Unisex name · since 1918
Real
Real has 395 recorded births since 1918 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1926 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #9,094 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 395
- born since 1918
- 1920s
- peak decade
Real is not among the current top-ranked boys names; 395 have been recorded since 1918.
Social Security Administration records show Real recorded 395 times among boys since 1918, 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 1918 to 2024.
- #9,094 of 45,481 all-time among boys
- 395 born since 1918
- 1920s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Real ranks #9,094 of 45,481 boys' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 395 born since 1918, peaking in the 1920s.
- #9,094 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 395
- born since 1918
- 1920s
- peak decade
Real's 395 recorded births place it above 79.99% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 3 jurisdictions, led by Maine.
Real's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Real's SSA record in two at 1950 and the more recent half accounts for 43% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 57%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1923, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1926 peak of 13, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Real popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1918–2024
- Peak year (1926)
- 13
- Annual births at peak, across 107 years of records
Real popularity over time - girls
26 total births recorded since 1993 (Real as girls' name)
Real by decade
1920s is the heaviest window (84 births, 21% of the file).
1920s was Real's strongest decade.
84 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 21% of all-time use.
Real births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s 9
1910s
9 births
- 1920s
1920s
84 births
- 1930s
1930s
81 births
- 1940s
1940s
50 births
- 1950s
1950s
49 births
- 1960s 21
1960s
21 births
- 1970s 12
1970s
12 births
- 2000s 24
2000s
24 births
- 2010s 20
2010s
20 births
- 2020s
2020s
45 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 84 births (21% of all-time use).
Real by state
Where Real concentrates geographically, total births since 1918
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Maine | | 23 | 5.8% |
| #2 | New Hampshire | | 6 | 1.5% |
| #3 | Massachusetts | | 5 | 1.3% |
23 of 395 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 3 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What to do with Real's data
- Real's usage has stayed within range of its 1920s decade-level peak (84 total births) through the 2020s (45) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- Maine records the most Reals (23 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Maine names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Real
Nearby Names Like Real
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Real
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Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Real: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1926)
Similar record span (~106 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, 1918–2024 (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 Real 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.