Monroe
From Old English mann m (“human being, person, man”) + Roe, a river in Northern Ireland, meaning "man from the River Roe".
Every Monroe since 1880 — 24,360 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Monroe
Monroe is uncommon for boys in the United States, ranked #1,262 in 2025 with 157 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 24,360 American babies have been named Monroe — about 70% boys and 30% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2025, when 815 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
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 Monroe stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Monroe 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 | 658 | #467 | 157 | #1,262 |
| 2024 | 530 | #573 | 154 | #1,280 |
| 2023 | 574 | #530 | 141 | #1,343 |
| 2022 | 568 | #544 | 116 | #1,548 |
| 2021 | 587 | #526 | 189 | #1,104 |
| 2020 | 557 | #541 | 115 | #1,484 |
| 2019 | 510 | #597 | 113 | #1,513 |
| 2018 | 502 | #604 | 117 | #1,486 |
| 2017 | 428 | #683 | 133 | #1,345 |
| 2016 | 419 | #692 | 129 | #1,377 |
| 2015 | 396 | #721 | 142 | #1,269 |
| 2014 | 359 | #781 | 120 | #1,409 |
| 2013 | 356 | #767 | 111 | #1,481 |
| 2012 | 267 | #954 | 79 | #1,857 |
| 2011 | 143 | #1,538 | 43 | #2,779 |
| 2010 | 94 | #2,112 | 38 | #3,057 |
| 2009 | 61 | #2,879 | 42 | #2,881 |
| 2008 | 37 | #4,249 | 41 | #2,923 |
| 2007 | 38 | #4,108 | 41 | #2,906 |
| 2006 | 32 | #4,543 | 36 | #3,065 |
| 2005 | 24 | #5,386 | 38 | #2,831 |
| 2004 | 26 | #5,031 | 22 | #4,088 |
| 2003 | 13 | #8,335 | 28 | #3,336 |
| 2002 | 15 | #7,329 | 29 | #3,159 |
| 2001 | 9 | #10,739 | 33 | #2,845 |
| 2000 | 7 | #12,708 | 31 | #2,901 |
| 1995 | — | — | 45 | #1,907 |
| 1990 | — | — | 38 | #2,002 |
| 1985 | — | — | 41 | #1,583 |
| 1980 | — | — | 40 | #1,533 |
| 1975 | — | — | 44 | #1,316 |
| 1970 | — | — | 70 | #965 |
| 1965 | — | — | 68 | #895 |
| 1960 | — | — | 74 | #889 |
| 1955 | — | — | 136 | #641 |
| 1950 | — | — | 125 | #615 |
| 1945 | — | — | 154 | #486 |
| 1940 | — | — | 197 | #413 |
| 1935 | — | — | 210 | #375 |
| 1930 | — | — | 261 | #351 |
| 1925 | — | — | 303 | #333 |
| 1920 | — | — | 359 | #300 |
| 1915 | — | — | 310 | #281 |
| 1910 | — | — | 78 | #277 |
| 1905 | — | — | 79 | #215 |
| 1900 | — | — | 89 | #207 |
| 1895 | — | — | 63 | #219 |
| 1890 | — | — | 53 | #228 |
| 1885 | — | — | 54 | #223 |
| 1880 | — | — | 53 | #224 |
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Monroe mean?
From Old English mann m (“human being, person, man”) + Roe, a river in Northern Ireland, meaning "man from the River Roe".
How popular is the name Monroe in 2025?
Monroe ranked #1,262 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 157 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Monroe?
24,360 babies have been named Monroe in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Monroe most popular?
Monroe peaked in 2025, when 815 newborns received the name.
Is Monroe a boy or girl name?
Monroe is used for both: about 30% of babies named Monroe have been girls and 70% boys.
Is the name Monroe rising or falling?
Monroe is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.