Franklin
Boy name · #359 in 2025 · Uniqueness 44/100
In 2025, 909 baby boys were named Franklin, placing it at #359 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #444, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,980 boys born in 2025 was named Franklin.
The 145-year story
Franklin first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 120 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1933, when 5,363 boys were named Franklin — good for #33 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 Franklin per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Franklin against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Franklin in class?
Franklin scores 44 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Franklin is most common
Geography matters for names, and Franklin is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Franklins were CA (70), TX (63), OH (50), MI (43), NC (43). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Franklin
Statistically, parents drawn to Franklin tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Marvin, Edwin, Francis, Alvin, and Melvin.
MarvinEdwinFrancisAlvinMelvinWarrenMarshallRaymond
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Franklin | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 909 | #359 |
| 2024 | 841 | #388 |
| 2023 | 784 | #408 |
| 2022 | 788 | #407 |
| 2021 | 801 | #395 |
| 2020 | 718 | #414 |
| 2019 | 739 | #422 |
| 2018 | 693 | #436 |
| 2017 | 710 | #437 |
| 2016 | 745 | #423 |
| 2015 | 690 | #444 |
| 2014 | 664 | #449 |
| 2013 | 551 | #497 |
| 2012 | 495 | #529 |
| 2011 | 520 | #499 |
| 2010 | 510 | #505 |
| 2009 | 511 | #529 |
| 2008 | 589 | #469 |
| 2007 | 580 | #469 |
| 2006 | 622 | #438 |
| 2005 | 567 | #451 |
| 2004 | 508 | #487 |
| 2003 | 539 | #466 |
| 2002 | 507 | #470 |
| 2001 | 534 | #452 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Franklin a popular boy name?
Franklin ranked #359 among boys in 2025 with 909 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #444.
When was the name Franklin most popular?
Franklin peaked in 1933, when 5,363 American boys received the name (ranked #33 that year). Since 1933 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Franklin?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,980 newborn American boys was named Franklin. It scores 44/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.