Baby Names US
Unisex name ★ peaked 1921

Early

Meaning Early is both a surname and a given name which may refer to: Gender Unisex · 9% girls Rank 2025 #7,817

Early is both a surname and a given name which may refer to:

Rank 2025
#7,817
among boys
Babies in 2025
10
named Early
How common
1 in 170,808
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1921
99 babies
All-time total
4,362
#2,093 all-time among boys
First recorded
1880
in Social Security records

Early popularity over time

4,362 babies have been named Early since 1880, 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
0.10.20.30.418801900192019401960198020002020BoysGirls
BoysGirls

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 – 147 147 15 – #407
1890s 11 221 232 23 +58% #323
1900s 12 244 256 26 +10% #411
1910s 42 587 629 63 +146% #482
1920s 102 774 876 88 +39% #692
1930s 62 516 578 58 -34% #801
1940s 62 518 580 58 0% #810
1950s 64 396 460 46 -21% #1,042
1960s 12 209 221 22 -52% #1,413
1970s – 147 147 15 -33% #1,717
1980s – 90 90 9 -39% #3,085
1990s – 44 44 4 -51% #4,240
2000s – 45 45 5 +2% #6,029
2010s 6 26 32 3 -29% #6,427
2020s (to 2025) – 25 25 4 +30% #7,817

The story of Early

Early is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #7,817 in 2025 with 10 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1880, 4,362 American babies have been named Early, about 91% boys and 9% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1921, when 99 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 Early stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Early?

The median living Early is about 69 years old; half are between 53 and 78. An estimated 1,300 people named Early are alive in the United States today.

median 69 020406080100

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

Early 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 #7,817
2024 – – – –
2023 – – – –
2022 – – 10 #7,921
2021 – – 5 #12,656
2020 – – – –
2019 – – 7 #10,028
2018 – – – –
2017 – – – –
2016 – – 6 #11,101
2015 – – 13 #6,427
2014 – – – –
2013 6 #15,159 – –
2012 – – – –
2011 – – – –
2010 – – – –
2009 – – 8 #9,221
2008 – – 5 #13,085
2007 – – 6 #11,325
2006 – – – –
2005 – – – –
2004 – – 5 #11,868
2003 – – 5 #11,385
2002 – – 5 #11,178
2001 – – – –
2000 – – 11 #6,029
1995 – – 7 #7,226
1990 – – 13 #4,240
1985 – – 13 #3,465
1980 – – 6 #5,727
1975 – – 7 #4,464
1970 – – 26 #1,717
1965 – – 22 #1,682
1960 – – 31 #1,441
1955 11 #3,637 40 #1,188
1950 9 #3,754 43 #1,078
1945 – – 49 #918
1940 10 #2,793 44 #970
1935 6 #3,877 43 #971
1930 8 #3,433 57 #876
1925 5 #5,176 77 #748
1920 9 #3,403 76 #757
1915 – – 71 #694
1910 6 #2,212 33 #482
1905 – – 18 #552
1900 – – 29 #419
1895 – – 24 #391
1890 – – 23 #371
1885 – – 15 #485
1880 – – 11 #580

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Early?

The median living Early is about 69 years old. Half of all living Earlys are between 53 and 78 years old.

How many people named Early are alive today?

An estimated 1,300 people named Early are alive in the United States, based on 4,362 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Early mean?

Early is both a surname and a given name which may refer to:

How popular is the name Early in 2025?

Early ranked #7,817 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 Early?

4,362 babies have been named Early in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Early most popular?

Early peaked in 1921, when 99 newborns received the name.

Is Early a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Early rising or falling?

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

Names like Early

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

Compare Early with similar names → More names starting with E →