Total births
1,114
Boys' name · since 1902
Spence
Spence has 1,114 recorded births since 1902 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1970 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #12407
- among boys today
- 1,114
- born since 1902
- 1970s
- peak decade
- 13%
- more common than other boys
1,114 babies have been named Spence since 1902, making it today's #12407 boys' name.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Spence has been recorded 1,114 times among boys since 1902, currently ranked #12407 nationally and more common than 13% of boys, 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 1902 to 2024.
- #12407 among boys today
- 1,114 born since 1902
- 1970s peak decade
- 13% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Spence is currently the #12407 boys' name in America, more common than 13% of boys - 1,114 born since 1902, peaking in the 1970s.
- #12407
- among boys today
- 1,114
- born since 1902
- 1970s
- peak decade
- 13%
- more common than other boys
Spence vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#12407
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 13% of names given to boys today.
1970s
Peak decade
17% of everyone ever named Spence was born in this single decade.
1970
Single peak year
47 babies were named Spence in 1970 - its busiest year on record.
How Spence compares
1,114 Top 29% higher than 71% 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
Spence's all-time total is 3x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Spence | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,114 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 47 | 23 | 22,252 |
Spence's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Spence splits its recorded history at 1972: 53% of all births land in the more recent half, 47% in the earlier half, an evenly balanced pattern over time. The single quietest year was 1902 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1970 peak of 47 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Spence at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1970
Current rank
#12,407
Active since
1902
Spence popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1902–2024
- Peak year (1970)
- 47
- Annual births at peak, across 123 years of records
Spence by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1970s was Spence's strongest decade.
187 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 17% of all-time use.
Spence births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1900s 5
1900s
5 births
- 1910s 43
1910s
43 births
- 1920s 43
1920s
43 births
- 1930s 47
1930s
47 births
- 1940s
1940s
81 births
- 1950s
1950s
97 births
- 1960s
1960s
134 births
- 1970s
1970s
187 births
- 1980s
1980s
137 births
- 1990s
1990s
118 births
- 2000s
2000s
125 births
- 2010s 64
2010s
64 births
- 2020s 33
2020s
33 births
What this shows Peak: 1970s at 187 births (17% of all-time use).
How Spence 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 Spence's total volume
Spence vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Spence by state
Where Spence concentrates geographically, total births since 1902
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Tennessee | | 10 | 0.9% |
| #2 | California | | 5 | 0.4% |
| #3 | Georgia | | 5 | 0.4% |
| #4 | Louisiana | | 5 | 0.4% |
| #5 | Texas | | 5 | 0.4% |
Tennessee share of Spence's total US births 0.9%
Even split
10 of 1,114 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 5 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Spence? ▼
Since 1902, Social Security records show 1,114 babies named Spence. Today it holds rank #12407 among boys. Its busiest year on record was 1970, with 47 births.
When was Spence most popular? ▼
Spence was most popular in the 1970s decade with 187 total births. The single peak year was 1970.
Where is Spence most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Spence are Tennessee (10 births), California (5 births), Georgia (5 births).
How long has the name Spence been used? ▼
Records for Spence go back to 1902, giving 123 years of history through 2024.
What names are similar to Spence? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Spencer, Spenser, Spero, Speed, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Spence's data
- Spence's decade-level peak was the 1970s (187 total births); usage has since declined to 33 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Tennessee records the most Spences (10 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Tennessee 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 Spence
Nearby Names Like Spence
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Spence
Spencer Boy
#384 123,931 births
Spenser Boy
#9165 2,991 births
Spero Boy
316 births
Speed Boy
19 births
Speros Boy
11 births
Compare Spence side by side: Spence vs Spencer Spence vs Spenser Spence vs Spero
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Spence
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, 1902–2024 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Spence: #12407 Boys' Name - 1,114 Births, Peak 1970." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/spence. 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 Spence 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.