Kirk
Boy name · #2540 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Kirk? In official American birth records, Kirk has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Kirk is currently the #2540 boy name in the United States — 52 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #1691, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 34,615 boys born in 2025 was named Kirk.
The 145-year story
Kirk first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 6 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1962, when 2,560 boys were named Kirk — good for #138 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 Kirk per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Kirk against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Kirk in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Kirk is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Kirk will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Kirk is most common
State-level data for Kirk 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).
Names like Kirk
Statistically, parents drawn to Kirk tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Kurt, Kerry, Rick, Kent, and Kris.
KurtKerryRickKentKrisKarlKellyKen
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Kirk | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 52 | #2539 |
| 2024 | 52 | #2559 |
| 2023 | 52 | #2541 |
| 2022 | 55 | #2493 |
| 2021 | 67 | #2134 |
| 2020 | 67 | #2094 |
| 2019 | 76 | #1938 |
| 2018 | 70 | #2046 |
| 2017 | 95 | #1661 |
| 2016 | 80 | #1863 |
| 2015 | 92 | #1691 |
| 2014 | 104 | #1536 |
| 2013 | 112 | #1468 |
| 2012 | 97 | #1602 |
| 2011 | 96 | #1601 |
| 2010 | 102 | #1558 |
| 2009 | 111 | #1497 |
| 2008 | 95 | #1633 |
| 2007 | 124 | #1350 |
| 2006 | 121 | #1345 |
| 2005 | 141 | #1143 |
| 2004 | 140 | #1128 |
| 2003 | 158 | #1001 |
| 2002 | 161 | #976 |
| 2001 | 178 | #882 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Kirk?
In official American birth records, the name Kirk first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 6 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Kirk a popular boy name?
Kirk ranked #2540 among boys in 2025 with 52 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1691.
When was the name Kirk most popular?
Kirk peaked in 1962, when 2,560 American boys received the name (ranked #138 that year). Since 1962 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Kirk?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 34,615 newborn American boys was named Kirk. 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.