Syed
Boy name · #1218 in 2025 · Uniqueness 58/100
In 2025, 166 baby boys were named Syed, placing it at #1218 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1162, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 10,843 boys born in 2025 was named Syed.
The 60-year story
Syed first appears in the Social Security records in 1965, when 7 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2000, when 224 boys were named Syed — good for #753 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 Syed per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Syed against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Syed in class?
Syed scores 58 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Syed is most common
Geography matters for names, and Syed is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Syeds were NY (35), TX (33), IL (17), VA (15), CA (10). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Syed
Statistically, parents drawn to Syed tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Obed, Saeed, Said, Skye, and Saad.
ObedSaeedSaidSkyeSaadWaleedStoneAhmad
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Syed | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 166 | #1217 |
| 2024 | 105 | #1620 |
| 2023 | 145 | #1315 |
| 2022 | 141 | #1330 |
| 2021 | 127 | #1431 |
| 2020 | 134 | #1335 |
| 2019 | 126 | #1401 |
| 2018 | 137 | #1324 |
| 2017 | 148 | #1236 |
| 2016 | 157 | #1203 |
| 2015 | 160 | #1162 |
| 2014 | 139 | #1276 |
| 2013 | 156 | #1155 |
| 2012 | 140 | #1258 |
| 2011 | 130 | #1309 |
| 2010 | 147 | #1209 |
| 2009 | 137 | #1278 |
| 2008 | 156 | #1161 |
| 2007 | 156 | #1144 |
| 2006 | 141 | #1190 |
| 2005 | 135 | #1182 |
| 2004 | 141 | #1124 |
| 2003 | 178 | #924 |
| 2002 | 168 | #954 |
| 2001 | 167 | #926 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Syed a popular boy name?
Syed ranked #1218 among boys in 2025 with 166 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1162.
When was the name Syed most popular?
Syed peaked in 2000, when 224 American boys received the name (ranked #753 that year). Since 2000 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Syed?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 10,843 newborn American boys was named Syed. It scores 58/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
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.