Total births
863
Boys' name · since 1990
Slate
863 babies named Slate in U.S. Social Security records since 1990, with the highest year being 2018. Year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state-level rankings drawn from federal birth data.
- #3372
- among boys today
- 863
- born since 1990
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 76%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Slate is the #3372 most popular boys' name in the U.S. today, with 863 recorded since 1990.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Slate has been recorded 863 times among boys since 1990, currently ranked #3372 nationally and more common than 76% of boys, with its heaviest use in the 2010s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1990 to 2025.
- #3372 among boys today
- 863 born since 1990
- 2010s peak decade
- 76% more common than other boys
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
Slate is currently the #3372 boys' name in America, more common than 76% of boys - 863 born since 1990, peaking in the 2010s.
- #3372
- among boys today
- 863
- born since 1990
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 76%
- more common than other boys
Slate vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#3372
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 76% of names given to boys today.
2010s
Peak decade
44% of everyone ever named Slate was born in this single decade.
2018
Single peak year
56 babies were named Slate in 2018 - its busiest year on record.
How Slate compares
863 Top 33% higher than 67% of 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
Slate's all-time total is 135% above the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Slate | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 863 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 56 | 23 | 22,252 |
Slate's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Slate's SSA record in two at 2009 and the more recent half accounts for 77% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 23%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1990, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 2018 peak of 56, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Slate at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2018
Current rank
#3,372
Active since
1990
Slate popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1990–2025
- Peak year (2018)
- 56
- Annual births at peak, across 36 years of records
Slate by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2010s was Slate's strongest decade.
379 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 44% of all-time use.
Slate births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1990s 59
1990s
59 births
- 2000s
2000s
165 births
- 2010s
2010s
379 births
- 2020s
2020s
260 births
What this shows Peak: 2010s at 379 births (44% of all-time use).
How Slate 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 Slate's total volume
Slate vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Slate by state
Where Slate concentrates geographically, total births since 1990
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Texas | | 81 | 9.4% |
| #2 | California | | 11 | 1.3% |
| #3 | Florida | | 5 | 0.6% |
| #4 | Georgia | | 5 | 0.6% |
| #5 | Missouri | | 5 | 0.6% |
| #6 | Tennessee | | 5 | 0.6% |
Texas share of Slate's total US births 9.4%
Even split
81 of 863 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 6 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Slate? ▼
863 babies have been named Slate since 1990. It currently ranks #3372 among boys. The peak year was 2018 with 56 births.
When was Slate most popular? ▼
Slate was most popular in the 2010s decade with 379 total births. The single peak year was 2018.
Where is Slate most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Slate are Texas (81 births), California (11 births), Florida (5 births).
How long has the name Slate been used? ▼
Slate has been recorded in Social Security data since 1990, spanning 36 years of data through 2025.
What names are similar to Slate? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Slade, Slater, Slayton, Slayde, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Slate's data
- Slate's usage has stayed within range of its 2010s decade-level peak (379 total births) through the 2020s (260) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- Texas records the most Slates (81 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Texas 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 Slate
Nearby Names Like Slate
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Slate
Slade Boy
#1049 6,094 births
Slater Boy
#1547 2,378 births
Slayton Boy
#6550 482 births
Slayde Boy
#6084 356 births
Slayden Boy
#8632 277 births
Compare Slate side by side: Slate vs Slade Slate vs Slater Slate vs Slayton
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Slate
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, 1990–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Slate: #3372 Boys' Name - 863 Births, Peak 2018." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/slate. 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 Slate 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.