Blythe
English surname, from Old English blīþe (“merry”).
Every Blythe since 1897 — 5,441 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Blythe
Blythe is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #2,052 in 2025 with 92 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1897, 5,441 American babies have been named Blythe — about 95% girls and 5% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2013, when 181 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2010s.
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 Blythe stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Blythe 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 | 92 | #2,052 | 10 | #7,747 |
| 2024 | 107 | #1,873 | 6 | #11,134 |
| 2023 | 108 | #1,855 | — | — |
| 2022 | 95 | #2,038 | 6 | #11,060 |
| 2021 | 97 | #1,994 | 8 | #8,944 |
| 2020 | 87 | #2,103 | 10 | #7,591 |
| 2019 | 141 | #1,531 | 6 | #10,974 |
| 2018 | 99 | #1,980 | 6 | #10,960 |
| 2017 | 117 | #1,781 | 7 | #9,827 |
| 2016 | 168 | #1,387 | 6 | #10,926 |
| 2015 | 153 | #1,495 | 6 | #10,845 |
| 2014 | 169 | #1,371 | 9 | #8,228 |
| 2013 | 174 | #1,338 | 7 | #9,769 |
| 2012 | 165 | #1,397 | 8 | #8,967 |
| 2011 | 106 | #1,888 | 5 | #12,524 |
| 2010 | 86 | #2,239 | 5 | #12,473 |
| 2009 | 87 | #2,245 | 9 | #8,379 |
| 2008 | 78 | #2,445 | — | — |
| 2007 | 64 | #2,827 | 6 | #11,089 |
| 2006 | 65 | #2,730 | 8 | #8,821 |
| 2005 | 79 | #2,281 | 8 | #8,381 |
| 2004 | 75 | #2,312 | 7 | #9,049 |
| 2003 | 72 | #2,325 | 6 | #9,720 |
| 2002 | 74 | #2,232 | 9 | #7,111 |
| 2001 | 66 | #2,384 | — | — |
| 2000 | 60 | #2,515 | 11 | #5,960 |
| 1995 | 46 | #2,654 | 7 | #7,065 |
| 1990 | 73 | #1,908 | 5 | #8,246 |
| 1985 | 84 | #1,474 | — | — |
| 1980 | 48 | #2,131 | — | — |
| 1975 | 66 | #1,528 | — | — |
| 1970 | 50 | #1,784 | — | — |
| 1965 | 26 | #2,346 | — | — |
| 1960 | 22 | #2,578 | — | — |
| 1955 | 16 | #2,849 | — | — |
| 1950 | 22 | #2,058 | — | — |
| 1945 | 8 | #3,421 | 5 | #3,383 |
| 1940 | 8 | #3,244 | — | — |
| 1935 | 11 | #2,595 | — | — |
| 1930 | 7 | #3,699 | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | 11 | #2,558 | 5 | #3,885 |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Blythe
- Blythe Danner Actor · b. 1943
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Blythe mean?
English surname, from Old English blīþe (“merry”).
How popular is the name Blythe in 2025?
Blythe ranked #2,052 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 92 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Blythe?
5,441 babies have been named Blythe in the United States since 1897, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Blythe most popular?
Blythe peaked in 2013, when 181 newborns received the name.
Is Blythe a boy or girl name?
Blythe is used for both: about 95% of babies named Blythe have been girls and 5% boys.
Is the name Blythe rising or falling?
Blythe is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Blythe?
Well-known people named Blythe include Blythe Danner (actor).