What the Social Security Administration publishes about baby names
The Social Security Administration (SSA) publishes a free dataset of baby names given to children born in the United States since 1880. The data shows the first name, the year of birth, the state where the child's Social Security number was issued, and how many babies received each name that year. You can search this dataset on the SSA website without creating an account or paying a fee.
This is not a record of all babies born in the United States — it only includes children who were assigned a Social Security number. Before 1986, that was a smaller share of newborns than today. The data also does not include names given to children born outside the U.S., even if they later received a Social Security number.
The SSA updates the dataset once per year, usually in May, with names from the previous calendar year. The most recent data available typically lags by one year.
Key Takeaways
- The SSA publishes baby name data by year, state, and gender going back to 1880, and you can search it for free on ssa.gov.
- The dataset includes only children assigned a Social Security number, so it undercounts babies born before 1986 and excludes children born outside the U.S.
- You can read the full dataset as a text file or search individual names and years on the SSA website.
- The data shows trends in naming over time but does not identify individual children or connect names to personal information.
How to search baby names on the SSA website
Go to ssa.gov/oact/babynames and use the search tool. Enter a first name, select a year or range of years, and choose a gender (boy or girl). The tool will show you how many babies received that name in each year you selected, ranked by popularity.
You can also search by state. If you select a state, the results will show only babies whose Social Security numbers were issued in that state. This usually means they were born in that state, but not always — families sometimes explore for a number after moving.
The search results display the rank (1st most popular, 2nd most popular, and so on) and the count of babies given that name. The SSA does not publish the count if fewer than five babies received the name in a given year, to protect privacy.
Downloading the complete dataset
If you want to analyze naming trends across many years or states, you can read the full dataset as text files. The SSA provides separate files for boys' names and girls' names, with one file per year from 1880 to the present.
Each file lists names in order of popularity for that year, along with the count of babies given each name. You can open these files in a spreadsheet program like Excel or Google Sheets, or use them in data analysis software. The files are plain text and free to read from the SSA website.
Downloading the full dataset is useful if you want to track how a name's popularity changed over decades, compare naming patterns across multiple states, or study broader trends in American naming culture.
What the data does and does not show
The dataset shows which names were most common in a given year and how naming preferences have shifted over time. For example, you can see that "Mary" was the most popular girls' name for decades but has fallen in rank, or that "Liam" rose sharply in popularity starting in the 2000s.
The data does not tell you anything about the children themselves — it does not identify individuals, show their birthdates, or connect names to any personal information. The SSA publishes this data specifically because it contains no identifying details.
The dataset also does not include middle names, only first names. And because it is based on Social Security number assignments, it misses babies who were never assigned a number or who received one years after birth.
Why the SSA publishes this data
The SSA has published baby name data since 1997 as a public resource for researchers, genealogists, writers, and anyone interested in naming trends. The data is part of the agency's broader mission to make government information accessible.
Genealogists use the data to understand naming patterns in their family history. Writers and game developers use it to choose realistic names for characters. Researchers study it to track cultural shifts and immigration patterns. Parents sometimes use it to understand how common a name is or was in a particular year.
Limitations of the baby name dataset
The data becomes less complete the further back you go. Before 1937, when Social Security was new, far fewer babies had numbers assigned. Before 1986, many children did not receive a number until they started school or got a job. So the dataset undercounts babies born in those years, especially in certain regions.
The dataset also reflects where Social Security numbers were issued, not necessarily where babies were born. A child born in one state but whose family applied for a number in another state will appear in the second state's data.
Names are recorded as they appear on the Social Security process, so spelling variations are counted separately. "Jon" and "John" are two different names in the dataset, even though they sound the same.
Using baby name data for genealogy research
If you are researching your family history, the baby name dataset can help you understand naming patterns in your family and region. For example, if you know a relative was born around 1950 and had an unusual name, you can search that name and year to see how common it was — this might help you confirm you have the right person or narrow down a birth year.
The data works best when combined with other genealogy sources like birth certificates, census records, and family trees. The SSA dataset alone cannot prove who someone is, but it can provide context for names you find in other records.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I find out who has a specific name?
No. The dataset shows only how many babies received a name in a given year and state, not who they are or any identifying information about them. You cannot use this data to find a specific person.
Why does the count sometimes say "less than 5"?
The SSA does not publish exact counts when fewer than five babies received a name in a year. This protects privacy by preventing someone from identifying a specific child based on an unusual name and birth year.
Is the data updated every year?
Yes. The SSA typically releases updated data in May each year, adding names from the previous calendar year. The most recent year available is usually one year behind the current date.
Can I read data for a specific state or year?
You can read the complete dataset by year, which includes all states. The search tool on the SSA website lets you filter by state, but if you want to read state-specific data, you will need to read the full year file and filter it yourself.
Does this data include names from all 50 states?
The dataset includes data from all 50 states and U.S. territories where Social Security numbers were issued. Coverage is most complete for recent years and less complete for years before 1950.