Total births
729
Boys' name · since 1880
Rutherford
729 babies named Rutherford in U.S. Social Security records since 1880, with the highest year being 1921. Year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state-level rankings drawn from federal birth data.
- 729
- total births
- 1880–2023
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 22%
- born in that decade
729 boys have been named Rutherford since 1880, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Rutherford has been recorded 729 times among boys since 1880, though it is not among the currently most-used boys names, with its heaviest use in the 1920s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1880 to 2023.
- 729 total births
- 1880–2023 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 22% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
729 boys have been named Rutherford since 1880, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 2023.
- 729
- total births
- 1880–2023
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 22%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
22% of everyone ever named Rutherford was born in this single decade.
1921
Single peak year
25 babies were named Rutherford in 1921 - its busiest year on record.
Rutherford's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Rutherford splits its recorded history at 1939: 40% of all births land in the more recent half, 60% in the earlier half, leaning more toward its earlier era than today's. The single quietest year was 1883 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1921 peak of 25 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Rutherford at a glance
Last recorded 2023Peak year
1921
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1880
Rutherford popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1880–2023
- Peak year (1921)
- 25
- Annual births at peak, across 144 years of records
Rutherford by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Rutherford's strongest decade.
158 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 22% of all-time use.
Rutherford births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 31
1880s
31 births
- 1890s 14
1890s
14 births
- 1900s 20
1900s
20 births
- 1910s
1910s
139 births
- 1920s
1920s
158 births
- 1930s
1930s
84 births
- 1940s
1940s
84 births
- 1950s 60
1950s
60 births
- 1960s 22
1960s
22 births
- 1970s 25
1970s
25 births
- 1990s 7
1990s
7 births
- 2000s 5
2000s
5 births
- 2010s 43
2010s
43 births
- 2020s 37
2020s
37 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 158 births (22% of all-time use).
How Rutherford 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 Rutherford's total volume
Rutherford vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Rutherford by state
Where Rutherford concentrates geographically, total births since 1880
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Florida | | 5 | 0.7% |
| #2 | Kentucky | | 5 | 0.7% |
| #3 | Texas | | 5 | 0.7% |
Florida share of Rutherford's total US births 0.7%
Even split
5 of 729 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 3 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Rutherford? ▼
729 babies have been named Rutherford since 1880. It was last recorded in 2023. The peak year was 1921 with 25 births.
When was Rutherford most popular? ▼
Rutherford was most popular in the 1920s decade with 158 total births. The single peak year was 1921.
Where is Rutherford most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Rutherford are Florida (5 births), Kentucky (5 births), Texas (5 births).
How long has the name Rutherford been used? ▼
Records for Rutherford go back to 1880, giving 144 years of history through 2023.
What names are similar to Rutherford? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Ruth, Rutledge, Rutger, Ruthvik, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Rutherford's data
- Rutherford's decade-level peak was the 1920s (158 total births); usage has since declined to 37 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Florida records the most Rutherfords (5 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Florida 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 Rutherford
Nearby Names Like Rutherford
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Rutherford
Ruth Boy
2,779 births
Rutledge Boy
#6861 324 births
Rutger Boy
274 births
Ruthvik Boy
#11619 140 births
Rutilio Boy
83 births
Compare Rutherford side by side: Rutherford vs Ruth Rutherford vs Rutledge Rutherford vs Rutger
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
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, 1880–2023 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Rutherford: Baby Name Since 1880 - 729 Births, Peak 1921." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/rutherford. 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 Rutherford 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.