Total births
2,644
Boys' name · since 1880
Washington
Since 1880, U.S. Social Security records show 2,644 babies named Washington, peaking in 1921. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #8989
- among boys today
- 2,644
- born since 1880
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 37%
- more common than other boys
Washington currently ranks #8989 among boys' names in America, with 2,644 babies recorded since 1880.
Washington has 2,644 recorded births among boys since 1880, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, ranked #8989 as of the latest data, more common than 37% of boys, busiest in the 1920s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1880 to 2024.
- #8989 among boys today
- 2,644 born since 1880
- 1920s peak decade
- 37% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Washington is currently the #8989 boys' name in America, more common than 37% of boys - 2,644 born since 1880, peaking in the 1920s.
- #8989
- among boys today
- 2,644
- born since 1880
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 37%
- more common than other boys
Washington vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#8989
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 37% of names given to boys today.
1920s
Peak decade
16% of everyone ever named Washington was born in this single decade.
1921
Single peak year
60 babies were named Washington in 1921 - its busiest year on record.
How Washington compares
2,644 Top 18% higher than 82% 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
Washington's all-time total is 7x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Washington | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 2,644 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 60 | 23 | 22,252 |
Washington's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Washington's SSA record in two at 1952 and the more recent half accounts for 31% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 69%, consistent with a name more common in the past than in recent years. Its calmest year was 1984, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1921 peak of 60, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Washington at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1921
Current rank
#8,989
Active since
1880
Washington popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1880–2024
- Peak year (1921)
- 60
- Annual births at peak, across 145 years of records
Washington by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Washington's strongest decade.
415 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 16% of all-time use.
Washington births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s
1880s
215 births
- 1890s 162
1890s
162 births
- 1900s 144
1900s
144 births
- 1910s
1910s
371 births
- 1920s
1920s
415 births
- 1930s
1930s
249 births
- 1940s
1940s
241 births
- 1950s 165
1950s
165 births
- 1960s 119
1960s
119 births
- 1970s 121
1970s
121 births
- 1980s 81
1980s
81 births
- 1990s 104
1990s
104 births
- 2000s 84
2000s
84 births
- 2010s 129
2010s
129 births
- 2020s 44
2020s
44 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 415 births (16% of all-time use).
How Washington 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 Washington's total volume
Washington vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Washington by state
Where Washington concentrates geographically, total births since 1880
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | South Carolina | | 60 | 2.3% |
| #2 | Alabama | | 54 | 2.0% |
| #3 | Mississippi | | 49 | 1.9% |
| #4 | Georgia | | 41 | 1.6% |
| #5 | North Carolina | | 32 | 1.2% |
| #6 | Virginia | | 29 | 1.1% |
| #7 | Louisiana | | 21 | 0.8% |
| #8 | Texas | | 20 | 0.8% |
South Carolina share of Washington's total US births 2.3%
Even split
60 of 2,644 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 13 reporting states.
Washington appears in 13 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Washington? ▼
Since 1880, Social Security records show 2,644 babies named Washington. Today it holds rank #8989 among boys. Its busiest year on record was 1921, with 60 births.
When was Washington most popular? ▼
Washington was most popular in the 1920s decade with 415 total births. The single peak year was 1921.
Where is Washington most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Washington are South Carolina (60 births), Alabama (54 births), Mississippi (49 births).
How long has the name Washington been used? ▼
Washington has been recorded in Social Security data since 1880, spanning 145 years of data through 2024.
What names are similar to Washington? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Wash, Waseem, Wassim, Wasim, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Washington's data
- Washington's decade-level peak was the 1920s (415 total births); usage has since declined to 44 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- South Carolina records the most Washingtons (60 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. South Carolina 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 Washington
Nearby Names Like Washington
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Washington
Wash Boy
1,196 births
Waseem Boy
#5999 794 births
Wassim Boy
#8550 294 births
Wasim Boy
#10193 182 births
Wasif Boy
143 births
Compare Washington side by side: Washington vs Wash Washington vs Waseem Washington vs Wassim
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Washington
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, 1880–2024 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Washington: #8989 Boys' Name - 2,644 Births, Peak 1921." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/washington. 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 Washington 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.