Bruce
From a Norman place name, Brix, of disputed meaning.
Every Bruce since 1880 — 388,275 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Bruce
Bruce is uncommon for boys in the United States, ranked #536 in 2025 with 558 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 388,275 American babies have been named Bruce. Its peak came in 1956, when 14,693 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1950s.
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 Bruce stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Bruce 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 | — | — | 558 | #536 |
| 2024 | — | — | 555 | #536 |
| 2023 | — | — | 547 | #542 |
| 2022 | — | — | 526 | #563 |
| 2021 | — | — | 549 | #535 |
| 2020 | — | — | 587 | #498 |
| 2019 | — | — | 624 | #471 |
| 2018 | — | — | 614 | #473 |
| 2017 | — | — | 722 | #429 |
| 2016 | — | — | 702 | #441 |
| 2015 | — | — | 766 | #404 |
| 2014 | — | — | 773 | #401 |
| 2013 | — | — | 710 | #417 |
| 2012 | — | — | 668 | #422 |
| 2011 | — | — | 574 | #469 |
| 2010 | — | — | 485 | #533 |
| 2009 | — | — | 586 | #466 |
| 2008 | — | — | 581 | #478 |
| 2007 | — | — | 636 | #439 |
| 2006 | — | — | 550 | #481 |
| 2005 | — | — | 490 | #504 |
| 2004 | — | — | 532 | #474 |
| 2003 | — | — | 509 | #486 |
| 2002 | — | — | 510 | #467 |
| 2001 | — | — | 579 | #424 |
| 2000 | — | — | 563 | #432 |
| 1995 | 5 | #13,736 | 665 | #362 |
| 1990 | — | — | 1,170 | #239 |
| 1985 | 16 | #4,653 | 1,412 | #183 |
| 1980 | 17 | #4,347 | 1,650 | #157 |
| 1975 | 9 | #6,021 | 1,789 | #140 |
| 1970 | 16 | #3,733 | 3,482 | #94 |
| 1965 | 27 | #2,302 | 6,325 | #50 |
| 1960 | 33 | #1,982 | 10,972 | #39 |
| 1955 | 33 | #1,844 | 14,082 | #32 |
| 1950 | 27 | #1,838 | 12,674 | #26 |
| 1945 | 14 | #2,348 | 5,615 | #48 |
| 1940 | 16 | #2,044 | 3,789 | #55 |
| 1935 | 8 | #3,184 | 2,447 | #77 |
| 1930 | 15 | #2,210 | 1,712 | #109 |
| 1925 | 7 | #4,085 | 1,354 | #130 |
| 1920 | 19 | #2,021 | 996 | #149 |
| 1915 | 7 | #3,479 | 663 | #172 |
| 1910 | — | — | 98 | #239 |
| 1905 | — | — | 85 | #205 |
| 1900 | — | — | 86 | #210 |
| 1895 | 5 | #1,624 | 65 | #213 |
| 1890 | — | — | 59 | #217 |
| 1885 | — | — | 56 | #213 |
| 1880 | — | — | 47 | #241 |
Famous people named Bruce
- Bruce Lee Actor · 1940–1973
- Bruce Willis Actor · b. 1955
- Bruce McLaren Racing driver · 1937–1970
- Bruce Dickinson Singer · b. 1958
- Bruce Chatwin Writer · 1940–1989
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Bruce mean?
From a Norman place name, Brix, of disputed meaning.
How popular is the name Bruce in 2025?
Bruce ranked #536 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 558 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Bruce?
388,275 babies have been named Bruce in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Bruce most popular?
Bruce peaked in 1956, when 14,693 newborns received the name.
Is Bruce a boy or girl name?
Bruce is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Bruce rising or falling?
Bruce is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Bruce?
Well-known people named Bruce include Bruce Lee (actor), Bruce Willis (actor), Bruce McLaren (racing driver).