Eugene
Boy name · #943 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Eugene? In official American birth records, Eugene has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 249 baby boys were named Eugene, placing it at #943 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #826, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 7,229 boys born in 2025 was named Eugene.
The 145-year story
Eugene first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 328 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1927, when 9,742 boys were named Eugene — good for #20 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 Eugene per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Eugene against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Eugene in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Eugene is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Eugene will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Eugene is most common
Geography matters for names, and Eugene is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Eugene is most common in CO (0.4 per 1,000), WA (0.3 per 1,000), NY (0.1 per 1,000), CA (0.1 per 1,000), TX (0.1 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.2 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Eugene is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Eugene
Statistically, parents drawn to Eugene tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Gene, Ernest, Edmund, Melvin, and Alfred.
GeneErnestEdmundMelvinAlfredWallaceHaroldEddie
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Eugene | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 249 | #943 |
| 2024 | 276 | #873 |
| 2023 | 251 | #919 |
| 2022 | 248 | #929 |
| 2021 | 279 | #850 |
| 2020 | 272 | #839 |
| 2019 | 296 | #785 |
| 2018 | 254 | #862 |
| 2017 | 274 | #820 |
| 2016 | 300 | #790 |
| 2015 | 274 | #826 |
| 2014 | 291 | #790 |
| 2013 | 291 | #770 |
| 2012 | 315 | #735 |
| 2011 | 263 | #825 |
| 2010 | 287 | #773 |
| 2009 | 312 | #742 |
| 2008 | 341 | #695 |
| 2007 | 351 | #677 |
| 2006 | 352 | #654 |
| 2005 | 340 | #639 |
| 2004 | 383 | #582 |
| 2003 | 383 | #576 |
| 2002 | 405 | #547 |
| 2001 | 422 | #525 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Eugene?
In official American birth records, the name Eugene first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 328 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Eugene a popular boy name?
Eugene ranked #943 among boys in 2025 with 249 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #826.
When was the name Eugene most popular?
Eugene peaked in 1927, when 9,742 American boys received the name (ranked #20 that year). Since 1927 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Eugene?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 7,229 newborn American boys was named Eugene. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.