Smith
Boy name · #1479 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Smith? In official American birth records, Smith has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Smith ranks #1479 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 120 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1185, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 15,000 boys born in 2025 was named Smith.
The 145-year story
Smith first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 15 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2016, when 162 boys were named Smith — good for #1175 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 Smith per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Smith against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Smith in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Smith is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Smith will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Smith is most common
State-level data for Smith 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 Smith
Statistically, parents drawn to Smith tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Laith, Advaith, Samarth, Saleh, and Truth.
LaithAdvaithSamarthSalehTruthLaythRugerEason
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Smith | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 120 | #1477 |
| 2024 | 109 | #1583 |
| 2023 | 113 | #1547 |
| 2022 | 112 | #1574 |
| 2021 | 142 | #1317 |
| 2020 | 123 | #1408 |
| 2019 | 149 | #1258 |
| 2018 | 134 | #1343 |
| 2017 | 154 | #1202 |
| 2016 | 162 | #1175 |
| 2015 | 156 | #1185 |
| 2014 | 139 | #1276 |
| 2013 | 122 | #1376 |
| 2012 | 89 | #1697 |
| 2011 | 76 | #1849 |
| 2010 | 78 | #1850 |
| 2009 | 47 | #2623 |
| 2008 | 59 | #2237 |
| 2007 | 57 | #2281 |
| 2006 | 41 | #2784 |
| 2005 | 45 | #2493 |
| 2004 | 43 | #2531 |
| 2003 | 24 | #3626 |
| 2002 | 22 | #3794 |
| 2001 | 30 | #2988 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Smith?
In official American birth records, the name Smith first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 15 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Smith a popular boy name?
Smith ranked #1479 among boys in 2025 with 120 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1185.
When was the name Smith most popular?
Smith peaked in 2016, when 162 American boys received the name (ranked #1175 that year). Since 2016 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Smith?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 15,000 newborn American boys was named Smith. 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.