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.
- #17,237 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 103
- born since 1971
- 1970s
- peak 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.
- #17,237 of 45,481 all-time among boys
- 103 born since 1971
- 1970s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Shaft ranks #17,237 of 45,481 boys' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 103 born since 1971, peaking in the 1970s.
- #17,237 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 103
- born since 1971
- 1970s
- peak decade
Shaft's 103 recorded births place it above 62.06% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 3 jurisdictions, led by North Carolina.
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 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
1970s is the heaviest window (85 births, 83% of the file).
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% |
6 of 103 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 3 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
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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
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
Compare Shaft side by side: Shaft vs Shawn Shaft vs Shane Shaft vs Shaun
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Shaft: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1972)
Similar record span (~25 yrs)
Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.
Data Sources
Data as of August 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).
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 August 2026.