Norman
Boy name · #1196 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Norman? In official American birth records, Norman has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Norman ranks #1196 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 169 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1231, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 10,651 boys born in 2025 was named Norman.
The 145-year story
Norman first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 102 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1928, when 5,590 boys were named Norman — good for #39 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 Norman per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Norman against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Norman in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Norman is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Norman will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Norman is most common
State-level data for Norman 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 Norman
Statistically, parents drawn to Norman tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Herman, Melvin, Vernon, Marvin, and Milton.
HermanMelvinVernonMarvinMiltonEugeneCarmenHarold
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Norman | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 169 | #1196 |
| 2024 | 149 | #1308 |
| 2023 | 138 | #1360 |
| 2022 | 168 | #1191 |
| 2021 | 170 | #1165 |
| 2020 | 174 | #1127 |
| 2019 | 160 | #1193 |
| 2018 | 156 | #1202 |
| 2017 | 172 | #1116 |
| 2016 | 183 | #1077 |
| 2015 | 148 | #1231 |
| 2014 | 174 | #1097 |
| 2013 | 160 | #1135 |
| 2012 | 160 | #1145 |
| 2011 | 130 | #1309 |
| 2010 | 147 | #1209 |
| 2009 | 164 | #1125 |
| 2008 | 196 | #995 |
| 2007 | 192 | #1005 |
| 2006 | 182 | #1008 |
| 2005 | 197 | #906 |
| 2004 | 211 | #842 |
| 2003 | 220 | #791 |
| 2002 | 210 | #810 |
| 2001 | 228 | #756 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Norman?
In official American birth records, the name Norman first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 102 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Norman a popular boy name?
Norman ranked #1196 among boys in 2025 with 169 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1231.
When was the name Norman most popular?
Norman peaked in 1928, when 5,590 American boys received the name (ranked #39 that year). Since 1928 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Norman?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 10,651 newborn American boys was named Norman. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.