US Names: Find Your Name's Popularity & Stats Now!
How often have you pondered the uniqueness of your name, the echoes of it throughout history, and its prevalence in the bustling tapestry of modern society? The quest to understand our names their origins, their popularity, and their distribution is a fascinating journey into the heart of human identity.
The pursuit of such information has driven numerous data analysis projects, allowing us to explore the numerical landscape of personal identification. Websites like Mynamestats.com have emerged as key resources, employing simple yet powerful statistical methods to unravel the stories behind the names we bear. These platforms offer insights into name popularity, the distribution across racial and ethnic groups, and even the similarities between different names. By simply entering your first and last name, you can tap into a wealth of information. The quest to understand how many people share your name is indeed an exciting one.
Delving into the realm of names reveals compelling trends. In the United States, certain names have held a steadfast grip on popularity for decades. Names like "John" and "Mary" dominated the top spots for generations. For example, "John" consistently ranked among the top 10 names from the 1880s through the 1980s, reflecting a cultural affinity that transcended societal shifts. "William" has maintained a strong presence, solidifying its popularity over decades, extending from the 1880s through the 1970s, and remaining relevant in the 2000s and 2010s. This data indicates names' enduring presence in the cultural landscape.
Numerous resources offer an exploration of name data. "The Name Geek" provides dedicated data about names. Several other websites have emerged, such as Wolfram|Alpha and Many of Me, that offer specific information about name frequencies, popular names, and even the meanings associated with particular names. The U.S. Census Bureau also plays a role, collecting and tabulating data about name frequency, primarily to comply with the many requests it receives for such information. The Social Security Administration's (SSA) baby names database is a treasure trove, offering insights into trends over the past century. The data from these sources collectively paint a comprehensive picture of name prevalence and distribution, all of which are accessible with a few clicks.
Let's consider the specific example of a name like "Matthew." Based on the Social Security Administration's baby names database, which analyzes 100 years' worth of data, an estimated 1,465,960 people share the name Matthew in the United States. There are 246.72 people named Matthew for every 100,000 Americans, which indicates that it's a relatively popular first name, used 99% of the time. The popularity of a name can be further contextualized by looking at its percentile rank, the percentile rank indicates a name's place compared to all other names. Consider the name "Karen," ranked as the 24th most popular name in the United States. The data suggest that nearly 0% of all other first names are more popular than "Karen," and 460.83 people named Karen for every 100,000 Americans.
Now, let's focus on some concrete examples. Consider the name "John," a name which holds immense historical significance. Based on the Social Security Administration's (SSA) baby names database, the estimated population of people named John is 3,175,228 in the United States. "John" is used as a first name 99% of the time, and there are 1661.67 people named John for every 100,000 Americans.
The surname "Smith" is the most common name in the United States, with an estimated population of 2,806,195, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. It has a rank of 1 and a proportion of 880.85 per 100,000 Americans. Another common last name, "Johnson," has an estimated population of 2,193,219 in the United States, with a rank of 2 and a proportion of 688.44 per 100,000 Americans.
One of the most interesting aspects of name research is the ability to find out how many people share a name. With Many of Me's resources and census data, you can find an approximate number of people in the United States with your exact first and last name. The 2010 U.S. Census currently provides the basis for last name data. Websites like Many of Me use the latest data to give accurate estimates, and the goal is to give you a clear picture of your name.
Famous people with common names are also a topic of interest. A common name, such as "James", can be held by many notable people, adding an interesting layer to the significance of shared names.
The use of social security card applications for births that occurred in the United States after 1879 ensures that the data presented is as comprehensive as possible. Note that many people born before 1937 never applied for a social security card, so their names are not included in the data, which may affect the number of names. The information is primarily focused on the frequency of a given name, with no specific individual information.
The Social Security Administration's data, the U.S. Census Bureau, and other resources help to provide a comprehensive picture of the prevalence and distribution of names. From exploring the top 20 most popular first names to discovering famous people with shared names, there is a wealth of information to explore. Finding your name and its meaning is an exciting and curious quest, and the insights it provides are invaluable to better understand our society.
Here is a table that summarizes some popular names in the United States. This is a sample and contains information.
| Name | Estimated Population | Frequency per 100,000 | Most Often Used As |
|---|---|---|---|
| John | 3,175,228 | 1661.67 | First Name |
| Mary | 1,929,130 | 659.57 | First Name |
| David | 2,939,747 | 1534.53 | First Name |
| Michael | 4,394,136 | 161.07 | First Name |
| Smith | 2,806,195 | 823.92 | Last Name |
| Johnson | 2,193,219 | 637.98 | Last Name |
For more detailed name frequency statistics, you can also reference the U.S. Census Bureau, which supplies such information in an effort to comply with requests, and the data is based on the census of population and housing. For a look into the etymology of surnames or discovering information about multiple names, Wolfram|Alpha is a great source for reference and comparison. The Social Security Administration also serves as an authoritative resource, analyzing data from Social Security card applications. You can see what names are included by going back to 1879.
Whether you are interested in the meanings of your name, the trends that have emerged, or comparing multiple names, websites like Mynamestats.com and The Name Geek serve as valuable resources. They offer the ability to explore the popularity, race, Hispanic origin and ethnicity, and similarity of names. By digging into the information and using reliable resources, you can start to see how names function in society.
