Henry
Boy name · #5 in 2025 · Very well-known
How old is the name Henry? In official American birth records, Henry has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 12,020 baby boys were named Henry, placing it at #5 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #29, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 150 boys born in 2025 was named Henry.
Babies named Henry per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Henry first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 2,444 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2025, with 12,020 babies and a rank of #5. 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 Henry against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Henry in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Henry is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very well-known". A low score means broad familiarity: teachers will spell it right, and your child may share it with a classmate. For many families that's a feature, not a bug.
Where Henry is most common
Geography matters for names, and Henry is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Henry is most common in VT (22 per 1,000), DC (19 per 1,000), AK (19 per 1,000), ME (17 per 1,000), NH (17 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 8.2 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Henry is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Nicknames & related forms of Henry
Henry carries a whole family of nicknames and spellings — names that will feel like the same name in a classroom.
Counted as one name, the Henry family went to about 13,163 boys in 2025 — together they'd rank around #5, versus #5 for Henry alone.
Names like Henry
Statistically, parents drawn to Henry tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Oliver, Mateo, Elias, Hudson, and Lucas.
OliverMateoEliasHudsonLucasTheodoreLeviNoah
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Henry | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12,020 | #5 |
| 2024 | 11,596 | #6 |
| 2023 | 10,996 | #8 |
| 2022 | 11,272 | #7 |
| 2021 | 11,370 | #9 |
| 2020 | 10,793 | #9 |
| 2019 | 10,768 | #13 |
| 2018 | 10,714 | #16 |
| 2017 | 10,482 | #19 |
| 2016 | 10,390 | #22 |
| 2015 | 10,186 | #29 |
| 2014 | 9,442 | #33 |
| 2013 | 8,885 | #37 |
| 2012 | 8,075 | #44 |
| 2011 | 7,235 | #57 |
| 2010 | 6,408 | #67 |
| 2009 | 5,899 | #71 |
| 2008 | 5,788 | #78 |
| 2007 | 5,126 | #90 |
| 2006 | 4,677 | #95 |
| 2005 | 4,186 | #102 |
| 2004 | 3,928 | #109 |
| 2003 | 3,484 | #115 |
| 2002 | 3,339 | #115 |
| 2001 | 3,206 | #120 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Henry?
In official American birth records, the name Henry first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 2,444 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Henry a popular boy name?
Henry ranked #5 among boys in 2025 with 12,020 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #29.
When was the name Henry most popular?
Henry peaked in 2025, when 12,020 American boys received the name (ranked #5 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Henry?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 150 newborn American boys was named Henry. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very well-known".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.