Hunter
Boy name · #130 in 2025 · Uniqueness 57/100
In 2025, 2,761 baby boys were named Hunter, placing it at #130 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #41, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 652 boys born in 2025 was named Hunter.
Babies named Hunter per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Hunter first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 12 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2000, when 12,538 boys were named Hunter — good for #35 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Hunter against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Hunter in class?
Hunter scores 57 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 Hunter is most common
Geography matters for names, and Hunter is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Hunters were CA (233), TX (228), FL (152), NY (126), PA (119). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Hunter
Statistically, parents drawn to Hunter tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Xavier, Connor, Parker, Javier, and Hayden.
XavierConnorParkerJavierHaydenTannerTuckerCarter
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Hunter | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,761 | #130 |
| 2024 | 2,852 | #128 |
| 2023 | 3,131 | #115 |
| 2022 | 3,605 | #101 |
| 2021 | 4,206 | #86 |
| 2020 | 4,786 | #68 |
| 2019 | 5,398 | #66 |
| 2018 | 6,117 | #56 |
| 2017 | 6,760 | #53 |
| 2016 | 7,681 | #45 |
| 2015 | 8,367 | #41 |
| 2014 | 8,841 | #40 |
| 2013 | 8,988 | #36 |
| 2012 | 8,053 | #45 |
| 2011 | 7,380 | #55 |
| 2010 | 7,334 | #58 |
| 2009 | 7,751 | #56 |
| 2008 | 8,045 | #54 |
| 2007 | 8,218 | #57 |
| 2006 | 8,574 | #54 |
| 2005 | 8,512 | #53 |
| 2004 | 8,902 | #49 |
| 2003 | 9,900 | #41 |
| 2002 | 11,085 | #38 |
| 2001 | 11,335 | #36 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Hunter a popular boy name?
Hunter ranked #130 among boys in 2025 with 2,761 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #41.
When was the name Hunter most popular?
Hunter peaked in 2000, when 12,538 American boys received the name (ranked #35 that year). Since 2000 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Hunter?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 652 newborn American boys was named Hunter. It scores 57/100 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.