Noah
Boy name · #2 in 2025 · Very well-known
How old is the name Noah? In official American birth records, Noah has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 20,358 baby boys were named Noah, placing it at #2 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 88 boys born in 2025 was named Noah.
Babies named Noah per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Noah first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 103 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2024, with 20,409 babies and a rank of #2. 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 Noah against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Noah in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Noah 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 Noah is most common
Geography matters for names, and Noah is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Noah is most common in DC (23 per 1,000), RI (21 per 1,000), DE (21 per 1,000), CT (20 per 1,000), AK (20 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 14 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Noah is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Noah
Statistically, parents drawn to Noah tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Liam, Elijah, Henry, Oliver, and Levi.
LiamElijahHenryOliverLeviLucasEliasMateo
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Noah | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20,358 | #2 |
| 2024 | 20,409 | #2 |
| 2023 | 19,116 | #2 |
| 2022 | 18,758 | #2 |
| 2021 | 18,919 | #2 |
| 2020 | 18,464 | #2 |
| 2019 | 19,178 | #2 |
| 2018 | 18,441 | #2 |
| 2017 | 18,507 | #2 |
| 2016 | 19,188 | #1 |
| 2015 | 19,680 | #1 |
| 2014 | 19,344 | #1 |
| 2013 | 18,291 | #1 |
| 2012 | 17,385 | #4 |
| 2011 | 16,883 | #5 |
| 2010 | 16,481 | #7 |
| 2009 | 17,262 | #9 |
| 2008 | 15,808 | #15 |
| 2007 | 16,605 | #14 |
| 2006 | 16,342 | #15 |
| 2005 | 13,905 | #23 |
| 2004 | 11,916 | #29 |
| 2003 | 11,843 | #31 |
| 2002 | 12,076 | #31 |
| 2001 | 13,494 | #28 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Noah?
In official American birth records, the name Noah first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 103 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Noah a popular boy name?
Noah ranked #2 among boys in 2025 with 20,358 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #1.
When was the name Noah most popular?
Noah peaked in 2024, when 20,409 American boys received the name (ranked #2 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Noah?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 88 newborn American boys was named Noah. 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.