Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1920

Deforest

Gender Boy Rank 2025 Below top lists
Rank 2025
–
among boys
Babies in 2025
<5
named Deforest
How common
–
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1920
26 babies
All-time total
667
#6,641 all-time among boys
First recorded
1881
in Social Security records

Deforest popularity over time

667 babies have been named Deforest since 1881, 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
0.030.050.080.118801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1881Boys

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 Boys Per year Change Best rank
1880s 9 1 – #610
1890s 17 2 +89% #870
1900s 12 1 -29% #1,095
1910s 127 13 +958% #1,490
1920s 174 17 +37% #1,467
1930s 94 9 -46% #1,566
1940s 79 8 -16% #2,008
1950s 48 5 -39% #2,710
1960s 31 3 -35% #2,834
1970s 37 4 +19% #3,737
1980s – – – –
1990s 34 3 – #6,497
2000s 5 1 -85% #10,963
2010s – – – –
2020s (to 2025) – – – –

The story of Deforest

Deforest is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1881, 667 American babies have been named Deforest. Its peak came in 1920, when 26 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1920s.

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

How old are people named Deforest?

The median living Deforest is about 64 years old; half are between 51 and 77. An estimated 200 people named Deforest are alive in the United States today.

median 64 020406080100

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

Deforest year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 – –
2024 – –
2023 – –
2022 – –
2021 – –
2020 – –
2019 – –
2018 – –
2017 – –
2016 – –
2015 – –
2014 – –
2013 – –
2012 – –
2011 – –
2010 – –
2009 – –
2008 – –
2007 – –
2006 – –
2005 – –
2004 – –
2003 – –
2002 – –
2001 5 #10,963
2000 – –
1995 7 #7,175
1990 – –
1985 – –
1980 – –
1975 – –
1970 7 #3,933
1965 9 #2,834
1960 – –
1955 5 #3,993
1950 7 #3,095
1945 7 #2,807
1940 6 #3,210
1935 16 #1,779
1930 5 #4,125
1925 14 #2,216
1920 26 #1,467
1915 18 #1,674
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 6 #917
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Deforest

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 DeForest Kelley DeForest Kelley American actor (1920–1999) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Deforest?

The median living Deforest is about 64 years old. Half of all living Deforests are between 51 and 77 years old.

How many people named Deforest are alive today?

An estimated 200 people named Deforest are alive in the United States, based on 667 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Deforest in 2025?

Deforest did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Deforest?

667 babies have been named Deforest in the United States since 1881, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Deforest most popular?

Deforest peaked in 1920, when 26 newborns received the name.

Is Deforest a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Deforest rising or falling?

Deforest has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Deforest?

Well-known people named Deforest include DeForest Kelley (actor).

Names like Deforest

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

Compare Deforest with similar names → More names starting with D →