West
Boy name · #1253 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name West? In official American birth records, West has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
West is currently the #1253 boy name in the United States — 159 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #1910, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 11,321 boys born in 2025 was named West.
The 145-year story
West first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 13 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2025, with 159 babies and a rank of #1252. 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.
Babies named West per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare West against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another West in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common West is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your West will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where West is most common
State-level data for West 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 West
Statistically, parents drawn to West tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Quest, Everest, Forest, Whit, and Wylie.
QuestEverestForestWhitWylieWynnRiotWesten
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named West | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 159 | #1252 |
| 2024 | 145 | #1324 |
| 2023 | 87 | #1832 |
| 2022 | 130 | #1414 |
| 2021 | 90 | #1770 |
| 2020 | 81 | #1833 |
| 2019 | 98 | #1652 |
| 2018 | 82 | #1838 |
| 2017 | 80 | #1844 |
| 2016 | 72 | #1991 |
| 2015 | 76 | #1910 |
| 2014 | 60 | #2230 |
| 2013 | 78 | #1827 |
| 2012 | 74 | #1923 |
| 2011 | 61 | #2145 |
| 2010 | 52 | #2402 |
| 2009 | 60 | #2203 |
| 2008 | 42 | #2828 |
| 2007 | 40 | #2920 |
| 2006 | 42 | #2744 |
| 2005 | 25 | #3710 |
| 2004 | 29 | #3285 |
| 2003 | 18 | #4426 |
| 2002 | 10 | #6522 |
| 2001 | 28 | #3143 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name West?
In official American birth records, the name West first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 13 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is West a popular boy name?
West ranked #1253 among boys in 2025 with 159 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1910.
When was the name West most popular?
West peaked in 2025, when 159 American boys received the name (ranked #1252 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name West?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 11,321 newborn American boys was named West. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.