British: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#13,496

among girls · ↑283 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named British

How common

1 in 267,878

girls born in 2025

Peak year

1989

21 babies

All-time total

331

#15,892 all-time among girls

First recorded

1969

in Social Security records

British popularity over time

331 babies have been named British since 1969, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

GirlsBoys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1940s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1950s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1960s	6	–	6	1	–	#6,712
1970s	16	–	16	2	+167%	#8,460
1980s	57	11	68	7	+325%	#4,671
1990s	67	10	77	8	+13%	#6,515
2000s	7	–	7	1	-91%	#13,251
2010s	103	5	108	11	+1443%	#6,062
2020s (to 2025)	44	5	49	8	-24%	#9,684

The story of British

British is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #13,496 in 2025 with 6 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1969, 331 American babies have been named British, about 91% girls and 9% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1989, when 21 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1980s.

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

How old are people named British?

The median living British is about 20 years old; half are between 7 and 36. An estimated 300 people named British are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

British 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	6	#13,496	–	–
2024	6	#13,779	–	–
2023	6	#13,754	–	–
2022	7	#12,482	–	–
2021	9	#10,438	–	–
2020	10	#9,684	5	#12,312
2019	11	#9,235	5	#12,432
2018	17	#6,851	–	–
2017	14	#7,922	–	–
2016	15	#7,662	–	–
2015	21	#6,062	–	–
2014	20	#6,243	–	–
2013	–	–	–	–
2012	–	–	–	–
2011	5	#17,229	–	–
2010	–	–	–	–
2009	–	–	–	–
2008	–	–	–	–
2007	–	–	–	–
2006	–	–	–	–
2005	7	#13,251	–	–
2004	–	–	–	–
2003	–	–	–	–
2002	–	–	–	–
2001	–	–	–	–
2000	–	–	–	–
1995	6	#11,997	–	–
1990	13	#6,515	5	#8,272
1985	5	#10,866	–	–
1980	–	–	–	–
1975	–	–	–	–
1970	–	–	–	–
1965	–	–	–	–
1960	–	–	–	–
1955	–	–	–	–
1950	–	–	–	–
1945	–	–	–	–
1940	–	–	–	–
1935	–	–	–	–
1930	–	–	–	–
1925	–	–	–	–
1920	–	–	–	–
1915	–	–	–	–
1910	–	–	–	–
1905	–	–	–	–
1900	–	–	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about British, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average British?

The median living British is about 20 years old. Half of all living Britishs are between 7 and 36 years old.

How many people named British are alive today?

An estimated 300 people named British are alive in the United States, based on 331 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name British in 2025?

British ranked #13,496 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 6 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named British?

331 babies have been named British in the United States since 1969, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name British most popular?

British peaked in 1989, when 21 newborns received the name.

Is British a boy or girl name?

British is used for both: about 91% of babies named British have been girls and 9% boys.

Is the name British rising or falling?

British is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Names like British

Names that sound and feel close to British: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare British with similar names → More names starting with B →