Jose
Boy name · #95 in 2025 · Well-known
How old is the name Jose? In official American birth records, Jose has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 3,678 baby boys were named Jose, placing it at #95 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #80, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 489 boys born in 2025 was named Jose.
The 145-year story
Jose first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 84 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2002, when 12,868 boys were named Jose — good for #30 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 Jose per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Jose against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Jose in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Jose is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "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 Jose is most common
Geography matters for names, and Jose is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Jose is most common in NM (5.7 per 1,000), TX (5.7 per 1,000), AZ (5.7 per 1,000), RI (4.2 per 1,000), CA (3.9 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 2.5 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Jose is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Jose
Statistically, parents drawn to Jose tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Juan, Jesus, Jorge, Jesse, and Luis.
JuanJesusJorgeJesseLuisIanCarlosJacob
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Jose | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,678 | #95 |
| 2024 | 3,784 | #91 |
| 2023 | 3,725 | #93 |
| 2022 | 4,031 | #88 |
| 2021 | 4,002 | #89 |
| 2020 | 3,855 | #94 |
| 2019 | 4,135 | #92 |
| 2018 | 4,318 | #89 |
| 2017 | 4,815 | #81 |
| 2016 | 5,119 | #77 |
| 2015 | 5,177 | #80 |
| 2014 | 5,485 | #76 |
| 2013 | 5,627 | #76 |
| 2012 | 6,041 | #72 |
| 2011 | 6,766 | #65 |
| 2010 | 7,703 | #52 |
| 2009 | 8,818 | #43 |
| 2008 | 9,826 | #40 |
| 2007 | 11,252 | #35 |
| 2006 | 11,604 | #30 |
| 2005 | 12,065 | #30 |
| 2004 | 12,187 | #28 |
| 2003 | 12,394 | #30 |
| 2002 | 12,868 | #30 |
| 2001 | 12,144 | #34 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Jose?
In official American birth records, the name Jose first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 84 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Jose a popular boy name?
Jose ranked #95 among boys in 2025 with 3,678 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #80.
When was the name Jose most popular?
Jose peaked in 2002, when 12,868 American boys received the name (ranked #30 that year). Since 2002 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Jose?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 489 newborn American boys was named Jose. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "well-known".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.