Burke
Boy name · #2644 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Burke? In official American birth records, Burke has been tracked continuously since 1881, giving it 144 years of documented American history.
Burke is currently the #2644 boy name in the United States — 49 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #2276, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 36,735 boys born in 2025 was named Burke.
The 144-year story
Burke first appears in the Social Security records in 1881, when 6 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2013, when 78 boys were named Burke — good for #1827 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.
Babies named Burke per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Burke against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Burke in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Burke is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Burke will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Burke is most common
State-level data for Burke 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 Burke
Statistically, parents drawn to Burke tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Thane, Blaize, Blayne, Breck, and Price.
ThaneBlaizeBlayneBreckPriceBoeBlayzeBaxter
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Burke | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 49 | #2641 |
| 2024 | 37 | #3216 |
| 2023 | 53 | #2510 |
| 2022 | 52 | #2589 |
| 2021 | 71 | #2060 |
| 2020 | 66 | #2113 |
| 2019 | 69 | #2081 |
| 2018 | 55 | #2385 |
| 2017 | 49 | #2566 |
| 2016 | 58 | #2278 |
| 2015 | 58 | #2276 |
| 2014 | 72 | #1979 |
| 2013 | 78 | #1827 |
| 2012 | 64 | #2104 |
| 2011 | 71 | #1947 |
| 2010 | 63 | #2118 |
| 2009 | 59 | #2231 |
| 2008 | 66 | #2088 |
| 2007 | 63 | #2139 |
| 2006 | 62 | #2102 |
| 2005 | 74 | #1772 |
| 2004 | 46 | #2419 |
| 2003 | 60 | #1936 |
| 2002 | 55 | #1998 |
| 2001 | 54 | #1982 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Burke?
In official American birth records, the name Burke first appeared in 1881 (over 144 years ago), when 6 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Burke a popular boy name?
Burke ranked #2644 among boys in 2025 with 49 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2276.
When was the name Burke most popular?
Burke peaked in 2013, when 78 American boys received the name (ranked #1827 that year). Since 2013 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Burke?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 36,735 newborn American boys was named Burke. 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.