Brown: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

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	–	74	74	7	–	#465
1890s	–	79	79	8	+7%	#645
1900s	–	98	98	10	+24%	#634
1910s	–	320	320	32	+227%	#710
1920s	–	311	311	31	-3%	#1,000
1930s	–	197	197	20	-37%	#1,334
1940s	–	153	153	15	-22%	#1,277
1950s	–	92	92	9	-40%	#2,222
1960s	–	53	53	5	-42%	#2,220
1970s	–	20	20	2	-62%	#3,465
1980s	5	30	35	4	+75%	#4,550
1990s	–	6	6	1	-83%	#7,292
2000s	–	7	7	1	+17%	#10,009
2010s	–	6	6	1	-14%	#10,944
2020s (to 2025)	–	31	31	5	+761%	#7,764

Decade

Girls

Boys

Total

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

#465

1890s

–

+7%

#645

1900s

–

+24%

#634

1910s

–

320

+227%

#710

1920s

–

311

-3%

#1,000

1930s

–

197

-37%

#1,334

1940s

–

153

-22%

#1,277

1950s

–

-40%

#2,222

1960s

–

-42%

#2,220

1970s

–

-62%

#3,465

1980s

+75%

#4,550

1990s

–

-83%

#7,292

2000s

–

+17%

#10,009

2010s

–

-14%

#10,944

2020s (to 2025)

–

+761%

#7,764

The story of Brown

Brown is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #7,764 in 2025 with 10 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1881, 1,482 American babies have been named Brown. Its peak came in 1918, when 55 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1910s.

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

How old are people named Brown?

The median living Brown is about 68 years old; half are between 45 and 79. An estimated 300 people named Brown 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.

Brown 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	–	–	10	#7,764
2024	–	–	–	–
2023	–	–	9	#8,355
2022	–	–	6	#11,080
2021	–	–	6	#11,007
2020	–	–	–	–
2019	–	–	–	–
2018	–	–	–	–
2017	–	–	–	–
2016	–	–	–	–
2015	–	–	–	–
2014	–	–	–	–
2013	–	–	6	#10,944
2012	–	–	–	–
2011	–	–	–	–
2010	–	–	–	–
2009	–	–	–	–
2008	–	–	7	#10,009
2007	–	–	–	–
2006	–	–	–	–
2005	–	–	–	–
2004	–	–	–	–
2003	–	–	–	–
2002	–	–	–	–
2001	–	–	–	–
2000	–	–	–	–
1995	–	–	–	–
1990	–	–	6	#7,292
1985	–	–	–	–
1980	–	–	8	#4,550
1975	–	–	10	#3,465
1970	–	–	–	–
1965	–	–	5	#3,982
1960	–	–	14	#2,220
1955	–	–	10	#2,590
1950	–	–	12	#2,222
1945	–	–	10	#2,269
1940	–	–	28	#1,277
1935	–	–	14	#1,940
1930	–	–	26	#1,433
1925	–	–	32	#1,283
1920	–	–	36	#1,209
1915	–	–	38	#1,039
1910	–	–	13	#873
1905	–	–	10	#797
1900	–	–	9	#911
1895	–	–	7	#886
1890	–	–	5	#1,022
1885	–	–	12	#553
1880	–	–	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Brown?

The median living Brown is about 68 years old. Half of all living Browns are between 45 and 79 years old.

How many people named Brown are alive today?

An estimated 300 people named Brown are alive in the United States, based on 1,482 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Brown in 2025?

Brown ranked #7,764 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 10 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Brown?

1,482 babies have been named Brown in the United States since 1881, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Brown most popular?

Brown peaked in 1918, when 55 newborns received the name.

Is Brown a boy or girl name?

Brown is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Brown rising or falling?

Brown is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Brown

Brown popularity over time

The story of Brown

How old are people named Brown?

Brown year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Brown