Ward
Boy name · #2833 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Ward? In official American birth records, Ward has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Ward ranks #2833 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 44 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #3882, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 40,909 boys born in 2025 was named Ward.
Babies named Ward per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Ward first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 30 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1961, when 341 boys were named Ward — good for #430 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. 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 Ward against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Ward in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Ward is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Ward will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Ward is most common
State-level data for Ward 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 Ward
Statistically, parents drawn to Ward tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Gerard, Ted, Dino, Dave, and Ladd.
GerardTedDinoDaveLaddRickJeffRich
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Ward | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 44 | #2833 |
| 2024 | 36 | #3272 |
| 2023 | 43 | #2895 |
| 2022 | 54 | #2517 |
| 2021 | 44 | #2819 |
| 2020 | 47 | #2658 |
| 2019 | 33 | #3426 |
| 2018 | 40 | #2943 |
| 2017 | 44 | #2755 |
| 2016 | 48 | #2587 |
| 2015 | 27 | #3882 |
| 2014 | 30 | #3532 |
| 2013 | 30 | #3497 |
| 2012 | 25 | #4003 |
| 2011 | 17 | #5200 |
| 2010 | 18 | #5047 |
| 2009 | 11 | #7236 |
| 2008 | 20 | #4714 |
| 2007 | 12 | #6622 |
| 2006 | 19 | #4675 |
| 2005 | 23 | #3941 |
| 2004 | 10 | #6976 |
| 2003 | 17 | #4616 |
| 2002 | 14 | #5131 |
| 2001 | 17 | #4476 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Ward?
In official American birth records, the name Ward first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 30 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Ward a popular boy name?
Ward ranked #2833 among boys in 2025 with 44 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #3882.
When was the name Ward most popular?
Ward peaked in 1961, when 341 American boys received the name (ranked #430 that year). Since 1961 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Ward?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 40,909 newborn American boys was named Ward. 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.