Boys' name · since 1916
Swanson
Since 1916, U.S. Social Security records show 121 babies named Swanson, peaking in 1934. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #16,186 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 121
- born since 1916
- 1920s
- peak decade
Swanson is not among the current top-ranked boys names; 121 have been recorded since 1916.
Social Security Administration records show Swanson recorded 121 times among boys since 1916, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used boys names, peaking in the 1920s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1916 to 1963.
- #16,186 of 45,481 all-time among boys
- 121 born since 1916
- 1920s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Swanson ranks #16,186 of 45,481 boys' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 121 born since 1916, peaking in the 1920s.
- #16,186 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 121
- born since 1916
- 1920s
- peak decade
Swanson's 121 recorded births place it above 64.39% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 1 jurisdictions, led by Virginia.
Swanson's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Swanson splits its recorded history at 1929: 52% of all births land in the more recent half, 48% in the earlier half, an evenly balanced pattern over time. The single quietest year was 1919 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1934 peak of 11 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Swanson popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1916–1963
- Peak year (1934)
- 11
- Annual births at peak, across 48 years of records
Swanson by decade
1920s is the heaviest window (56 births, 46% of the file).
1920s was Swanson's strongest decade.
56 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 46% of all-time use.
Swanson births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s 11
1910s
11 births
- 1920s
1920s
56 births
- 1930s
1930s
29 births
- 1940s 14
1940s
14 births
- 1950s 5
1950s
5 births
- 1960s 6
1960s
6 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 56 births (46% of all-time use).
Swanson by state
Where Swanson concentrates geographically, total births since 1916
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Virginia | | 15 | 12.4% |
15 of 121 births nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What to do with Swanson's data
- Swanson's decade-level peak was the 1920s (56 total births); usage has since declined to 6 in the 1960s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Virginia records the most Swansons (15 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Virginia names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Swanson
Nearby Names Like Swanson
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Swanson
Compare Swanson side by side: Swanson vs Swayze Swanson vs Swayde Swanson vs Swade
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Swanson: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1934)
Similar record span (~47 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, 1916–1963 (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 Swanson 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.