Bowman
Boy name · #2393 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Bowman? In official American birth records, Bowman has been tracked continuously since 1884, giving it 141 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 57 baby boys were named Bowman, placing it at #2393 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #2864, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 31,579 boys born in 2025 was named Bowman.
Babies named Bowman per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 141-year story
Bowman first appears in the Social Security records in 1884, when 5 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2025, with 57 babies and a rank of #2390. 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Bowman against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Bowman in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Bowman is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Bowman will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Bowman is most common
State-level data for Bowman is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Bowman
Statistically, parents drawn to Bowman tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Luqman, Sulayman, Othman, Uthman, and Suleiman.
LuqmanSulaymanOthmanUthmanSuleimanSulaimanUsmanIman
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Bowman | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 57 | #2390 |
| 2024 | 54 | #2502 |
| 2023 | 41 | #3005 |
| 2022 | 48 | #2717 |
| 2021 | 47 | #2695 |
| 2020 | 47 | #2658 |
| 2019 | 43 | #2851 |
| 2018 | 39 | #2994 |
| 2017 | 39 | #3006 |
| 2016 | 43 | #2783 |
| 2015 | 41 | #2864 |
| 2014 | 20 | #4702 |
| 2013 | 20 | #4621 |
| 2012 | 18 | #5035 |
| 2011 | 18 | #4983 |
| 2010 | 19 | #4848 |
| 2009 | 15 | #5800 |
| 2008 | 13 | #6393 |
| 2007 | 7 | #9788 |
| 2006 | 14 | #5781 |
| 2005 | 12 | #6226 |
| 2004 | 12 | #6138 |
| 2003 | 7 | #8643 |
| 2002 | 9 | #7055 |
| 2001 | 10 | #6445 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Bowman?
In official American birth records, the name Bowman first appeared in 1884 (over 141 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Bowman a popular boy name?
Bowman ranked #2393 among boys in 2025 with 57 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2864.
When was the name Bowman most popular?
Bowman peaked in 2025, when 57 American boys received the name (ranked #2390 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Bowman?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 31,579 newborn American boys was named Bowman. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.