Gordon
Boy name · #1051 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Gordon? In official American birth records, Gordon has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Gordon is currently the #1051 boy name in the United States — 209 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #812, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 8,612 boys born in 2025 was named Gordon.
The 145-year story
Gordon first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 51 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1952, when 2,829 boys were named Gordon — good for #110 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 Gordon per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Gordon against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Gordon in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Gordon is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Gordon will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Gordon is most common
Geography matters for names, and Gordon is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Gordon is most common in MN (0.5 per 1,000), MI (0.3 per 1,000), NY (0.2 per 1,000), PA (0.2 per 1,000), OH (0.2 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.1 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Gordon is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Gordon
Statistically, parents drawn to Gordon tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Don, Byron, Nelson, Gary, and Glenn.
DonByronNelsonGaryGlennGerardGeraldAllan
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Gordon | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 209 | #1051 |
| 2024 | 200 | #1087 |
| 2023 | 223 | #987 |
| 2022 | 233 | #971 |
| 2021 | 243 | #929 |
| 2020 | 225 | #965 |
| 2019 | 267 | #841 |
| 2018 | 271 | #824 |
| 2017 | 275 | #818 |
| 2016 | 220 | #946 |
| 2015 | 279 | #812 |
| 2014 | 224 | #938 |
| 2013 | 189 | #1028 |
| 2012 | 195 | #1011 |
| 2011 | 183 | #1037 |
| 2010 | 180 | #1068 |
| 2009 | 183 | #1043 |
| 2008 | 212 | #949 |
| 2007 | 196 | #994 |
| 2006 | 215 | #905 |
| 2005 | 208 | #877 |
| 2004 | 246 | #752 |
| 2003 | 235 | #757 |
| 2002 | 275 | #673 |
| 2001 | 249 | #708 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Gordon?
In official American birth records, the name Gordon first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 51 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Gordon a popular boy name?
Gordon ranked #1051 among boys in 2025 with 209 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #812.
When was the name Gordon most popular?
Gordon peaked in 1952, when 2,829 American boys received the name (ranked #110 that year). Since 1952 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Gordon?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 8,612 newborn American boys was named Gordon. 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.