Unisex name · peaked 2021

Blue

From the German surname, Americanized from Blau or its French cognate bleu.

Every Blue since 1968 — 1,453 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex — comparable across eras
0.010.020.030.0418801900192019401960198020002020BoysGirls
BoysGirls
Rank 2025
#2,648
among boys
Babies in 2025
78
named Blue
Peak year
2021
89 babies
All-time total
1,453
since 1968

The story of Blue

Blue is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #2,648 in 2025 with 49 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1968, 1,453 American babies have been named Blue — about 65% boys and 35% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2021, when 89 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.

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 Blue stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

Blue 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 29 #4,676 49 #2,648
2024 32 #4,403 51 #2,602
2023 32 #4,378 42 #2,958
2022 37 #3,981 48 #2,723
2021 43 #3,556 46 #2,734
2020 32 #4,280 42 #2,852
2019 19 #6,210 35 #3,268
2018 23 #5,482 31 #3,543
2017 19 #6,332 29 #3,688
2016 16 #7,311 23 #4,341
2015 20 #6,278 32 #3,441
2014 20 #6,242 17 #5,277
2013 21 #6,051 20 #4,640
2012 10 #10,565 22 #4,411
2011 7 #13,595 11 #7,070
2010 8 #12,468 15 #5,769
2009 5 #17,744 11 #7,280
2008 9 #11,749 18 #5,085
2007 6 #15,803 14 #5,947
2006 8 #12,604 20 #4,537
2005 14 #7,961 16 #5,067
2004 7 #12,972 17 #4,820
2003 16 #4,844
2002 6 #13,857 13 #5,430
2001 12 #5,710
2000 10 #9,266 23 #3,551
1995 13 #6,694 14 #4,306
1990
1985
1980 7 #4,990
1975 16 #2,548
1970 10 #3,092
1965
1960
1955
1950
1945
1940
1935
1930
1925
1920
1915
1910
1905
1900
1895
1890
1885
1880

Famous people named Blue

  1. Blue Mitchell Musician · 1930–1979

Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Blue mean?

From the German surname, Americanized from Blau or its French cognate bleu.

How popular is the name Blue in 2025?

Blue ranked #2,648 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 49 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Blue?

1,453 babies have been named Blue in the United States since 1968, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Blue most popular?

Blue peaked in 2021, when 89 newborns received the name.

Is Blue a boy or girl name?

Blue is used for both: about 35% of babies named Blue have been girls and 65% boys.

Is the name Blue rising or falling?

Blue is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Blue?

Well-known people named Blue include Blue Mitchell (musician).

Names like Blue

Compare Blue with similar names →