Gavin
Boy name · #303 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Gavin? In official American birth records, Gavin has been tracked continuously since 1913, giving it 112 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 1,125 baby boys were named Gavin, placing it at #303 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #70, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,600 boys born in 2025 was named Gavin.
The 112-year story
Gavin first appears in the Social Security records in 1913, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2007, when 11,863 boys were named Gavin — good for #32 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 Gavin per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Gavin against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Gavin in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Gavin is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Gavin is most common
Geography matters for names, and Gavin is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Gavin is most common in NH (2.7 per 1,000), CT (1.4 per 1,000), MA (1.4 per 1,000), PA (1.4 per 1,000), IA (1.2 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.8 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Gavin is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Gavin
Statistically, parents drawn to Gavin tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Kaden, Jaden, Colin, Caden, and Aidan.
KadenJadenColinCadenAidanJaylenKalebPreston
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Gavin | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,125 | #303 |
| 2024 | 1,384 | #255 |
| 2023 | 1,515 | #232 |
| 2022 | 1,798 | #206 |
| 2021 | 2,216 | #174 |
| 2020 | 2,589 | #142 |
| 2019 | 3,013 | #128 |
| 2018 | 3,475 | #111 |
| 2017 | 4,159 | #96 |
| 2016 | 4,944 | #80 |
| 2015 | 5,794 | #70 |
| 2014 | 6,622 | #61 |
| 2013 | 7,422 | #50 |
| 2012 | 8,260 | #40 |
| 2011 | 9,016 | #37 |
| 2010 | 9,626 | #38 |
| 2009 | 10,742 | #33 |
| 2008 | 11,752 | #30 |
| 2007 | 11,863 | #32 |
| 2006 | 10,479 | #38 |
| 2005 | 9,340 | #47 |
| 2004 | 8,610 | #52 |
| 2003 | 8,764 | #51 |
| 2002 | 6,951 | #61 |
| 2001 | 5,260 | #78 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Gavin?
In official American birth records, the name Gavin first appeared in 1913 (over 112 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 112 years.
Is Gavin a popular boy name?
Gavin ranked #303 among boys in 2025 with 1,125 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #70.
When was the name Gavin most popular?
Gavin peaked in 2007, when 11,863 American boys received the name (ranked #32 that year). Since 2007 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Gavin?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,600 newborn American boys was named Gavin. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.