Total births
1,411
Boys' name · since 1954
Race
Since 1954, U.S. Social Security records show 1,411 babies named Race, peaking in 2002. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #11126
- among boys today
- 1,411
- born since 1954
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 22%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Race is the #11126 most popular boys' name in the U.S. today, with 1,411 recorded since 1954.
Race has 1,411 recorded births among boys since 1954, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, ranked #11126 as of the latest data, more common than 22% of boys, busiest in the 2000s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1954 to 2025.
- #11126 among boys today
- 1,411 born since 1954
- 2000s peak decade
- 22% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Race is currently the #11126 boys' name in America, more common than 22% of boys - 1,411 born since 1954, peaking in the 2000s.
- #11126
- among boys today
- 1,411
- born since 1954
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 22%
- more common than other boys
Race vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#11126
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 22% of names given to boys today.
2000s
Peak decade
38% of everyone ever named Race was born in this single decade.
2002
Single peak year
65 babies were named Race in 2002 - its busiest year on record.
How Race compares
1,411 Top 26% higher than 74% 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
Race's all-time total is 4x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Race | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,411 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 65 | 23 | 22,252 |
Race's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Race's SSA record in two at 1996 and the more recent half accounts for 73% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 27%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1954, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 2002 peak of 65, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Race at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2002
Current rank
#11,126
Active since
1954
Race popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1954–2025
- Peak year (2002)
- 65
- Annual births at peak, across 72 years of records
Race by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2000s was Race's strongest decade.
532 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 38% of all-time use.
Race births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1950s 41
1950s
41 births
- 1960s 39
1960s
39 births
- 1970s 30
1970s
30 births
- 1980s 114
1980s
114 births
- 1990s
1990s
352 births
- 2000s
2000s
532 births
- 2010s
2010s
245 births
- 2020s 58
2020s
58 births
What this shows Peak: 2000s at 532 births (38% of all-time use).
How Race 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 Race's total volume
Race vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Race by state
Where Race concentrates geographically, total births since 1954
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 79 | 5.6% |
| #2 | Texas | | 23 | 1.6% |
| #3 | Ohio | | 15 | 1.1% |
| #4 | Illinois | | 10 | 0.7% |
| #5 | Washington | | 10 | 0.7% |
| #6 | Florida | | 6 | 0.4% |
| #7 | Idaho | | 5 | 0.4% |
| #8 | Utah | | 5 | 0.4% |
California share of Race's total US births 5.6%
Even split
79 of 1,411 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 8 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Race? ▼
Since 1954, Social Security records show 1,411 babies named Race. Today it holds rank #11126 among boys. Its busiest year on record was 2002, with 65 births.
When was Race most popular? ▼
Race was most popular in the 2000s decade with 532 total births. The single peak year was 2002.
Where is Race most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Race are California (79 births), Texas (23 births), Ohio (15 births).
How long has the name Race been used? ▼
Records for Race go back to 1954, giving 72 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Race? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Rachel, Rachael, Rachit, Rachard, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Race's data
- Race's decade-level peak was the 2000s (532 total births); usage has since declined to 58 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Races (79 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 Race
Nearby Names Like Race
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Race
Rachel Boy
1,791 births
Rachael Boy
181 births
Rachit Boy
130 births
Rachard Boy
103 births
Racer Boy
103 births
Compare Race side by side: Race vs Rachel Race vs Rachael Race vs Rachit
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Race
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, 1954–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Race: #11126 Boys' Name - 1,411 Births, Peak 2002." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/race. 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 Race 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.