Phineas
Boy name · #1610 in 2025 · Uniqueness 73/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
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?
Phineas scores 73 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. 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
Geography matters for names, and Phineas is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Phineass were CA (10), NY (7), NJ (6), OH (6), PA (6). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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
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. It scores 73/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.