Townsend
Boy name · #3251 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Townsend? In official American birth records, Townsend has been tracked continuously since 1914, giving it 111 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 36 baby boys were named Townsend, placing it at #3251 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #5058, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 50,000 boys born in 2025 was named Townsend.
Babies named Townsend per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 111-year story
Townsend first appears in the Social Security records in 1914, when 6 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2025, with 36 babies and a rank of #3240. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. 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 Townsend against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Townsend in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Townsend is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Townsend will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Townsend is most common
State-level data for Townsend 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 Townsend
Statistically, parents drawn to Townsend tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Alegend, Redmond, Sheppard, Kyland, and Copeland.
AlegendRedmondSheppardKylandCopelandTakariRaylandTilden
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Townsend | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 36 | #3240 |
| 2024 | 27 | #3986 |
| 2023 | 23 | #4456 |
| 2022 | 27 | #3995 |
| 2021 | 30 | #3651 |
| 2020 | 15 | #5699 |
| 2019 | 27 | #3899 |
| 2018 | 20 | #4739 |
| 2017 | 12 | #6685 |
| 2016 | 19 | #4943 |
| 2015 | 18 | #5058 |
| 2014 | 17 | #5252 |
| 2013 | 24 | #4064 |
| 2012 | 15 | #5720 |
| 2011 | 21 | #4509 |
| 2010 | 17 | #5251 |
| 2009 | 16 | #5554 |
| 2008 | 12 | #6763 |
| 2007 | 14 | #5901 |
| 2006 | 13 | #6094 |
| 2005 | 10 | #7096 |
| 2004 | 8 | #8143 |
| 2003 | 8 | #7831 |
| 2002 | 5 | #10667 |
| 2001 | 8 | #7536 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Townsend?
In official American birth records, the name Townsend first appeared in 1914 (over 111 years ago), when 6 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 111 years.
Is Townsend a popular boy name?
Townsend ranked #3251 among boys in 2025 with 36 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #5058.
When was the name Townsend most popular?
Townsend peaked in 2025, when 36 American boys received the name (ranked #3240 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Townsend?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 50,000 newborn American boys was named Townsend. 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.