Total births
2,991
Unisex name · since 1968
Spenser
Spenser has 2,991 recorded births since 1968 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1988 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #9165
- among boys today
- 2,991
- born since 1968
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 36%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Spenser is the #9165 most popular unisex name in the U.S. today, with 2,991 recorded since 1968.
Spenser has 2,991 recorded births among boys since 1968, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, ranked #9165 as of the latest data, more common than 36% of boys, busiest in the 1990s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1968 to 2025.
- #9165 among boys today
- 2,991 born since 1968
- 1990s peak decade
- 36% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Spenser is currently the #9165 unisex name in America, more common than 36% of boys - 2,991 born since 1968, peaking in the 1990s.
- #9165
- among boys today
- 2,991
- born since 1968
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 36%
- more common than other boys
Spenser vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#9165
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 36% of names given to boys today.
1990s
Peak decade
46% of everyone ever named Spenser was born in this single decade.
1988
Single peak year
333 babies were named Spenser in 1988 - its busiest year on record.
How Spenser compares
2,991 Top 17% higher than 83% 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
Spenser's all-time total is 8x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Spenser | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 2,991 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 333 | 23 | 22,252 |
Spenser's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Spenser's SSA record in two at 2000 and the more recent half accounts for 19% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 81%, consistent with a name more common in the past than in recent years. Its calmest year was 1977, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1988 peak of 333, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Spenser at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1988
Current rank
#9,165
Active since
1968
Spenser popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1968–2025
- Peak year (1988)
- 333
- Annual births at peak, across 58 years of records
Spenser popularity over time - girls
372 total births recorded since 1987 (Spenser as girls' name)
Spenser by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1990s was Spenser's strongest decade.
1,390 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 46% of all-time use.
Spenser births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1960s 6
1960s
6 births
- 1970s 38
1970s
38 births
- 1980s
1980s
974 births
- 1990s
1990s
1,390 births
- 2000s 427
2000s
427 births
- 2010s 106
2010s
106 births
- 2020s 50
2020s
50 births
What this shows Peak: 1990s at 1,390 births (46% of all-time use).
How Spenser 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 Spenser's total volume
Spenser vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Spenser by state
Where Spenser concentrates geographically, total births since 1968
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 327 | 10.9% |
| #2 | Texas | | 130 | 4.3% |
| #3 | Florida | | 99 | 3.3% |
| #4 | Michigan | | 83 | 2.8% |
| #5 | Indiana | | 81 | 2.7% |
| #6 | Ohio | | 80 | 2.7% |
| #7 | Washington | | 70 | 2.3% |
| #8 | North Carolina | | 60 | 2.0% |
California share of Spenser's total US births 10.9%
Even split
327 of 2,991 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 31 reporting states.
Spenser appears in 31 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Spenser? ▼
2,991 babies have been named Spenser since 1968. It currently ranks #9165 among boys. The peak year was 1988 with 333 births.
When was Spenser most popular? ▼
Spenser was most popular in the 1990s decade with 1,390 total births. The single peak year was 1988.
Where is Spenser most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Spenser are California (327 births), Texas (130 births), Florida (99 births).
Is Spenser a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Spenser is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 2,991 births, and as a girl's name it has 372 births.
How long has the name Spenser been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Spenser since 1968 -- 58 years through the most recent 2025 data.
What names are similar to Spenser? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Spencer, Spence, Spero, Speed, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Spenser's data
- Spenser's decade-level peak was the 1990s (1,390 total births); usage has since declined to 50 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Spensers (327 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California 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 Spenser
Nearby Names Like Spenser
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Spenser
Spencer Boy
#384 123,931 births
Spence Boy
#12407 1,114 births
Spero Boy
316 births
Speed Boy
19 births
Speros Boy
11 births
Compare Spenser side by side: Spenser vs Spencer Spenser vs Spence Spenser vs Spero
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Spenser
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, 1968–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Spenser: #9165 Unisex Name - 2,991 Births, Peak 1988." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/spenser. 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 Spenser 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.