Total births
10,256
Boys' name · since 1950
Princeton
Princeton has 10,256 recorded births since 1950 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 2017 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #614
- among boys today
- 10,256
- born since 1950
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 96%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Princeton is the #614 most popular boys' name in the U.S. today, with 10,256 recorded since 1950.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Princeton has been recorded 10,256 times among boys since 1950, currently ranked #614 nationally and more common than 96% of boys, with its heaviest use in the 2010s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1950 to 2025.
- #614 among boys today
- 10,256 born since 1950
- 2010s peak decade
- 96% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Princeton is currently the #614 boys' name in America, more common than 96% of boys - 10,256 born since 1950, peaking in the 2010s.
- #614
- among boys today
- 10,256
- born since 1950
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 96%
- more common than other boys
Princeton vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#614
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 96% of names given to boys today.
2010s
Peak decade
53% of everyone ever named Princeton was born in this single decade.
2017
Single peak year
793 babies were named Princeton in 2017 - its busiest year on record.
How Princeton compares
10,256 Top 8% higher than 92% 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
Princeton's all-time total is 28x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Princeton | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 10,256 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 793 | 23 | 22,252 |
Princeton's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Princeton's SSA record in two at 1994 and the more recent half accounts for 93% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 7%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1952, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 2017 peak of 793, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Princeton at a glance
Top 1,000 boys' namePeak year
2017
Current rank
#614
Active since
1950
Princeton popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1950–2025
- Peak year (2017)
- 793
- Annual births at peak, across 76 years of records
Princeton by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2010s was Princeton's strongest decade.
5,461 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 53% of all-time use.
Princeton births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1950s 30
1950s
30 births
- 1960s 24
1960s
24 births
- 1970s 65
1970s
65 births
- 1980s 347
1980s
347 births
- 1990s 370
1990s
370 births
- 2000s 580
2000s
580 births
- 2010s
2010s
5,461 births
- 2020s
2020s
3,379 births
What this shows Peak: 2010s at 5,461 births (53% of all-time use).
How Princeton 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 Princeton's total volume
Princeton vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Princeton by state
Where Princeton concentrates geographically, total births since 1950
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Texas | | 1,018 | 9.9% |
| #2 | Georgia | | 872 | 8.5% |
| #3 | California | | 594 | 5.8% |
| #4 | Florida | | 585 | 5.7% |
| #5 | North Carolina | | 438 | 4.3% |
| #6 | Tennessee | | 414 | 4.0% |
| #7 | New York | | 407 | 4.0% |
| #8 | Mississippi | | 379 | 3.7% |
Texas share of Princeton's total US births 9.9%
Even split
1,018 of 10,256 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 37 reporting states.
Princeton appears in 37 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Princeton? ▼
Since 1950, Social Security records show 10,256 babies named Princeton. Today it holds rank #614 among boys. Its busiest year on record was 2017, with 793 births.
When was Princeton most popular? ▼
Princeton was most popular in the 2010s decade with 5,461 total births. The single peak year was 2017.
Where is Princeton most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Princeton are Texas (1,018 births), Georgia (872 births), California (594 births).
How long has the name Princeton been used? ▼
Records for Princeton go back to 1950, giving 76 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Princeton? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Prince, Price, Primo, Primitivo, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Princeton's data
- Princeton's usage has stayed within range of its 2010s decade-level peak (5,461 total births) through the 2020s (3,379) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- Texas records the most Princetons (1,018 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 Princeton
Nearby Names Like Princeton
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Princeton
Prince Boy
#401 23,601 births
Price Boy
#2718 3,926 births
Primo Boy
#12412 874 births
Primitivo Boy
742 births
Priest Boy
#4120 561 births
Compare Princeton side by side: Princeton vs Prince Princeton vs Price Princeton vs Primo
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Princeton
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, 1950–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Princeton: #614 Boys' Name - 10,256 Births, Peak 2017." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/princeton. 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 Princeton 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.