Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1915

Nat

Meaning A unisex given name Gender Boy Rank 2025 Below top lists

A unisex given name. A diminutive of the male given name Nathanael, Nathaniel, Nathan.

Rank 2025
–
among boys
Babies in 2025
<5
named Nat
How common
–
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1915
61 babies
All-time total
2,162
#3,143 all-time among boys
First recorded
1880
in Social Security records

Nat popularity over time

2,162 babies have been named Nat 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
0.050.10.150.218801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1894Boys

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 108 11 – #478
1890s 125 13 +16% #475
1900s 117 12 -6% #595
1910s 444 44 +279% #568
1920s 353 35 -20% #1,069
1930s 241 24 -32% #1,295
1940s 220 22 -9% #1,400
1950s 216 22 -2% #1,356
1960s 183 18 -15% #1,474
1970s 94 9 -49% #2,097
1980s 34 3 -64% #4,475
1990s 17 2 -50% #7,941
2000s 5 1 -71% #11,911
2010s – – – –
2020s (to 2025) 5 1 – #13,562

The story of Nat

Nat 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, 2,162 American babies have been named Nat. Its peak came in 1915, when 61 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 Nat stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Nat?

The median living Nat is about 66 years old; half are between 56 and 76. An estimated 600 people named Nat are alive in the United States today.

median 66 020406080100

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

Nat 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 #13,562
2022 – –
2021 – –
2020 – –
2019 – –
2018 – –
2017 – –
2016 – –
2015 – –
2014 – –
2013 – –
2012 – –
2011 – –
2010 – –
2009 – –
2008 – –
2007 – –
2006 – –
2005 – –
2004 – –
2003 – –
2002 5 #11,911
2001 – –
2000 – –
1995 – –
1990 – –
1985 – –
1980 6 #6,012
1975 – –
1970 17 #2,263
1965 17 #1,974
1960 30 #1,474
1955 22 #1,669
1950 18 #1,788
1945 17 #1,679
1940 21 #1,508
1935 21 #1,524
1930 31 #1,295
1925 29 #1,384
1920 43 #1,083
1915 61 #769
1910 20 #669
1905 6 #1,193
1900 18 #595
1895 11 #663
1890 14 #527
1885 15 #494
1880 14 #495

Famous people named Nat

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

  1. 1 Nat King Cole Nat King Cole American singer and jazz pianist (1919–1965) Contemporary
  2. 2 Nat Wolff Nat Wolff American actor, musician, and singer-songwriter b. 1994 · Contemporary
  3. 3 Nat Faxon Nat Faxon American actor (born 1975) Contemporary
  4. 4 Nat Lofthouse Nat Lofthouse English footballer (1925–2011) Contemporary
  5. 5 Nat Adderley Nat Adderley American jazz trumpeter and composer (1931–2000) Contemporary
  6. 6 Nat Pendleton Nat Pendleton Olympic wrestler and actor (1895–1967) 19th century
  7. 7 Nat Hentoff Nat Hentoff American music critic and author (1925–2017) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Nat?

The median living Nat is about 66 years old. Half of all living Nats are between 56 and 76 years old.

How many people named Nat are alive today?

An estimated 600 people named Nat are alive in the United States, based on 2,162 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Nat mean?

A unisex given name. A diminutive of the male given name Nathanael, Nathaniel, Nathan.

How popular is the name Nat in 2025?

Nat 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 Nat?

2,162 babies have been named Nat in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Nat most popular?

Nat peaked in 1915, when 61 newborns received the name.

Is Nat a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Nat rising or falling?

Nat is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Nat?

Well-known people named Nat include Nat King Cole (musician), Nat Wolff (actor), Nat Faxon (actor).

Names like Nat

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

Compare Nat with similar names → More names starting with N →