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.
- #4,796 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 1,114
- born since 1902
- 1970s
- peak decade
Spence sits outside today's top ranks for boys, with 1,114 recorded since 1902.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Spence has been recorded 1,114 times among boys since 1902, 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 1902 to 2024.
- #4,796 of 45,481 all-time among boys
- 1,114 born since 1902
- 1970s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Spence ranks #4,796 of 45,481 boys' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 1,114 born since 1902, peaking in the 1970s.
- #4,796 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 1,114
- born since 1902
- 1970s
- peak decade
Spence's 1,114 recorded births place it above 89.45% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 5 jurisdictions, led by Tennessee.
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 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
1970s is the heaviest window (187 births, 17% of the file).
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 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% |
10 of 1,114 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 5 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
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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
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
Compare Spence side by side: Spence vs Spencer Spence vs Spenser Spence vs Spero
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Spence: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1970)
Similar record span (~122 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, 1902–2024 (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 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 August 2026.