Total births
1,766
Unisex name · since 1956
Seneca
Since 1956, U.S. Social Security records show 1,766 babies named Seneca, peaking in 1995. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #5182
- among girls today
- 1,766
- born since 1956
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 71%
- more common than other girls
1,766 babies have been named Seneca since 1956, making it today's #5182 unisex name.
Social Security Administration records show Seneca recorded 1,766 times among girls since 1956, holding rank #5182 nationally today, ahead of 71% of girls, peaking in the 2000s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1956 to 2025.
- #5182 among girls today
- 1,766 born since 1956
- 2000s peak decade
- 71% more common than other girls
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Seneca is currently the #5182 unisex name in America, more common than 71% of girls - 1,766 born since 1956, peaking in the 2000s.
- #5182
- among girls today
- 1,766
- born since 1956
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 71%
- more common than other girls
Seneca vs. every other girls name in current SSA rankings
#5182
of 17,726 girls in use
More common than 71% of names given to girls today.
2000s
Peak decade
23% of everyone ever named Seneca was born in this single decade.
1995
Single peak year
53 babies were named Seneca in 1995 - its busiest year on record.
How Seneca compares
1,766 Top 24% higher than 76% of 17,726 names currently given to girls
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked girls 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
Seneca's all-time total is 5x the median girls name, and Olivia still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Seneca | Median girls name (Emerly) | #1 girls name (Olivia) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,766 | 382 | 567,345 |
| Peak-year births | 53 | 48 | 19,840 |
Seneca's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Seneca's SSA record in two at 1995 and the more recent half accounts for 60% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 40%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1958, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1995 peak of 53, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Seneca at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1995
Current rank
#5,182
Active since
1956
Seneca popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1956–2025
- Peak year (1995)
- 53
- Annual births at peak, across 70 years of records
Seneca popularity over time - boys
1,757 total births recorded since 1975 (Seneca as boys' name)
Seneca by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2000s was Seneca's strongest decade.
401 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 23% of all-time use.
Seneca births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1950s 48
1950s
48 births
- 1960s 21
1960s
21 births
- 1970s
1970s
185 births
- 1980s
1980s
298 births
- 1990s
1990s
340 births
- 2000s
2000s
401 births
- 2010s
2010s
289 births
- 2020s
2020s
184 births
What this shows Peak: 2000s at 401 births (23% of all-time use).
How Seneca compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Seneca's total volume
Seneca vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Seneca by state
Where Seneca concentrates geographically, total births since 1956
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 72 | 4.1% |
| #2 | Pennsylvania | | 12 | 0.7% |
| #3 | Texas | | 11 | 0.6% |
| #4 | Ohio | | 10 | 0.6% |
| #5 | Illinois | | 7 | 0.4% |
| #6 | Michigan | | 7 | 0.4% |
| #7 | South Carolina | | 6 | 0.3% |
| #8 | Arizona | | 5 | 0.3% |
California share of Seneca's total US births 4.1%
Even split
72 of 1,766 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 9 reporting states.
Seneca appears in 9 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Seneca? ▼
1,766 babies have been named Seneca since 1956. It currently ranks #5182 among girls. The peak year was 1995 with 53 births.
When was Seneca most popular? ▼
Seneca was most popular in the 2000s decade with 401 total births. The single peak year was 1995.
Where is Seneca most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Seneca are California (72 births), Pennsylvania (12 births), Texas (11 births).
Is Seneca a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Seneca is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name it has 1,766 births, and as a boy's name it has 1,757 births.
How long has the name Seneca been used? ▼
Records for Seneca go back to 1956, giving 70 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Seneca? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Sena, Senaida, Senna, Senora, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Seneca's data
- Seneca's usage has stayed within range of its 2000s decade-level peak (401 total births) through the 2020s (184) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- California records the most Senecas (72 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California 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 Seneca
Nearby Names Like Seneca
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Seneca
Sena Girl
#3082 3,121 births
Senaida Girl
1,208 births
Senna Girl
#1988 1,098 births
Senora Girl
#12175 1,065 births
Senia Girl
#11153 576 births
Compare Seneca side by side: Seneca vs Sena Seneca vs Senaida Seneca vs Senna
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Seneca
Tyanna #5181
3,839 births · Peak 1999
Erina #5183
1,040 births · Peak 2022
Graciella #5180
1,084 births · Peak 2010
Rashell #5184
1,319 births · Peak 1990
Kimberlee #5179
17,690 births · Peak 1970
December #5185
1,608 births · Peak 2012
Lynden #5178
780 births · Peak 2020
Korina #5186
2,605 births · Peak 1995
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, 1956–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Seneca: #5182 Unisex Name - 1,766 Births, Peak 1995." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/seneca. 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 Seneca 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.