Trace
Boy name · #757 in 2025 · Uniqueness 57/100
In 2025, 340 baby boys were named Trace, placing it at #757 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #801, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 5,294 boys born in 2025 was named Trace.
The 69-year story
Trace first appears in the Social Security records in 1956, when 17 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2008, when 534 boys were named Trace — good for #510 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 Trace per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Trace against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Trace in class?
Trace scores 57 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 Trace is most common
Geography matters for names, and Trace is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Traces were TX (34), OH (21), CA (19), TN (18), FL (17). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Trace
Statistically, parents drawn to Trace tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Reece, Drake, Reese, Pierce, and Chace.
ReeceDrakeReesePierceChaceSladeBlazeJustice
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Trace | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 340 | #757 |
| 2024 | 383 | #702 |
| 2023 | 404 | #672 |
| 2022 | 373 | #707 |
| 2021 | 348 | #735 |
| 2020 | 316 | #760 |
| 2019 | 302 | #775 |
| 2018 | 319 | #744 |
| 2017 | 266 | #833 |
| 2016 | 287 | #803 |
| 2015 | 291 | #801 |
| 2014 | 308 | #763 |
| 2013 | 382 | #642 |
| 2012 | 379 | #634 |
| 2011 | 437 | #573 |
| 2010 | 494 | #523 |
| 2009 | 505 | #531 |
| 2008 | 534 | #510 |
| 2007 | 437 | #585 |
| 2006 | 470 | #537 |
| 2005 | 445 | #543 |
| 2004 | 447 | #530 |
| 2003 | 496 | #494 |
| 2002 | 437 | #520 |
| 2001 | 369 | #563 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Trace a popular boy name?
Trace ranked #757 among boys in 2025 with 340 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #801.
When was the name Trace most popular?
Trace peaked in 2008, when 534 American boys received the name (ranked #510 that year). Since 2008 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Trace?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 5,294 newborn American boys was named Trace. It scores 57/100 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.