Boys' name · since 1945
Sten
Since 1945, U.S. Social Security records show 170 babies named Sten, peaking in 1965. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #13,963 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 170
- born since 1945
- 1960s
- peak decade
170 boys have been named Sten since 1945, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Social Security Administration records show Sten recorded 170 times among boys since 1945, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used boys names, peaking in the 1960s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1945 to 2003.
- #13,963 of 45,481 all-time among boys
- 170 born since 1945
- 1960s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Sten ranks #13,963 of 45,481 boys' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 170 born since 1945, peaking in the 1960s.
- #13,963 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 170
- born since 1945
- 1960s
- peak decade
Sten's 170 recorded births place it above 69.28% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 1 jurisdictions, led by California.
Sten's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Sten's SSA record in two at 1970 and the more recent half accounts for 52% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 48%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1945, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1965 peak of 10, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Sten popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1945–2003
- Peak year (1965)
- 10
- Annual births at peak, across 59 years of records
Sten by decade
1960s is the heaviest window (66 births, 39% of the file).
1960s was Sten's strongest decade.
66 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 39% of all-time use.
Sten births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1940s 5
1940s
5 births
- 1950s 11
1950s
11 births
- 1960s
1960s
66 births
- 1970s
1970s
37 births
- 1980s 23
1980s
23 births
- 1990s 20
1990s
20 births
- 2000s 8
2000s
8 births
What this shows Peak: 1960s at 66 births (39% of all-time use).
Sten by state
Where Sten concentrates geographically, total births since 1945
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 5 | 2.9% |
5 of 170 births nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Sten? ▼
Where does Sten sit in the SSA name archive? ▼
When was Sten most popular? ▼
Where is Sten most popular? ▼
How long has the name Sten been used? ▼
What names are similar to Sten? ▼
What to do with Sten's data
- Sten's decade-level peak was the 1960s (66 total births); usage has since declined to 8 in the 2000s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Stens (5 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Sten
Nearby Names Like Sten
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Sten
Compare Sten side by side: Sten vs Steven Sten vs Stephen Sten vs Steve
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Sten: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1965)
Similar record span (~58 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, 1945–2003 (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 Sten 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.