Ken
Boy name · #3246 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Ken? In official American birth records, Ken has been tracked continuously since 1900, giving it 125 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 36 baby boys were named Ken, placing it at #3246 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1753, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 50,000 boys born in 2025 was named Ken.
Babies named Ken per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 125-year story
Ken first appears in the Social Security records in 1900, when 7 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1960, when 1,775 boys were named Ken — good for #177 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Ken against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Ken in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Ken is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Ken will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Ken is most common
State-level data for Ken is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Nicknames & related forms of Ken
Ken belongs to the Kenneth family — closely related nicknames and spellings of the same name.
Counted as one name, the Kenneth family went to about 1,339 boys in 2025 — together they'd rank around #259, versus #3246 for Ken alone.
Names like Ken
Statistically, parents drawn to Ken tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Daren, Glen, Dan, Loren, and Jim.
DarenGlenDanLorenJimKirkDarinTed
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Ken | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 36 | #3240 |
| 2024 | 36 | #3272 |
| 2023 | 37 | #3228 |
| 2022 | 50 | #2648 |
| 2021 | 52 | #2523 |
| 2020 | 56 | #2366 |
| 2019 | 51 | #2556 |
| 2018 | 62 | #2210 |
| 2017 | 63 | #2154 |
| 2016 | 90 | #1724 |
| 2015 | 87 | #1753 |
| 2014 | 85 | #1766 |
| 2013 | 75 | #1878 |
| 2012 | 107 | #1498 |
| 2011 | 88 | #1687 |
| 2010 | 68 | #2010 |
| 2009 | 104 | #1562 |
| 2008 | 108 | #1504 |
| 2007 | 120 | #1376 |
| 2006 | 135 | #1239 |
| 2005 | 117 | #1302 |
| 2004 | 153 | #1053 |
| 2003 | 110 | #1282 |
| 2002 | 134 | #1094 |
| 2001 | 124 | #1129 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Ken?
In official American birth records, the name Ken first appeared in 1900 (over 125 years ago), when 7 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Ken a popular boy name?
Ken ranked #3246 among boys in 2025 with 36 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1753.
When was the name Ken most popular?
Ken peaked in 1960, when 1,775 American boys received the name (ranked #177 that year). Since 1960 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Ken?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 50,000 newborn American boys was named Ken. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.