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.
- #5,237 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 969
- born since 1900
- 1920s
- peak 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.
- #5,237 of 45,481 all-time among boys
- 969 born since 1900
- 1920s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Purvis ranks #5,237 of 45,481 boys' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 969 born since 1900, peaking in the 1920s.
- #5,237 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 969
- born since 1900
- 1920s
- peak decade
Purvis's 969 recorded births place it above 88.48% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 5 jurisdictions, led by Louisiana.
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 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
1920s is the heaviest window (184 births, 19% of the file).
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 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% |
49 of 969 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 5 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Purvis? ▼
Where does Purvis sit in the SSA name archive? ▼
When was Purvis most popular? ▼
Where is Purvis most popular? ▼
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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
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
Compare Purvis side by side: Purvis vs Purnell Purvis vs Purcell Purvis vs Purl
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Purvis: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1921)
Similar record span (~96 yrs)
Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.
Data Sources
Data as of August 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).
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 August 2026.