Total births
2,479
Unisex name · since 1882
True
Since 1882, U.S. Social Security records show 2,479 babies named True, peaking in 2024. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #980
- among boys today
- 2,479
- born since 1882
- 2020s
- peak decade
- 93%
- more common than other boys
True currently ranks #980 among unisex names in America, with 2,479 babies recorded since 1882.
Social Security Administration records show True recorded 2,479 times among boys since 1882, holding rank #980 nationally today, ahead of 93% of boys, 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 1882 to 2025.
- #980 among boys today
- 2,479 born since 1882
- 2020s peak decade
- 93% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
True is currently the #980 unisex name in America, more common than 93% of boys - 2,479 born since 1882, peaking in the 2020s.
- #980
- among boys today
- 2,479
- born since 1882
- 2020s
- peak decade
- 93%
- more common than other boys
True vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#980
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 93% of names given to boys today.
2020s
Peak decade
49% of everyone ever named True was born in this single decade.
2024
Single peak year
230 babies were named True in 2024 - its busiest year on record.
How True compares
2,479 Top 19% higher than 81% 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
True's all-time total is 7x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | True | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 2,479 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 230 | 23 | 22,252 |
True's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide True's SSA record in two at 1994 and the more recent half accounts for 91% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 9%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1882, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 2024 peak of 230, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
True at a glance
Top 1,000 boys' namePeak year
2024
Current rank
#980
Active since
1882
True popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1882–2025
- Peak year (2024)
- 230
- Annual births at peak, across 144 years of records
True popularity over time - girls
2,186 total births recorded since 1904 (True as girls' name)
True by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2020s was True's strongest decade.
1,212 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 49% of all-time use.
True births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 5
1880s
5 births
- 1890s 12
1890s
12 births
- 1910s 44
1910s
44 births
- 1920s 60
1920s
60 births
- 1940s 12
1940s
12 births
- 1950s 6
1950s
6 births
- 1970s 6
1970s
6 births
- 1980s 39
1980s
39 births
- 1990s 154
1990s
154 births
- 2000s 286
2000s
286 births
- 2010s
2010s
643 births
- 2020s
2020s
1,212 births
What this shows Peak: 2020s at 1,212 births (49% of all-time use).
How True 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 True's total volume
True vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
True by state
Where True concentrates geographically, total births since 1882
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Texas | | 202 | 8.1% |
| #2 | California | | 185 | 7.5% |
| #3 | Georgia | | 120 | 4.8% |
| #4 | Florida | | 90 | 3.6% |
| #5 | North Carolina | | 80 | 3.2% |
| #6 | Illinois | | 64 | 2.6% |
| #7 | New York | | 62 | 2.5% |
| #8 | Maryland | | 55 | 2.2% |
Texas share of True's total US births 8.1%
Even split
202 of 2,479 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 24 reporting states.
True appears in 24 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name True? ▼
2,479 babies have been named True since 1882. It currently ranks #980 among boys. The peak year was 2024 with 230 births.
When was True most popular? ▼
True was most popular in the 2020s decade with 1,212 total births. The single peak year was 2024.
Where is True most popular? ▼
The top states for the name True are Texas (202 births), California (185 births), Georgia (120 births).
Is True a unisex name? ▼
Yes, True is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 2,479 births, and as a girl's name it has 2,186 births.
How long has the name True been used? ▼
True has been recorded in Social Security data since 1882, spanning 144 years of data through 2025.
What names are similar to True? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Truman, Truett, Tru, Truitt, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with True's data
- Texas records the most Trues (202 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 True
Nearby Names Like True
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to True
Truman Boy
#1810 15,947 births
Truett Boy
#648 4,484 births
Tru Boy
#616 3,794 births
Truitt Boy
#1867 1,537 births
Truth Boy
#1500 1,452 births
Compare True side by side: True vs Truman True vs Truett True vs Tru
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to True
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, 1882–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "True: #980 Unisex Name - 2,479 Births, Peak 2024." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/true. 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 True 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.