How do I find a unique baby name?
The Social Security Administration publishes the official annual list of US baby names, drawn from Social Security card applications. Looking beyond the Top 100 and the Top 1000 is the most reliable way to find a less common name.
Where the official data comes from
The Social Security Administration is the authoritative source for baby name popularity in the United States. Its list is based on applications for Social Security cards and goes back to 1880, and a new year of data is released each spring, usually around Mother's Day.
The most recent data covers 2025, released in May 2026. Liam and Olivia held the top two spots for the seventh straight year. Knowing the current leaders helps you see which names to step away from if you want something less common.
Use the database to find less common names
The popular names tool on the SSA site does more than show the Top 10. You can pull the top names by birth year, by state and territory, and by decade, and you can chart how a single name's popularity has changed over time.
Two features matter most for finding something less common. First, the web forms only show the Top 1000, which together account for only about 72 percent of all names, so the rarer names live outside that list. Second, the downloadable Beyond the Top 1000 files include nearly every name with at least 5 occurrences, which is where you can browse the long tail.
- Look past the Top 100, and ideally the Top 1000, where the most common names cluster
- Use the Beyond the Top 1000 data files to reach rarer names
- Check the popularity-over-time chart to spot names rising fast, which may be about to spike
- Compare state lists, since a name common nationally may be rare where you live
How rare is rare, in practice
Uniqueness is easier to find than many parents expect. The Top 10 names now cover only about 6 to 7 percent of babies, far less than in past decades, so even moving slightly down the list lands you somewhere far less common.
Watching the trend line helps you avoid a surprise. A name that looks uncommon today but is climbing quickly may be widespread by the time your child starts school, so favor names that are stable or already gently declining if a low profile is your goal.
Practical tips for choosing
Once you have a shortlist, test each name in the ways it will actually be used. These checks catch the issues that are hard to undo later.
Sentiment matters too, so weigh meaning, heritage, and family names alongside sound and spelling.
- Say the full name aloud with your last name to check the rhythm
- Consider the nicknames it will produce, and make sure you like them
- Check the initials and monogram so they do not spell something unwanted
- Favor clear spelling and pronunciation to spare your child constant corrections
- Weigh meaning, heritage, or a family connection that matters to you
Related questions
- What is the official source for baby name popularity?
- The Social Security Administration. Its annual list is based on applications for Social Security cards, goes back to 1880, and is released each spring, usually around Mother's Day.
- How do I find a name that is not too common?
- Look beyond the Top 100 and Top 1000 on the SSA site, since those names are the most common. Use the Beyond the Top 1000 data files for rarer names, and check the trend line to avoid a name that is rising fast.
- What are the most popular baby names right now?
- In the most recent SSA data, for 2025, Liam was the top boys' name and Olivia the top girls' name, holding the top spots for the seventh straight year. The Top 10 covers only about 6 to 7 percent of babies.
- Why are some rare names missing from the SSA data?
- To protect privacy, the SSA does not publish any name with fewer than 5 occurrences in a given year or area, so the very rarest names do not appear in the data.
Sources & further reading
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