Total births
73
Boys' name · since 1991
Schaefer
Since 1991, U.S. Social Security records show 73 babies named Schaefer, peaking in 2005. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #12919
- among boys today
- 73
- born since 1991
- 2020s
- peak decade
- 10%
- more common than other boys
73 babies have been named Schaefer since 1991, making it today's #12919 boys' name.
Schaefer has 73 recorded births among boys since 1991, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, ranked #12919 as of the latest data, more common than 10% of boys, busiest in the 2020s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1991 to 2025.
- #12919 among boys today
- 73 born since 1991
- 2020s peak decade
- 10% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Schaefer is currently the #12919 boys' name in America, more common than 10% of boys - 73 born since 1991, peaking in the 2020s.
- #12919
- among boys today
- 73
- born since 1991
- 2020s
- peak decade
- 10%
- more common than other boys
Schaefer vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#12919
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 10% of names given to boys today.
2020s
Peak decade
29% of everyone ever named Schaefer was born in this single decade.
2005
Single peak year
9 babies were named Schaefer in 2005 - its busiest year on record.
How Schaefer compares
73 21th percentile among 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
Schaefer's all-time total is 80% below the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Schaefer | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 73 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 9 | 23 | 22,252 |
Schaefer's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Schaefer's SSA record in two at 2017 and the more recent half accounts for 45% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 55%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 2001, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 2005 peak of 9, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Schaefer at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2005
Current rank
#12,919
Active since
1991
Schaefer popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1991–2025
- Peak year (2005)
- 9
- Annual births at peak, across 35 years of records
Schaefer by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2020s was Schaefer's strongest decade.
21 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 29% of all-time use.
Schaefer births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1990s
1990s
14 births
- 2000s
2000s
20 births
- 2010s
2010s
18 births
- 2020s
2020s
21 births
What this shows Peak: 2020s at 21 births (29% of all-time use).
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Schaefer? ▼
Since 1991, Social Security records show 73 babies named Schaefer. Today it holds rank #12919 among boys. Its busiest year on record was 2005, with 9 births.
When was Schaefer most popular? ▼
Schaefer was most popular in the 2020s decade with 21 total births. The single peak year was 2005.
How long has the name Schaefer been used? ▼
Schaefer has been recorded in Social Security data since 1991, spanning 35 years of data through 2025.
What names are similar to Schaefer? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Schuyler, Schyler, Schneur, Schneider, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
Keep exploring Schaefer
Nearby Names Like Schaefer
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Schaefer
Schuyler Boy
#7267 4,166 births
Schyler Boy
772 births
Schneur Boy
#10148 340 births
Schneider Boy
#6021 339 births
Schon Boy
117 births
Compare Schaefer side by side: Schaefer vs Schuyler Schaefer vs Schyler Schaefer vs Schneur
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Schaefer
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, 1991–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Schaefer: #12919 Boys' Name - 73 Births, Peak 2005." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/schaefer. 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 Schaefer 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.