Dow: 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	Boys	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	31	3	–	#691
1890s	47	5	+52%	#667
1900s	6	1	-87%	#979
1910s	130	13	+2067%	#1,605
1920s	174	17	+34%	#1,601
1930s	145	15	-17%	#1,659
1940s	125	13	-14%	#1,818
1950s	153	15	+22%	#1,677
1960s	149	15	-3%	#1,556
1970s	61	6	-59%	#3,205
1980s	29	3	-52%	#4,621
1990s	18	2	-38%	#7,031
2000s	18	2	0%	#7,639
2010s	5	1	-72%	#12,571
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–

Decade

Boys

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

#691

1890s

+52%

#667

1900s

-87%

#979

1910s

130

+2067%

#1,605

1920s

174

+34%

#1,601

1930s

145

-17%

#1,659

1940s

125

-14%

#1,818

1950s

153

+22%

#1,677

1960s

149

-3%

#1,556

1970s

-59%

#3,205

1980s

-52%

#4,621

1990s

-38%

#7,031

2000s

#7,639

2010s

-72%

#12,571

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Dow

Dow 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 1880, 1,091 American babies have been named Dow. Its peak came in 1962, when 26 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1960s.

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

How old are people named Dow?

The median living Dow is about 64 years old; half are between 54 and 73. An estimated 400 people named Dow 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.

Dow 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	5	#12,571
2014	–	–
2013	–	–
2012	–	–
2011	–	–
2010	–	–
2009	–	–
2008	–	–
2007	–	–
2006	–	–
2005	5	#11,937
2004	–	–
2003	5	#11,365
2002	–	–
2001	–	–
2000	8	#7,639
1995	5	#9,243
1990	–	–
1985	–	–
1980	–	–
1975	–	–
1970	8	#3,600
1965	11	#2,513
1960	14	#2,240
1955	10	#2,629
1950	10	#2,476
1945	13	#1,951
1940	10	#2,369
1935	13	#2,061
1930	20	#1,659
1925	17	#1,951
1920	18	#1,903
1915	15	#1,898
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	5	#1,122
1890	9	#683
1885	–	–
1880	5	#944

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Dow?

The median living Dow is about 64 years old. Half of all living Dows are between 54 and 73 years old.

How many people named Dow are alive today?

An estimated 400 people named Dow are alive in the United States, based on 1,091 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Dow mean?

Variant of Daw from David or daw, and of Duff from Scottish Gaelic.

How popular is the name Dow in 2025?

Dow 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 Dow?

1,091 babies have been named Dow in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Dow most popular?

Dow peaked in 1962, when 26 newborns received the name.

Is Dow a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Dow rising or falling?

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

Dow

Dow popularity over time

The story of Dow

How old are people named Dow?

Dow year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Dow