Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1960

Helmut

Gender Boy Rank 2025 Below top lists
Rank 2025
–
among boys
Babies in 2025
<5
named Helmut
How common
–
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1960
20 babies
All-time total
450
#8,401 all-time among boys
First recorded
1913
in Social Security records

Helmut popularity over time

450 babies have been named Helmut since 1913, 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
00.010.010.0218801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1913Boys

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 – – – –
1890s – – – –
1900s – – – –
1910s 50 5 – #2,366
1920s 54 5 +8% #2,671
1930s 60 6 +11% #2,675
1940s 24 2 -60% #2,753
1950s 79 8 +229% #1,979
1960s 137 14 +73% #1,834
1970s 46 5 -66% #3,239
1980s – – – –
1990s – – – –
2000s – – – –
2010s – – – –
2020s (to 2025) – – – –

The story of Helmut

Helmut 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 1913, 450 American babies have been named Helmut. Its peak came in 1960, when 20 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 Helmut stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Helmut?

The median living Helmut is about 63 years old; half are between 57 and 67. An estimated 200 people named Helmut are alive in the United States today.

median 63 020406080100

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

Helmut 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 – –
2000 – –
1995 – –
1990 – –
1985 – –
1980 – –
1975 – –
1970 8 #3,634
1965 12 #2,407
1960 20 #1,834
1955 11 #2,488
1950 5 #3,906
1945 – –
1940 8 #2,753
1935 6 #3,425
1930 10 #2,675
1925 5 #4,520
1920 5 #4,583
1915 10 #2,523
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Helmut

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

  1. 1 Helmut Kohl Helmut Kohl Chancellor of Germany from 1982 to 1998 1930–2017 · Contemporary
  2. 2 Helmut Schmidt Helmut Schmidt Chancellor of Germany from 1974 to 1982 1918–2015 · Contemporary
  3. 3 Helmut Marko Helmut Marko Austrian racing driver and motorsport executive (born 1943) Contemporary
  4. 4 Helmut Newton Helmut Newton German-Australian photographer (1920–2004) Contemporary
  5. 5 Helmut Berger Helmut Berger Austrian actor (1944–2023) Contemporary
  6. 6 Helmut Rahn Helmut Rahn German footballer (1929–2003) Contemporary
  7. 7 Helmut Schön Helmut Schön German football player and manager (1915–1996) Contemporary
  8. 8 Helmut Haller Helmut Haller German footballer (1939–2012) Contemporary
  9. 9 Helmut Griem Helmut Griem German actor and director (1932–2004) Contemporary
  10. 10 Helmut Lotti Helmut Lotti Belgian tenor and singer-songwriter (born 1969) Contemporary
  11. 11 Helmut Jahn Helmut Jahn German and American architect (1940–2021) Contemporary
  12. 12 Helmut Lachenmann German composer (born 1935) Contemporary
  13. 13 Helmut Lent Helmut Lent German fighter ace (1918–1944) Contemporary
  14. 14 Helmut Gröttrup Helmut Gröttrup German engineer, rocket scientist and inventor of the smart card 1916–1981 · Contemporary
  15. 15 Helmut Hasse Helmut Hasse German mathematician (1898–1979) 19th century
  16. 16 Helmut Walcha Helmut Walcha German organist (1907–1991) Contemporary
  17. 17 Helmut Käutner Helmut Käutner German film director (1908–1980) Contemporary
  18. 18 Helmut Dietl German film director and author 1944–2015 · Contemporary
  19. 19 Helmut Senekowitsch Helmut Senekowitsch Austrian footballer and manager (1933–2007) Contemporary
  20. 20 Helmut Kremers Helmut Kremers German footballer (born 1949) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Helmut?

The median living Helmut is about 63 years old. Half of all living Helmuts are between 57 and 67 years old.

How many people named Helmut are alive today?

An estimated 200 people named Helmut are alive in the United States, based on 450 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Helmut in 2025?

Helmut 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 Helmut?

450 babies have been named Helmut in the United States since 1913, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Helmut most popular?

Helmut peaked in 1960, when 20 newborns received the name.

Is Helmut a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Helmut rising or falling?

Helmut has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Helmut?

Well-known people named Helmut include Helmut Kohl (politician), Helmut Schmidt (politician), Helmut Marko (racing driver).

Names like Helmut

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

Compare Helmut with similar names → More names starting with H →