Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1920

French

Gender Boy · 1% girls Rank 2025 Below top lists
Rank 2025
–
among boys
Babies in 2025
<5
named French
How common
–
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1920
35 babies
All-time total
1,129
#4,780 all-time among boys
First recorded
1882
in Social Security records

French popularity over time

1,129 babies have been named French since 1882, 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
0.040.080.110.1518801900192019401960198020002020BoysGirls
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 – 35 35 4 – #754
1890s – 81 81 8 +131% #534
1900s – 36 36 4 -56% #864
1910s 5 177 182 18 +406% #1,144
1920s 5 247 252 25 +38% #1,338
1930s – 168 168 17 -33% #1,373
1940s – 141 141 14 -16% #1,493
1950s – 94 94 9 -33% #2,070
1960s – 75 75 8 -20% #2,723
1970s – 46 46 5 -39% #3,745
1980s – 12 12 1 -74% #5,530
1990s – 7 7 1 -42% #8,146
2000s – – – – – –
2010s – – – – – –
2020s (to 2025) – – – – – –

The story of French

French 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 1882, 1,129 American babies have been named French. Its peak came in 1920, when 35 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 French stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named French?

The median living French is about 69 years old; half are between 57 and 79. An estimated 300 people named French 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.

French 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 – – – –
2024 – – – –
2023 – – – –
2022 – – – –
2021 – – – –
2020 – – – –
2019 – – – –
2018 – – – –
2017 – – – –
2016 – – – –
2015 – – – –
2014 – – – –
2013 – – – –
2012 – – – –
2011 – – – –
2010 – – – –
2009 – – – –
2008 – – – –
2007 – – – –
2006 – – – –
2005 – – – –
2004 – – – –
2003 – – – –
2002 – – – –
2001 – – – –
2000 – – – –
1995 – – – –
1990 – – – –
1985 – – – –
1980 – – – –
1975 – – 9 #3,745
1970 – – 6 #4,420
1965 – – 6 #3,665
1960 – – 6 #3,797
1955 – – 11 #2,478
1950 – – 11 #2,363
1945 – – 10 #2,303
1940 – – 21 #1,493
1935 – – 24 #1,404
1930 – – 13 #2,221
1925 – – 27 #1,433
1920 5 #5,261 30 #1,338
1915 – – 31 #1,166
1910 – – 7 #1,354
1905 – – 6 #1,148
1900 – – 10 #864
1895 – – 8 #821
1890 – – 10 #644
1885 – – 5 #991
1880 – – – –

Famous people named French

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

  1. 1 French Montana French Montana Moroccan and American rapper (born 1984) Contemporary
  2. 2 French Stewart French Stewart American actor (born 1964) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average French?

The median living French is about 69 years old. Half of all living Frenchs are between 57 and 79 years old.

How many people named French are alive today?

An estimated 300 people named French are alive in the United States, based on 1,129 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name French in 2025?

French 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 French?

1,129 babies have been named French in the United States since 1882, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name French most popular?

French peaked in 1920, when 35 newborns received the name.

Is French a boy or girl name?

French is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 99% of babies with the name.

Is the name French rising or falling?

French has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named French?

Well-known people named French include French Montana (singer), French Stewart (actor).

Names like French

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

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