Elder
Boy name · #2720 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Elder? In official American birth records, Elder has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Elder is currently the #2720 boy name in the United States — 47 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #3431, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 38,298 boys born in 2025 was named Elder.
Babies named Elder per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Elder first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 8 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2024, with 58 babies and a rank of #2393. 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 Elder against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Elder in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Elder is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Elder will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Elder is most common
State-level data for Elder 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 Elder
Statistically, parents drawn to Elder tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Lander, Sander, Eder, Haider, and Ender.
LanderSanderEderHaiderEnderRiderCalderMaher
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Elder | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 47 | #2718 |
| 2024 | 58 | #2393 |
| 2023 | 48 | #2693 |
| 2022 | 41 | #3003 |
| 2021 | 44 | #2819 |
| 2020 | 31 | #3497 |
| 2019 | 50 | #2582 |
| 2018 | 30 | #3607 |
| 2017 | 44 | #2755 |
| 2016 | 40 | #2935 |
| 2015 | 32 | #3431 |
| 2014 | 45 | #2661 |
| 2013 | 29 | #3582 |
| 2012 | 27 | #3807 |
| 2011 | 35 | #3164 |
| 2010 | 41 | #2874 |
| 2009 | 41 | #2894 |
| 2008 | 48 | #2583 |
| 2007 | 56 | #2304 |
| 2006 | 56 | #2248 |
| 2005 | 40 | #2701 |
| 2004 | 36 | #2843 |
| 2003 | 39 | #2579 |
| 2002 | 46 | #2249 |
| 2001 | 28 | #3143 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Elder?
In official American birth records, the name Elder first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 8 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Elder a popular boy name?
Elder ranked #2720 among boys in 2025 with 47 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #3431.
When was the name Elder most popular?
Elder peaked in 2024, when 58 American boys received the name (ranked #2393 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Elder?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 38,298 newborn American boys was named Elder. 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.