Owen
Boy name · #31 in 2025 · Very well-known
How old is the name Owen? In official American birth records, Owen has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 7,190 baby boys were named Owen, placing it at #31 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #36, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 250 boys born in 2025 was named Owen.
The 145-year story
Owen first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 78 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2016, when 10,305 boys were named Owen — good for #24 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 Owen per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Owen against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Owen in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Owen 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 Owen is most common
Geography matters for names, and Owen is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Owen is most common in VT (17 per 1,000), NH (12 per 1,000), RI (12 per 1,000), WY (10 per 1,000), ME (9.9 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 4.9 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Owen is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Owen
Statistically, parents drawn to Owen tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Julian, Mason, Aiden, Jackson, and Wyatt.
JulianMasonAidenJacksonWyattLukeNolanRoman
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Owen | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7,190 | #31 |
| 2024 | 7,599 | #26 |
| 2023 | 8,015 | #20 |
| 2022 | 8,589 | #18 |
| 2021 | 8,770 | #22 |
| 2020 | 8,669 | #22 |
| 2019 | 9,347 | #21 |
| 2018 | 9,337 | #25 |
| 2017 | 9,363 | #28 |
| 2016 | 10,305 | #24 |
| 2015 | 9,608 | #36 |
| 2014 | 9,159 | #36 |
| 2013 | 8,766 | #38 |
| 2012 | 8,695 | #38 |
| 2011 | 8,341 | #44 |
| 2010 | 8,177 | #47 |
| 2009 | 8,142 | #51 |
| 2008 | 7,802 | #58 |
| 2007 | 8,247 | #56 |
| 2006 | 8,173 | #58 |
| 2005 | 7,169 | #60 |
| 2004 | 6,707 | #67 |
| 2003 | 5,701 | #72 |
| 2002 | 4,190 | #94 |
| 2001 | 3,032 | #130 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Owen?
In official American birth records, the name Owen first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 78 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Owen a popular boy name?
Owen ranked #31 among boys in 2025 with 7,190 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #36.
When was the name Owen most popular?
Owen peaked in 2016, when 10,305 American boys received the name (ranked #24 that year). Since 2016 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Owen?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 250 newborn American boys was named Owen. 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.