Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1924

Humphrey

Meaning to grant, bestow Gender Boy Rank 2025 Below top lists

Name of a 9th-century French saint, brought to England by Normans; Proto-Germanic *unnaną (“to grant, bestow”) + *friþuz (“peace”).

Rank 2025
–
among boys
Babies in 2025
<5
named Humphrey
How common
–
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1924
22 babies
All-time total
1,085
#4,871 all-time among boys
First recorded
1880
in Social Security records

Humphrey popularity over time

1,085 babies have been named Humphrey 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
0.030.050.080.118801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1893Boys

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 50 5 – #728
1890s 32 3 -36% #678
1900s 29 3 -9% #1,042
1910s 137 14 +372% #1,153
1920s 151 15 +10% #1,701
1930s 97 10 -36% #1,695
1940s 101 10 +4% #1,873
1950s 142 14 +41% #1,855
1960s 100 10 -30% #2,249
1970s 57 6 -43% #3,642
1980s 56 6 -2% #4,377
1990s 38 4 -32% #5,249
2000s 25 3 -34% #8,419
2010s 41 4 +64% #9,949
2020s (to 2025) 29 5 +18% #8,315

The story of Humphrey

Humphrey 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, 1,085 American babies have been named Humphrey. Its peak came in 1924, when 22 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 Humphrey stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Humphrey?

The median living Humphrey is about 57 years old; half are between 34 and 70. An estimated 500 people named Humphrey are alive in the United States today.

median 57 020406080100

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

Humphrey 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 8 #9,328
2023 – –
2022 5 #13,064
2021 7 #10,129
2020 9 #8,315
2019 6 #11,289
2018 5 #12,898
2017 5 #13,003
2016 – –
2015 7 #9,949
2014 – –
2013 5 #12,850
2012 7 #10,107
2011 6 #11,368
2010 – –
2009 6 #11,510
2008 6 #11,582
2007 – –
2006 – –
2005 – –
2004 8 #8,419
2003 – –
2002 5 #11,334
2001 – –
2000 – –
1995 – –
1990 8 #6,055
1985 9 #4,469
1980 8 #4,674
1975 7 #4,519
1970 8 #3,642
1965 7 #3,382
1960 8 #3,191
1955 15 #2,084
1950 14 #2,068
1945 13 #1,972
1940 8 #2,756
1935 6 #3,432
1930 17 #1,858
1925 9 #3,022
1920 17 #1,999
1915 20 #1,578
1910 7 #1,367
1905 6 #1,163
1900 5 #1,406
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 5 #982

Famous people named Humphrey

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

  1. 1 Humphrey Bogart Humphrey Bogart American actor (1899–1957) 19th century
  2. 2 Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester Lord Protector of England from 1422 to 1437 1390–1447 · Medieval
  3. 3 Humphrey Gilbert Humphrey Gilbert English explorer, politician and soldier (c.1539–1583) 16th century
  4. 4 Humphrey Carpenter Humphrey Carpenter English writer and broadcaster (1946–2005) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Humphrey?

The median living Humphrey is about 57 years old. Half of all living Humphreys are between 34 and 70 years old.

How many people named Humphrey are alive today?

An estimated 500 people named Humphrey are alive in the United States, based on 1,085 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Humphrey mean?

Name of a 9th-century French saint, brought to England by Normans; Proto-Germanic *unnaną (“to grant, bestow”) + *friþuz (“peace”).

How popular is the name Humphrey in 2025?

Humphrey 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 Humphrey?

1,085 babies have been named Humphrey in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Humphrey most popular?

Humphrey peaked in 1924, when 22 newborns received the name.

Is Humphrey a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Humphrey rising or falling?

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

Who are famous people named Humphrey?

Well-known people named Humphrey include Humphrey Bogart (actor), Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester (politician), Humphrey Gilbert (explorer).

Names like Humphrey

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

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