Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1916

Mortimer

Meaning Mortimer is a masculine given name which may refer to: Gender Boy Rank 2025 Below top lists

Mortimer is a masculine given name which may refer to:

Rank 2025
–
among boys
Babies in 2025
<5
named Mortimer
How common
–
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1916
91 babies
All-time total
1,943
#3,367 all-time among boys
First recorded
1880
in Social Security records

Mortimer popularity over time

1,943 babies have been named Mortimer 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
0.040.080.110.1518801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1882Boys

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 99 10 – #481
1890s 93 9 -6% #517
1900s 97 10 +4% #627
1910s 645 65 +565% #542
1920s 603 60 -7% #727
1930s 187 19 -69% #1,186
1940s 75 8 -60% #2,153
1950s 59 6 -21% #2,287
1960s 39 4 -34% #3,209
1970s 17 2 -56% #4,103
1980s – – – –
1990s – – – –
2000s – – – –
2010s 10 1 – #13,417
2020s (to 2025) 19 3 +217% #9,281

The story of Mortimer

Mortimer 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, 1,943 American babies have been named Mortimer. Its peak came in 1916, when 91 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1910s.

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

How old are people named Mortimer?

The median living Mortimer is about 69 years old; half are between 59 and 82. An estimated 200 people named Mortimer 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.

Mortimer 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 5 #13,528
2022 – –
2021 6 #11,701
2020 8 #9,281
2019 5 #13,496
2018 – –
2017 – –
2016 – –
2015 5 #13,417
2014 – –
2013 – –
2012 – –
2011 – –
2010 – –
2009 – –
2008 – –
2007 – –
2006 – –
2005 – –
2004 – –
2003 – –
2002 – –
2001 – –
2000 – –
1995 – –
1990 – –
1985 – –
1980 – –
1975 – –
1970 7 #4,103
1965 6 #3,806
1960 – –
1955 – –
1950 12 #2,287
1945 5 #3,632
1940 12 #2,153
1935 12 #2,207
1930 36 #1,186
1925 58 #887
1920 70 #803
1915 76 #669
1910 11 #1,023
1905 12 #729
1900 6 #1,267
1895 8 #846
1890 7 #855
1885 11 #595
1880 12 #552

Famous people named Mortimer

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

  1. 1 Mortimer J. Adler Mortimer J. Adler American philosopher, author and educator (1902–2001) Contemporary
  2. 2 Mortimer Wheeler Mortimer Wheeler British archaeologist (1890–1976) 19th century

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Mortimer?

The median living Mortimer is about 69 years old. Half of all living Mortimers are between 59 and 82 years old.

How many people named Mortimer are alive today?

An estimated 200 people named Mortimer are alive in the United States, based on 1,943 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Mortimer mean?

Mortimer is a masculine given name which may refer to:

How popular is the name Mortimer in 2025?

Mortimer 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 Mortimer?

1,943 babies have been named Mortimer in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Mortimer most popular?

Mortimer peaked in 1916, when 91 newborns received the name.

Is Mortimer a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Mortimer rising or falling?

Mortimer has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Mortimer?

Well-known people named Mortimer include Mortimer J. Adler (philosopher), Mortimer Wheeler (archaeologist).

Names like Mortimer

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

Compare Mortimer with similar names → More names starting with M →