Princeton
Boy name · #655 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Princeton? In official American birth records, Princeton has been tracked continuously since 1950, giving it 75 years of documented American history.
Princeton is currently the #655 boy name in the United States — 422 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #430, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 4,265 boys born in 2025 was named Princeton.
Babies named Princeton per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 75-year story
Princeton first appears in the Social Security records in 1950, when 6 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2017, when 793 boys were named Princeton — good for #402 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 Princeton against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Princeton in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Princeton is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Princeton will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Princeton is most common
Geography matters for names, and Princeton is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Princeton is most common in MS (1.1 per 1,000), GA (0.9 per 1,000), AR (0.8 per 1,000), LA (0.7 per 1,000), SC (0.6 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.3 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Princeton is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Princeton
Statistically, parents drawn to Princeton tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Jaxton, Langston, Remington, Paxton, and Brixton.
JaxtonLangstonRemingtonPaxtonBrixtonDaxtonLeightonLayton
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Princeton | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 422 | #652 |
| 2024 | 465 | #613 |
| 2023 | 533 | #549 |
| 2022 | 611 | #499 |
| 2021 | 626 | #477 |
| 2020 | 722 | #412 |
| 2019 | 768 | #405 |
| 2018 | 788 | #406 |
| 2017 | 793 | #402 |
| 2016 | 775 | #413 |
| 2015 | 714 | #430 |
| 2014 | 541 | #517 |
| 2013 | 389 | #634 |
| 2012 | 318 | #731 |
| 2011 | 202 | #974 |
| 2010 | 173 | #1105 |
| 2009 | 136 | #1290 |
| 2008 | 106 | #1523 |
| 2007 | 85 | #1741 |
| 2006 | 54 | #2310 |
| 2005 | 31 | #3241 |
| 2004 | 48 | #2344 |
| 2003 | 36 | #2729 |
| 2002 | 32 | #2882 |
| 2001 | 20 | #3974 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Princeton?
In official American birth records, the name Princeton first appeared in 1950 (over 75 years ago), when 6 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 75 years.
Is Princeton a popular boy name?
Princeton ranked #655 among boys in 2025 with 422 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #430.
When was the name Princeton most popular?
Princeton peaked in 2017, when 793 American boys received the name (ranked #402 that year). Since 2017 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Princeton?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 4,265 newborn American boys was named Princeton. 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.