Baby Names US
Unisex name ★ peaked 1975

Little

Gender Unisex · 12% girls Rank 2025 Below top lists
Rank 2025
–
among boys
Babies in 2025
<5
named Little
How common
–
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1975
41 babies
All-time total
1,791
#3,814 all-time among boys
First recorded
1883
in Social Security records

Little popularity over time

1,791 babies have been named Little since 1883, 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
0.020.040.060.0818801900192019401960198020002020BoysGirls
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 – 15 15 2 – #983
1890s – 20 20 2 +33% #865
1900s – 25 25 3 +25% #989
1910s 5 124 129 13 +416% #1,396
1920s 34 199 233 23 +81% #1,621
1930s 16 140 156 16 -33% #1,562
1940s 19 161 180 18 +15% #1,659
1950s 30 167 197 20 +9% #1,518
1960s 29 210 239 24 +21% #1,469
1970s 47 248 295 30 +23% #1,612
1980s 28 145 173 17 -41% #2,255
1990s 10 95 105 11 -39% #4,031
2000s – 14 14 1 -87% #8,615
2010s – 10 10 1 -29% #13,266
2020s (to 2025) – – – – – –

The story of Little

Little 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 1883, 1,791 American babies have been named Little, about 88% boys and 12% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1975, when 41 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1970s.

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 Little stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Little?

The median living Little is about 54 years old; half are between 45 and 66. An estimated 1,000 people named Little are alive in the United States today.

median 54 020406080100

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

Little 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 – – 5 #13,485
2016 – – – –
2015 – – 5 #13,266
2014 – – – –
2013 – – – –
2012 – – – –
2011 – – – –
2010 – – – –
2009 – – – –
2008 – – – –
2007 – – – –
2006 – – – –
2005 – – – –
2004 – – 8 #8,615
2003 – – – –
2002 – – – –
2001 – – – –
2000 – – 6 #9,835
1995 – – 15 #4,186
1990 5 #14,263 11 #4,876
1985 – – 13 #3,529
1980 10 #6,572 23 #2,255
1975 9 #6,229 32 #1,612
1970 – – 17 #2,257
1965 5 #7,093 27 #1,500
1960 8 #4,994 18 #1,951
1955 – – 14 #2,189
1950 5 #5,753 8 #2,929
1945 – – 13 #1,982
1940 6 #4,135 15 #1,858
1935 – – 13 #2,093
1930 – – 17 #1,869
1925 5 #5,439 21 #1,719
1920 5 #5,416 22 #1,669
1915 – – 11 #2,390
1910 – – 5 #1,746
1905 – – 5 #1,343
1900 – – – –
1895 – – – –
1890 – – – –
1885 – – – –
1880 – – – –

Famous people named Little

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

  1. 1 Little Richard Little Richard American musician and songwriter (1932–2020) Contemporary
  2. 2 Little Walter Little Walter American blues harmonica player (1930–1968) Contemporary
  3. 3 Little Eva Little Eva American singer (1943–2003) Contemporary
  4. 4 Little Jimmy Dickens Little Jimmy Dickens American country music singer-songwriter (1920–2015) Contemporary
  5. 5 Little Willie John Little Willie John American R&B singer (1937–1968) Contemporary
  6. 6 Little Boots Little Boots English singer-songwriter and DJ (born 1984) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Little?

The median living Little is about 54 years old. Half of all living Littles are between 45 and 66 years old.

How many people named Little are alive today?

An estimated 1,000 people named Little are alive in the United States, based on 1,791 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Little in 2025?

Little 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 Little?

1,791 babies have been named Little in the United States since 1883, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Little most popular?

Little peaked in 1975, when 41 newborns received the name.

Is Little a boy or girl name?

Little is used for both: about 12% of babies named Little have been girls and 88% boys.

Is the name Little rising or falling?

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

Who are famous people named Little?

Well-known people named Little include Little Richard (singer), Little Walter (singer), Little Eva (singer).

Names like Little

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

Compare Little with similar names → More names starting with L →