Total births
1,568
Unisex name · since 1884
Temple
Temple has 1,568 recorded births since 1884 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1971 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #8967
- among girls today
- 1,568
- born since 1884
- 1970s
- peak decade
- 49%
- more common than other girls
1,568 babies have been named Temple since 1884, making it today's #8967 unisex name.
Social Security Administration records show Temple recorded 1,568 times among girls since 1884, holding rank #8967 nationally today, ahead of 49% of girls, peaking in the 1970s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1884 to 2025.
- #8967 among girls today
- 1,568 born since 1884
- 1970s peak decade
- 49% more common than other girls
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Temple is currently the #8967 unisex name in America, more common than 49% of girls - 1,568 born since 1884, peaking in the 1970s.
- #8967
- among girls today
- 1,568
- born since 1884
- 1970s
- peak decade
- 49%
- more common than other girls
Temple vs. every other girls name in current SSA rankings
#8967
of 17,726 girls in use
More common than 49% of names given to girls today.
1970s
Peak decade
21% of everyone ever named Temple was born in this single decade.
1971
Single peak year
88 babies were named Temple in 1971 - its busiest year on record.
How Temple compares
1,568 Top 25% higher than 75% of 17,726 names currently given to girls
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked girls 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
Temple's all-time total is 4x the median girls name, and Olivia still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Temple | Median girls name (Emerly) | #1 girls name (Olivia) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,568 | 382 | 567,345 |
| Peak-year births | 88 | 48 | 19,840 |
Temple's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Temple splits its recorded history at 1966: 63% of all births land in the more recent half, 37% in the earlier half, a lean toward present-day use rather than a passing spike. The single quietest year was 1884 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1971 peak of 88 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Temple at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1971
Current rank
#8,967
Active since
1884
Temple popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1884–2025
- Peak year (1971)
- 88
- Annual births at peak, across 142 years of records
Temple popularity over time - boys
828 total births recorded since 1888 (Temple as boys' name)
Temple by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1970s was Temple's strongest decade.
330 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 21% of all-time use.
Temple births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 5
1880s
5 births
- 1890s 17
1890s
17 births
- 1900s 26
1900s
26 births
- 1910s 67
1910s
67 births
- 1920s 63
1920s
63 births
- 1930s 86
1930s
86 births
- 1940s 85
1940s
85 births
- 1950s 82
1950s
82 births
- 1960s
1960s
277 births
- 1970s
1970s
330 births
- 1980s 89
1980s
89 births
- 1990s 110
1990s
110 births
- 2000s 110
2000s
110 births
- 2010s
2010s
158 births
- 2020s 63
2020s
63 births
What this shows Peak: 1970s at 330 births (21% of all-time use).
How Temple compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Temple's total volume
Temple vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Temple by state
Where Temple concentrates geographically, total births since 1884
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Texas | | 38 | 2.4% |
| #2 | Louisiana | | 11 | 0.7% |
| #3 | Virginia | | 10 | 0.6% |
| #4 | Illinois | | 9 | 0.6% |
| #5 | California | | 6 | 0.4% |
| #6 | Indiana | | 5 | 0.3% |
| #7 | North Carolina | | 5 | 0.3% |
| #8 | Pennsylvania | | 5 | 0.3% |
Texas share of Temple's total US births 2.4%
Even split
38 of 1,568 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 8 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Temple? ▼
1,568 babies have been named Temple since 1884. It currently ranks #8967 among girls. The peak year was 1971 with 88 births.
When was Temple most popular? ▼
Temple was most popular in the 1970s decade with 330 total births. The single peak year was 1971.
Where is Temple most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Temple are Texas (38 births), Louisiana (11 births), Virginia (10 births).
Is Temple a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Temple is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name it has 1,568 births, and as a boy's name it has 828 births.
How long has the name Temple been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Temple since 1884 -- 142 years through the most recent 2025 data.
What names are similar to Temple? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Temperance, Tempie, Temeka, Tempest, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Temple's data
- Temple's decade-level peak was the 1970s (330 total births); usage has since declined to 63 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Texas records the most Temples (38 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Texas 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 Temple
Nearby Names Like Temple
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Temple
Temperance Girl
#2086 3,709 births
Tempie Girl
1,681 births
Temeka Girl
1,414 births
Tempest Girl
#8482 1,322 births
Temika Girl
911 births
Compare Temple side by side: Temple vs Temperance Temple vs Tempie Temple vs Temeka
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Temple
Nelda #8966
20,139 births · Peak 1938
Genoveva #8968
2,577 births · Peak 1925
Jerusha #8965
1,197 births · Peak 1975
Levie #8969
207 births · Peak 1912
Zita #8964
2,977 births · Peak 1922
Marjory #8970
8,172 births · Peak 1921
Andrew #8963
4,961 births · Peak 1987
Zeta #8971
1,354 births · Peak 2005
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, 1884–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Temple: #8967 Unisex Name - 1,568 Births, Peak 1971." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/temple. 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 Temple 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.