Total births
103
Boys' name · since 1971
Shaft
103 babies named Shaft in U.S. Social Security records since 1971, with the highest year being 1972. Year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state-level rankings drawn from federal birth data.
- 103
- total births
- 1971–1996
- years on record
- 1970s
- peak decade
- 83%
- born in that decade
Shaft is not among the current top-ranked boys names; 103 have been recorded since 1971.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Shaft has been recorded 103 times among boys since 1971, though it is not among the currently most-used boys names, with its heaviest use in the 1970s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1971 to 1996.
- 103 total births
- 1971–1996 years on record
- 1970s peak decade
- 83% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
103 boys have been named Shaft since 1971, peaking in the 1970s, last recorded in 1996.
- 103
- total births
- 1971–1996
- years on record
- 1970s
- peak decade
- 83%
- born in that decade
1970s
Peak decade
83% of everyone ever named Shaft was born in this single decade.
1972
Single peak year
32 babies were named Shaft in 1972 - its busiest year on record.
Shaft's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Shaft's SSA record in two at 1975 and the more recent half accounts for 23% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 77%, consistent with a name more common in the past than in recent years. Its calmest year was 1975, with only 6 births recorded -- set against the 1972 peak of 32, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Shaft at a glance
Last recorded 1996Peak year
1972
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1971
Shaft popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1971–1996
- Peak year (1972)
- 32
- Annual births at peak, across 26 years of records
Shaft by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1970s was Shaft's strongest decade.
85 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 83% of all-time use.
Shaft births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1970s
1970s
85 births
- 1990s 18
1990s
18 births
What this shows Peak: 1970s at 85 births (83% of all-time use).
Shaft by state
Where Shaft concentrates geographically, total births since 1971
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | North Carolina | | 6 | 5.8% |
| #2 | Texas | | 6 | 5.8% |
| #3 | Louisiana | | 5 | 4.9% |
North Carolina share of Shaft's total US births 5.8%
Even split
6 of 103 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 3 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Shaft? ▼
Since 1971, Social Security records show 103 babies named Shaft. The most recent recorded year was 1996. Its busiest year on record was 1972, with 32 births.
When was Shaft most popular? ▼
Shaft was most popular in the 1970s decade with 85 total births. The single peak year was 1972.
Where is Shaft most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Shaft are North Carolina (6 births), Texas (6 births), Louisiana (5 births).
How long has the name Shaft been used? ▼
Shaft has been recorded in Social Security data since 1971, spanning 26 years of data through 1996.
What names are similar to Shaft? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Shawn, Shane, Shaun, Shannon, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Shaft's data
- Shaft's decade-level peak was the 1970s (85 total births); usage has since declined to 18 in the 1990s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- North Carolina records the most Shafts (6 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. North Carolina 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 Shaft
Nearby Names Like Shaft
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Shaft
Shawn Boy
#637 306,542 births
Shane Boy
#601 192,583 births
Shaun Boy
#1567 70,481 births
Shannon Boy
#2597 52,379 births
Shayne Boy
#4006 10,741 births
Compare Shaft side by side: Shaft vs Shawn Shaft vs Shane Shaft vs Shaun
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of July 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, 1971–1996 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Shaft: Baby Name Since 1971 - 103 Births, Peak 1972." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/shaft. 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 Shaft 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 July 2026.