Anderson
Boy name · #363 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Anderson? In official American birth records, Anderson has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Anderson ranks #363 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 898 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #306, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 2,004 boys born in 2025 was named Anderson.
Babies named Anderson per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Anderson first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 43 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2012, when 1,249 boys were named Anderson — good for #280 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Anderson against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Anderson in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Anderson is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Anderson is most common
Geography matters for names, and Anderson is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Anderson is most common in AL (1.6 per 1,000), MS (1.6 per 1,000), LA (1.4 per 1,000), TN (1.2 per 1,000), KS (1.1 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.6 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Anderson is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Anderson
Statistically, parents drawn to Anderson tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Karson, Lawson, Emerson, Kason, and Bryson.
KarsonLawsonEmersonKasonBrysonSamsonJamisonCason
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Anderson | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 898 | #363 |
| 2024 | 946 | #356 |
| 2023 | 1,009 | #332 |
| 2022 | 1,001 | #337 |
| 2021 | 1,003 | #328 |
| 2020 | 1,083 | #306 |
| 2019 | 1,057 | #318 |
| 2018 | 1,173 | #297 |
| 2017 | 1,201 | #294 |
| 2016 | 1,162 | #304 |
| 2015 | 1,186 | #306 |
| 2014 | 1,163 | #304 |
| 2013 | 1,154 | #303 |
| 2012 | 1,249 | #280 |
| 2011 | 1,145 | #294 |
| 2010 | 1,021 | #313 |
| 2009 | 1,142 | #288 |
| 2008 | 1,017 | #325 |
| 2007 | 926 | #346 |
| 2006 | 754 | #399 |
| 2005 | 496 | #499 |
| 2004 | 370 | #594 |
| 2003 | 340 | #613 |
| 2002 | 281 | #664 |
| 2001 | 229 | #752 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Anderson?
In official American birth records, the name Anderson first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 43 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Anderson a popular boy name?
Anderson ranked #363 among boys in 2025 with 898 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #306.
When was the name Anderson most popular?
Anderson peaked in 2012, when 1,249 American boys received the name (ranked #280 that year). Since 2012 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Anderson?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 2,004 newborn American boys was named Anderson. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.