Freeman: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#4,072

among boys · ↓439 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Freeman · -16% vs 2024

How common

1 in 65,695

boys born in 2025

Peak year

1918

229 babies

All-time total

10,996

#1,141 all-time among boys

First recorded

1880

in Social Security records

Freeman popularity over time

10,996 babies have been named Freeman 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

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	–	267	267	27	–	#286
1890s	–	273	273	27	+2%	#286
1900s	–	397	397	40	+45%	#290
1910s	–	1,404	1,404	140	+254%	#339
1920s	5	1,898	1,903	190	+36%	#419
1930s	–	1,386	1,386	139	-27%	#452
1940s	–	1,275	1,275	128	-8%	#491
1950s	–	1,089	1,089	109	-15%	#652
1960s	–	720	720	72	-34%	#753
1970s	–	545	545	55	-24%	#981
1980s	–	479	479	48	-12%	#1,201
1990s	–	431	431	43	-10%	#1,532
2000s	–	355	355	36	-18%	#2,347
2010s	–	303	303	30	-15%	#3,147
2020s (to 2025)	–	169	169	28	-7%	#3,603

Where Freeman is heading

A five-year projection from the recent trend in births per 1,000 boys (damped so it flattens over time), converted to babies at today's birth totals. The implied rank places that projection in the 2025 field. A projection, not a promise: real trends bend.

Year	Projected babies	Per 1,000 boys	Implied rank
2026	26	0.02	outside top 500
2027	26	0.02	outside top 500
2028	26	0.01	outside top 500
2029	25	0.01	outside top 500
2030	25	0.01	outside top 500

The story of Freeman

Freeman is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #4,072 in 2025 with 26 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.

Since 1880, 10,996 American babies have been named Freeman. Its peak came in 1918, when 229 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 Freeman stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Freeman?

The median living Freeman is about 56 years old; half are between 33 and 72. An estimated 4,500 people named Freeman 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.

Freeman 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	–	–	26	#4,072
2024	–	–	31	#3,633
2023	–	–	29	#3,825
2022	–	–	28	#3,923
2021	–	–	31	#3,603
2020	–	–	24	#4,183
2019	–	–	28	#3,832
2018	–	–	36	#3,190
2017	–	–	28	#3,814
2016	–	–	32	#3,466
2015	–	–	27	#3,917
2014	–	–	35	#3,170
2013	–	–	35	#3,147
2012	–	–	30	#3,560
2011	–	–	31	#3,459
2010	–	–	21	#4,571
2009	–	–	37	#3,126
2008	–	–	33	#3,367
2007	–	–	36	#3,152
2006	–	–	38	#2,947
2005	–	–	33	#3,111
2004	–	–	37	#2,804
2003	–	–	29	#3,220
2002	–	–	36	#2,656
2001	–	–	35	#2,707
2000	–	–	41	#2,347
1995	–	–	39	#2,115
1990	–	–	50	#1,641
1985	–	–	57	#1,270
1980	–	–	53	#1,276
1975	–	–	61	#1,072
1970	–	–	67	#995
1965	–	–	76	#845
1960	–	–	105	#753
1955	–	–	108	#705
1950	–	–	114	#654
1945	–	–	114	#564
1940	–	–	121	#533
1935	–	–	112	#545
1930	–	–	164	#463
1925	–	–	190	#434
1920	–	–	201	#419
1915	–	–	171	#414
1910	–	–	52	#357
1905	–	–	47	#290
1900	–	–	44	#320
1895	–	–	27	#363
1890	–	–	28	#330
1885	–	–	27	#329
1880	–	–	26	#337

Famous people named Freeman

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

1 Freeman Dyson British theoretical physicist and mathematician (1923–2020) Contemporary
2 Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon British politician and colonial governor (1866–1941) 19th century

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Freeman?

The median living Freeman is about 56 years old. Half of all living Freemans are between 33 and 72 years old.

How many people named Freeman are alive today?

An estimated 4,500 people named Freeman are alive in the United States, based on 10,996 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Freeman mean?

A male given name transferred from the surname.

How popular is the name Freeman in 2025?

Freeman ranked #4,072 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 26 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Freeman?

10,996 babies have been named Freeman in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Freeman most popular?

Freeman peaked in 1918, when 229 newborns received the name.

Is Freeman a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Freeman rising or falling?

Freeman has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Will Freeman become more popular?

Freeman looks stable. If the recent trend holds, we project roughly 25 boys named Freeman in 2030, ranking outside the top 500. Forecasts assume the current trend continues and become less certain further out.

Who are famous people named Freeman?

Well-known people named Freeman include Freeman Dyson (physicist), Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon (politician).

Names like Freeman

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

Compare Freeman with similar names → More names starting with F →