Total births
931
Boys' name · since 1910
Ralston
Since 1910, U.S. Social Security records show 931 babies named Ralston, peaking in 1921. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #9040
- among boys today
- 931
- born since 1910
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 37%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Ralston is the #9040 most popular boys' name in the U.S. today, with 931 recorded since 1910.
Social Security Administration records show Ralston recorded 931 times among boys since 1910, holding rank #9040 nationally today, ahead of 37% of boys, 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 1910 to 2025.
- #9040 among boys today
- 931 born since 1910
- 1920s peak decade
- 37% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Ralston is currently the #9040 boys' name in America, more common than 37% of boys - 931 born since 1910, peaking in the 1920s.
- #9040
- among boys today
- 931
- born since 1910
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 37%
- more common than other boys
Ralston vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#9040
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 37% of names given to boys today.
1920s
Peak decade
14% of everyone ever named Ralston was born in this single decade.
1921
Single peak year
25 babies were named Ralston in 1921 - its busiest year on record.
How Ralston compares
931 Top 32% higher than 68% 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
Ralston's all-time total is 154% above the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Ralston | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 931 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 25 | 23 | 22,252 |
Ralston's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Ralston's SSA record in two at 1969 and the more recent half accounts for 53% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 47%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1910, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1921 peak of 25, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Ralston at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1921
Current rank
#9,040
Active since
1910
Ralston popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1910–2025
- Peak year (1921)
- 25
- Annual births at peak, across 116 years of records
Ralston by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Ralston's strongest decade.
131 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 14% of all-time use.
Ralston births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s
1910s
96 births
- 1920s
1920s
131 births
- 1930s
1930s
81 births
- 1940s
1940s
56 births
- 1950s 24
1950s
24 births
- 1960s
1960s
58 births
- 1970s 35
1970s
35 births
- 1980s
1980s
92 births
- 1990s
1990s
113 births
- 2000s
2000s
97 births
- 2010s
2010s
107 births
- 2020s 41
2020s
41 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 131 births (14% of all-time use).
How Ralston 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 Ralston's total volume
Ralston vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Ralston by state
Where Ralston concentrates geographically, total births since 1910
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Pennsylvania | | 18 | 1.9% |
Pennsylvania share of Ralston's total US births 1.9%
18 of 931 births nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Ralston? ▼
Ralston has been given to 931 babies in the U.S. since 1910, according to SSA data. Among boys, it ranks #9040 as of the latest data. 25 babies were born in 1921, its single highest year.
When was Ralston most popular? ▼
Ralston was most popular in the 1920s decade with 131 total births. The single peak year was 1921.
Where is Ralston most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Ralston are Pennsylvania (18 births).
How long has the name Ralston been used? ▼
Records for Ralston go back to 1910, giving 116 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Ralston? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Ralph, Raleigh, Ralphael, Ralf, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Ralston's data
- Ralston's decade-level peak was the 1920s (131 total births); usage has since declined to 41 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Pennsylvania records the most Ralstons (18 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Pennsylvania 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 Ralston
Nearby Names Like Ralston
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Ralston
Ralph Boy
#1145 414,018 births
Raleigh Boy
#2262 9,279 births
Ralphael Boy
439 births
Ralf Boy
#12519 304 births
Raliegh Boy
264 births
Compare Ralston side by side: Ralston vs Ralph Ralston vs Raleigh Ralston vs Ralphael
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Ralston
Kiyoshi #9039
1,226 births · Peak 1923
Renard #9041
2,690 births · Peak 1970
Ventura #9038
1,301 births · Peak 1938
Romey #9042
327 births · Peak 1918
Harlon #9037
1,858 births · Peak 1939
Maria #9043
4,278 births · Peak 1982
Cosme #9036
1,373 births · Peak 2000
Wendel #9044
2,147 births · Peak 1940
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, 1910–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Ralston: #9040 Boys' Name - 931 Births, Peak 1921." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/ralston. 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 Ralston 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.