | 5.7% |
| #2 | Texas | | 48 | 3.9% |
| #3 | Ohio | | 28 | 2.2% |
| #4 | Michigan | | 10 | 0.8% |
| #5 | Missouri | | 10 | 0.8% |
| #6 | Georgia | | 5 | 0.4% |
| #7 | North Carolina | | 5 | 0.4% |
| #8 | Oklahoma | | 5 | 0.4% |
California share of October's total US births 5.7%
Even split
71 of 1,246 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 8 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name October? ▼
1,246 babies have been named October since 1969. It currently ranks #3599 among girls. The peak year was 2008 with 72 births.
When was October most popular? ▼
October was most popular in the 2010s decade with 528 total births. The single peak year was 2008.
Where is October most popular? ▼
The top states for the name October are California (71 births), Texas (48 births), Ohio (28 births).
Is October a unisex name? ▼
Yes, October is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name it has 1,246 births, and as a boy's name it has 96 births.
How long has the name October been used? ▼
Records for October go back to 1969, giving 57 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to October? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Octavia, Octavie, Octa, Octayvia, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with October's data
- October's usage has stayed within range of its 2010s decade-level peak (528 total births) through the 2020s (309) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- California records the most Octobers (71 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California 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 October
Nearby Names Like October
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to October
Octavia Girl
#294 23,978 births
Octavie Girl
176 births
Octa Girl
160 births
Octayvia Girl
#14095 89 births
Octivia Girl
68 births
Compare October side by side: October vs Octavia October vs Octavie October vs Octa
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to October
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, 1969–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "October: #3599 Unisex Name - 1,246 Births, Peak 2008." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/october. 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 October 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.