Total births
969
Boys' name · since 1900
Purvis
Since 1900, U.S. Social Security records show 969 babies named Purvis, peaking in 1921. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 969
- total births
- 1900–1996
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 19%
- born in that decade
Purvis is not among the current top-ranked boys names; 969 have been recorded since 1900.
Social Security Administration records show Purvis recorded 969 times among boys since 1900, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used boys names, peaking in the 1920s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1900 to 1996.
- 969 total births
- 1900–1996 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 19% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
969 boys have been named Purvis since 1900, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 1996.
- 969
- total births
- 1900–1996
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 19%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
19% of everyone ever named Purvis was born in this single decade.
1921
Single peak year
27 babies were named Purvis in 1921 - its busiest year on record.
Purvis's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Purvis's SSA record in two at 1948 and the more recent half accounts for 41% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 59%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1900, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1921 peak of 27, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Purvis at a glance
Last recorded 1996Peak year
1921
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1900
Purvis popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1900–1996
- Peak year (1921)
- 27
- Annual births at peak, across 97 years of records
Purvis by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Purvis's strongest decade.
184 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 19% of all-time use.
Purvis births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1900s 12
1900s
12 births
- 1910s
1910s
108 births
- 1920s
1920s
184 births
- 1930s
1930s
151 births
- 1940s
1940s
144 births
- 1950s
1950s
111 births
- 1960s
1960s
115 births
- 1970s
1970s
75 births
- 1980s 43
1980s
43 births
- 1990s 26
1990s
26 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 184 births (19% of all-time use).
How Purvis 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 Purvis's total volume
Purvis vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Purvis by state
Where Purvis concentrates geographically, total births since 1900
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Louisiana | | 49 | 5.1% |
| #2 | Mississippi | | 29 | 3.0% |
| #3 | Alabama | | 5 | 0.5% |
| #4 | Georgia | | 5 | 0.5% |
| #5 | Texas | | 5 | 0.5% |
Louisiana share of Purvis's total US births 5.1%
Even split
49 of 969 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 5 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Purvis? ▼
Purvis has been given to 969 babies in the U.S. since 1900, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 1996. 27 babies were born in 1921, its single highest year.
When was Purvis most popular? ▼
Purvis was most popular in the 1920s decade with 184 total births. The single peak year was 1921.
Where is Purvis most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Purvis are Louisiana (49 births), Mississippi (29 births), Alabama (5 births).
How long has the name Purvis been used? ▼
Records for Purvis go back to 1900, giving 97 years of history through 1996.
What names are similar to Purvis? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Purnell, Purcell, Purl, Purpose, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Purvis's data
- Purvis's decade-level peak was the 1920s (184 total births); usage has since declined to 26 in the 1990s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Louisiana records the most Purviss (49 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Louisiana 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 Purvis
Nearby Names Like Purvis
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Purvis
Purnell Boy
762 births
Purcell Boy
454 births
Purl Boy
81 births
Purpose Boy
#12051 68 births
Purav Boy
61 births
Compare Purvis side by side: Purvis vs Purnell Purvis vs Purcell Purvis vs Purl
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, 1900–1996 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Purvis: Baby Name Since 1900 - 969 Births, Peak 1921." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/purvis. 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 Purvis 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.