Phineas
Boy name · #1610 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Phineas? In official American birth records, Phineas has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Phineas ranks #1610 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 105 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1657, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 17,143 boys born in 2025 was named Phineas.
Babies named Phineas per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Phineas first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2016, when 142 boys were named Phineas — good for #1279 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Phineas against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Phineas in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Phineas is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Phineas will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Phineas is most common
State-level data for Phineas 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 Phineas
Statistically, parents drawn to Phineas tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Finneas, Phinehas, Pinchas, Nehemias, and Mattias.
FinneasPhinehasPinchasNehemiasMattiasPiersonAbdiasCylas
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Phineas | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 105 | #1609 |
| 2024 | 114 | #1540 |
| 2023 | 99 | #1701 |
| 2022 | 108 | #1611 |
| 2021 | 131 | #1397 |
| 2020 | 121 | #1423 |
| 2019 | 118 | #1468 |
| 2018 | 136 | #1328 |
| 2017 | 129 | #1373 |
| 2016 | 142 | #1279 |
| 2015 | 95 | #1657 |
| 2014 | 106 | #1514 |
| 2013 | 98 | #1578 |
| 2012 | 105 | #1523 |
| 2011 | 120 | #1385 |
| 2010 | 141 | #1245 |
| 2009 | 130 | #1331 |
| 2008 | 117 | #1428 |
| 2007 | 88 | #1713 |
| 2006 | 67 | #1994 |
| 2005 | 43 | #2567 |
| 2004 | 40 | #2643 |
| 2003 | 39 | #2579 |
| 2002 | 28 | #3188 |
| 2001 | 28 | #3143 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Phineas?
In official American birth records, the name Phineas first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Phineas a popular boy name?
Phineas ranked #1610 among boys in 2025 with 105 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1657.
When was the name Phineas most popular?
Phineas peaked in 2016, when 142 American boys received the name (ranked #1279 that year). Since 2016 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Phineas?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 17,143 newborn American boys was named Phineas. 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.