Percy
Boy name · #1276 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Percy? In official American birth records, Percy has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 154 baby boys were named Percy, placing it at #1276 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #2276, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 11,688 boys born in 2025 was named Percy.
The 145-year story
Percy first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 94 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1921, when 603 boys were named Percy — good for #220 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 Percy per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Percy against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Percy in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Percy is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Percy will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Percy is most common
State-level data for Percy 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 Percy
Statistically, parents drawn to Percy tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Leroy, Sidney, Harry, Cecil, and Wiley.
LeroySidneyHarryCecilWileyLutherVirgilLyle
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Percy | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 154 | #1276 |
| 2024 | 157 | #1256 |
| 2023 | 112 | #1558 |
| 2022 | 112 | #1574 |
| 2021 | 87 | #1799 |
| 2020 | 69 | #2046 |
| 2019 | 45 | #2766 |
| 2018 | 63 | #2189 |
| 2017 | 73 | #1958 |
| 2016 | 47 | #2626 |
| 2015 | 58 | #2276 |
| 2014 | 70 | #2017 |
| 2013 | 61 | #2165 |
| 2012 | 60 | #2185 |
| 2011 | 39 | #2950 |
| 2010 | 41 | #2874 |
| 2009 | 38 | #3045 |
| 2008 | 37 | #3103 |
| 2007 | 57 | #2281 |
| 2006 | 51 | #2398 |
| 2005 | 45 | #2493 |
| 2004 | 60 | #1989 |
| 2003 | 47 | #2269 |
| 2002 | 46 | #2249 |
| 2001 | 59 | #1871 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Percy?
In official American birth records, the name Percy first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 94 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Percy a popular boy name?
Percy ranked #1276 among boys in 2025 with 154 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2276.
When was the name Percy most popular?
Percy peaked in 1921, when 603 American boys received the name (ranked #220 that year). Since 1921 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Percy?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 11,688 newborn American boys was named Percy. 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.