Total births
165
Unisex name · since 2006
Theory
Since 2006, U.S. Social Security records show 165 babies named Theory, peaking in 2023. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #7176
- among girls today
- 165
- born since 2006
- 2020s
- peak decade
- 60%
- more common than other girls
Theory currently ranks #7176 among unisex names in America, with 165 babies recorded since 2006.
Social Security Administration records show Theory recorded 165 times among girls since 2006, holding rank #7176 nationally today, ahead of 60% of girls, peaking in the 2020s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 2006 to 2025.
- #7176 among girls today
- 165 born since 2006
- 2020s peak decade
- 60% more common than other girls
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Theory is currently the #7176 unisex name in America, more common than 60% of girls - 165 born since 2006, peaking in the 2020s.
- #7176
- among girls today
- 165
- born since 2006
- 2020s
- peak decade
- 60%
- more common than other girls
Theory vs. every other girls name in current SSA rankings
#7176
of 17,726 girls in use
More common than 60% of names given to girls today.
2020s
Peak decade
61% of everyone ever named Theory was born in this single decade.
2023
Single peak year
20 babies were named Theory in 2023 - its busiest year on record.
How Theory compares
165 33th percentile among 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
Theory's all-time total is 57% below the median girls name, and Olivia still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Theory | Median girls name (Emerly) | #1 girls name (Olivia) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 165 | 382 | 567,345 |
| Peak-year births | 20 | 48 | 19,840 |
Theory's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Theory splits its recorded history at 2018: 70% of all births land in the more recent half, 30% in the earlier half, a lean toward present-day use rather than a passing spike. The single quietest year was 2006 (5 births) -- compare that against the 2023 peak of 20 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Theory at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2023
Current rank
#7,176
Active since
2006
Theory popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 2006–2025
- Peak year (2023)
- 20
- Annual births at peak, across 20 years of records
Theory popularity over time - boys
92 total births recorded since 2009 (Theory as boys' name)
Theory by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2020s was Theory's strongest decade.
100 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 61% of all-time use.
Theory births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 2000s 5
2000s
5 births
- 2010s
2010s
60 births
- 2020s
2020s
100 births
What this shows Peak: 2020s at 100 births (61% of all-time use).
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Theory? ▼
Theory has been given to 165 babies in the U.S. since 2006, according to SSA data. Among girls, it ranks #7176 as of the latest data. 20 babies were born in 2023, its single highest year.
When was Theory most popular? ▼
Theory was most popular in the 2020s decade with 100 total births. The single peak year was 2023.
Is Theory a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Theory is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name it has 165 births, and as a boy's name it has 92 births.
How long has the name Theory been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Theory since 2006 -- 20 years through the most recent 2025 data.
What names are similar to Theory? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Theresa, Thelma, Therese, Thea, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
Keep exploring Theory
Nearby Names Like Theory
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Theory
Theresa Girl
#1492 404,613 births
Thelma Girl
#4299 225,460 births
Therese Girl
#2180 35,590 births
Thea Girl
#349 20,113 births
Theodora Girl
#811 12,654 births
Compare Theory side by side: Theory vs Theresa Theory vs Thelma Theory vs Therese
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Theory
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, 2006–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Theory: #7176 Unisex Name - 165 Births, Peak 2023." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/theory. 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 Theory 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.