Total births
395
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.
- #10004
- among boys today
- 395
- born since 1918
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 30%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Real is the #10004 most popular unisex name in the U.S. today, with 395 recorded since 1918.
Social Security Administration records show Real recorded 395 times among boys since 1918, holding rank #10004 nationally today, ahead of 30% 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 1918 to 2024.
- #10004 among boys today
- 395 born since 1918
- 1920s peak decade
- 30% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Real is currently the #10004 unisex name in America, more common than 30% of boys - 395 born since 1918, peaking in the 1920s.
- #10004
- among boys today
- 395
- born since 1918
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 30%
- more common than other boys
Real vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#10004
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 30% of names given to boys today.
1920s
Peak decade
21% of everyone ever named Real was born in this single decade.
1926
Single peak year
13 babies were named Real in 1926 - its busiest year on record.
How Real compares
395 Top 48% higher than 52% 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
Real's all-time total is 8% above the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Real | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 395 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 13 | 23 | 22,252 |
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 at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1926
Current rank
#10,004
Active since
1918
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
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
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% |
Maine share of Real's total US births 5.8%
Even split
23 of 395 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 3 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Real? ▼
Real has been given to 395 babies in the U.S. since 1918, according to SSA data. Among boys, it ranks #10004 as of the latest data. 13 babies were born in 1926, its single highest year.
When was Real most popular? ▼
Real was most popular in the 1920s decade with 84 total births. The single peak year was 1926.
Where is Real most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Real are Maine (23 births), New Hampshire (6 births), Massachusetts (5 births).
Is Real a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Real is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 395 births, and as a girl's name it has 26 births.
How long has the name Real been used? ▼
Records for Real go back to 1918, giving 107 years of history through 2024.
What names are similar to Real? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Reagan, Read, Reason, Rea, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
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
- 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 Real
Nearby Names Like Real
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Real
Reagan Boy
#1574 7,841 births
Read Boy
308 births
Reason Boy
#3004 255 births
Rea Boy
190 births
Reade Boy
141 births
Compare Real side by side: Real vs Reagan Real vs Read Real vs Reason
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Real
Leron #10003
1,749 births · Peak 1991
Hansell #10005
64 births · Peak 1925
Franciszek #10002
138 births · Peak 2017
Bain #10006
325 births · Peak 2013
Rockford #10001
710 births · Peak 1979
Smokey #10007
131 births · Peak 1977
Natalie #10000
769 births · Peak 1989
Agustine #10008
537 births · Peak 1980
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, 1918–2024 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Real: #10004 Unisex Name - 395 Births, Peak 1926." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/real. 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 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 June 2026.