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.
- #2,765 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 2,644
- born since 1880
- 1920s
- peak decade
2,644 boys have been named Washington since 1880, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Washington has 2,644 recorded births among boys since 1880, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, though it falls outside today's most-used boys names, 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.
- #2,765 of 45,481 all-time among boys
- 2,644 born since 1880
- 1920s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Washington ranks #2,765 of 45,481 boys' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 2,644 born since 1880, peaking in the 1920s.
- #2,765 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 2,644
- born since 1880
- 1920s
- peak decade
Washington's 2,644 recorded births place it above 93.92% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.
13 jurisdictions carry state-level records, led by South Carolina.
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 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
1920s is the heaviest window (415 births, 16% of the file).
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 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% |
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? ▼
Where does Washington sit in the SSA name archive? ▼
When was Washington most popular? ▼
Where is Washington most popular? ▼
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What names are similar to Washington? ▼
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
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
Compare Washington side by side: Washington vs Wash Washington vs Waseem Washington vs Wassim
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Washington: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1921)
Similar record span (~144 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, 1880–2024 (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 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 August 2026.