August
Boy name · #81 in 2025 · Well-known
How old is the name August? In official American birth records, August has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
August ranks #81 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 3,958 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #195, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 455 boys born in 2025 was named August.
The 145-year story
August first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 210 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2025, with 3,958 babies and a rank of #81. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. 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.
Babies named August per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare August against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another August in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common August is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "well-known". A low score means broad familiarity: teachers will spell it right, and your child may share it with a classmate. For many families that's a feature, not a bug.
Where August is most common
Geography matters for names, and August is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, August is most common in VT (8.3 per 1,000), DC (6.7 per 1,000), MO (6 per 1,000), SD (5.7 per 1,000), MN (5.6 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 2.7 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where August is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like August
Statistically, parents drawn to August tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Adriel, Archer, Everett, Atlas, and Amir.
AdrielArcherEverettAtlasAmirEmmettBrooksAxel
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named August | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,958 | #81 |
| 2024 | 3,894 | #88 |
| 2023 | 3,459 | #104 |
| 2022 | 3,420 | #109 |
| 2021 | 3,160 | #120 |
| 2020 | 2,432 | #155 |
| 2019 | 2,389 | #167 |
| 2018 | 2,291 | #169 |
| 2017 | 2,061 | #191 |
| 2016 | 2,092 | #193 |
| 2015 | 2,093 | #195 |
| 2014 | 1,545 | #241 |
| 2013 | 1,043 | #319 |
| 2012 | 946 | #333 |
| 2011 | 720 | #395 |
| 2010 | 647 | #427 |
| 2009 | 651 | #432 |
| 2008 | 582 | #477 |
| 2007 | 413 | #609 |
| 2006 | 384 | #618 |
| 2005 | 343 | #636 |
| 2004 | 301 | #672 |
| 2003 | 304 | #654 |
| 2002 | 281 | #664 |
| 2001 | 290 | #643 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name August?
In official American birth records, the name August first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 210 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is August a popular boy name?
August ranked #81 among boys in 2025 with 3,958 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #195.
When was the name August most popular?
August peaked in 2025, when 3,958 American boys received the name (ranked #81 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name August?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 455 newborn American boys was named August. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "well-known".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.