Bowie
Every Bowie since 1920 — 3,520 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Bowie
Bowie is uncommon for boys in the United States, ranked #1,228 in 2025 with 164 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1920, 3,520 American babies have been named Bowie — about 63% boys and 37% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2021, when 375 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 Bowie stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Bowie 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 | 117 | #1,736 | 164 | #1,228 |
| 2024 | 98 | #1,999 | 167 | #1,212 |
| 2023 | 126 | #1,646 | 194 | #1,098 |
| 2022 | 110 | #1,847 | 198 | #1,093 |
| 2021 | 138 | #1,527 | 237 | #952 |
| 2020 | 114 | #1,753 | 176 | #1,119 |
| 2019 | 108 | #1,866 | 159 | #1,203 |
| 2018 | 113 | #1,801 | 210 | #987 |
| 2017 | 85 | #2,226 | 156 | #1,193 |
| 2016 | 76 | #2,427 | 134 | #1,330 |
| 2015 | 43 | #3,607 | 54 | #2,388 |
| 2014 | 30 | #4,675 | 59 | #2,259 |
| 2013 | 43 | #3,585 | 26 | #3,874 |
| 2012 | 21 | #6,150 | 24 | #4,144 |
| 2011 | 10 | #10,526 | 30 | #3,521 |
| 2010 | 16 | #7,590 | 44 | #2,736 |
| 2009 | 14 | #8,523 | 19 | #4,945 |
| 2008 | 9 | #11,750 | 25 | #4,050 |
| 2007 | 9 | #11,782 | 18 | #5,022 |
| 2006 | 5 | #17,556 | 21 | #4,376 |
| 2005 | — | — | 13 | #5,912 |
| 2004 | — | — | 9 | #7,597 |
| 2003 | — | — | 9 | #7,310 |
| 2002 | — | — | 7 | #8,560 |
| 2001 | — | — | 6 | #9,399 |
| 2000 | — | — | 6 | #9,211 |
| 1995 | — | — | 7 | #7,068 |
| 1990 | — | — | — | — |
| 1985 | — | — | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — | — | — |
| 1975 | — | — | 8 | #3,986 |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | 5 | #4,371 |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Bowie in 2025?
Bowie ranked #1,228 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 164 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Bowie?
3,520 babies have been named Bowie in the United States since 1920, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Bowie most popular?
Bowie peaked in 2021, when 375 newborns received the name.
Is Bowie a boy or girl name?
Bowie is used for both: about 37% of babies named Bowie have been girls and 63% boys.
Is the name Bowie rising or falling?
Bowie is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.