Dempsey
Boy name · #2991 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Dempsey? In official American birth records, Dempsey has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 41 baby boys were named Dempsey, placing it at #2991 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #2001, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 43,902 boys born in 2025 was named Dempsey.
The 145-year story
Dempsey first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 11 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1921, when 108 boys were named Dempsey — good for #609 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. 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 Dempsey per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Dempsey against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Dempsey in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Dempsey is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Dempsey will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Dempsey is most common
State-level data for Dempsey 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 Dempsey
Statistically, parents drawn to Dempsey tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Hartley, Charley, Mckinley, Wiley, and Hardy.
HartleyCharleyMckinleyWileyHardyRaleighHoytElden
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Dempsey | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 41 | #2991 |
| 2024 | 45 | #2835 |
| 2023 | 59 | #2346 |
| 2022 | 52 | #2589 |
| 2021 | 70 | #2079 |
| 2020 | 51 | #2505 |
| 2019 | 62 | #2228 |
| 2018 | 55 | #2385 |
| 2017 | 66 | #2091 |
| 2016 | 71 | #2012 |
| 2015 | 72 | #2001 |
| 2014 | 94 | #1641 |
| 2013 | 77 | #1851 |
| 2012 | 62 | #2155 |
| 2011 | 68 | #1999 |
| 2010 | 47 | #2579 |
| 2009 | 28 | #3721 |
| 2008 | 29 | #3646 |
| 2007 | 28 | #3687 |
| 2006 | 23 | #4105 |
| 2005 | 17 | #4824 |
| 2004 | 10 | #6976 |
| 2003 | 18 | #4426 |
| 2002 | 18 | #4322 |
| 2001 | 9 | #6935 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Dempsey?
In official American birth records, the name Dempsey first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 11 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Dempsey a popular boy name?
Dempsey ranked #2991 among boys in 2025 with 41 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2001.
When was the name Dempsey most popular?
Dempsey peaked in 1921, when 108 American boys received the name (ranked #609 that year). Since 1921 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Dempsey?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 43,902 newborn American boys was named Dempsey. 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.