Babe
Use of the common noun babe as a (nick)name.
Every Babe since 1880 — 728 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Babe
Babe is not currently in use for newborns in the United States — fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.
Since 1880, 728 American babies have been named Babe — about 53% girls and 47% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1927, when 33 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1920s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Babe stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Babe year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | — | — |
| 2024 | — | — | — | — |
| 2023 | — | — | — | — |
| 2022 | — | — | — | — |
| 2021 | — | — | — | — |
| 2020 | — | — | — | — |
| 2019 | — | — | — | — |
| 2018 | — | — | — | — |
| 2017 | — | — | — | — |
| 2016 | — | — | — | — |
| 2015 | — | — | — | — |
| 2014 | — | — | — | — |
| 2013 | — | — | — | — |
| 2012 | — | — | — | — |
| 2011 | — | — | — | — |
| 2010 | — | — | — | — |
| 2009 | — | — | — | — |
| 2008 | — | — | — | — |
| 2007 | — | — | — | — |
| 2006 | — | — | — | — |
| 2005 | — | — | — | — |
| 2004 | — | — | — | — |
| 2003 | — | — | — | — |
| 2002 | — | — | — | — |
| 2001 | — | — | — | — |
| 2000 | — | — | — | — |
| 1995 | — | — | — | — |
| 1990 | — | — | — | — |
| 1985 | — | — | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — | 5 | #6,337 |
| 1975 | — | — | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | 6 | #3,791 | 9 | #2,542 |
| 1930 | 10 | #2,862 | 14 | #2,087 |
| 1925 | 11 | #2,958 | 10 | #2,765 |
| 1920 | 15 | #2,365 | 11 | #2,612 |
| 1915 | 19 | #1,745 | 8 | #2,846 |
| 1910 | 9 | #1,646 | — | — |
| 1905 | 9 | #1,311 | 7 | #1,009 |
| 1900 | 9 | #1,327 | 6 | #1,179 |
| 1895 | — | — | 5 | #1,091 |
| 1890 | 5 | #1,350 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | 5 | #921 |
Famous people named Babe
- Babe Ruth Baseball player · 1895–1948
- Babe Didrikson Zaharias Golfer · 1911–1956
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Babe mean?
Use of the common noun babe as a (nick)name.
How popular is the name Babe in 2025?
Babe did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.
How many people are named Babe?
728 babies have been named Babe in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Babe most popular?
Babe peaked in 1927, when 33 newborns received the name.
Is Babe a boy or girl name?
Babe is used for both: about 53% of babies named Babe have been girls and 47% boys.
Is the name Babe rising or falling?
Babe has been roughly stable over the past decade.
Who are famous people named Babe?
Well-known people named Babe include Babe Ruth (baseball player), Babe Didrikson Zaharias (golfer).