Norbert
From Old High German nord (“north”) + beraht (“bright”).
Every Norbert since 1885 — 20,385 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Norbert
Norbert 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 1885, 20,385 American babies have been named Norbert. Its peak came in 1924, when 635 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 Norbert stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Norbert 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 | — | — | 14 | #6,387 |
| 2023 | — | — | 7 | #10,496 |
| 2022 | — | — | 6 | #11,901 |
| 2021 | — | — | 14 | #6,248 |
| 2020 | — | — | 10 | #7,907 |
| 2019 | — | — | 17 | #5,500 |
| 2018 | — | — | 11 | #7,478 |
| 2017 | — | — | 8 | #9,450 |
| 2016 | — | — | 5 | #13,640 |
| 2015 | — | — | 9 | #8,521 |
| 2014 | — | — | 9 | #8,604 |
| 2013 | — | — | 7 | #10,421 |
| 2012 | — | — | 7 | #10,455 |
| 2011 | — | — | 10 | #7,919 |
| 2010 | — | — | 10 | #7,967 |
| 2009 | — | — | 10 | #8,129 |
| 2008 | — | — | 13 | #6,664 |
| 2007 | — | — | 13 | #6,513 |
| 2006 | — | — | 19 | #4,808 |
| 2005 | — | — | 18 | #4,777 |
| 2004 | — | — | 18 | #4,728 |
| 2003 | — | — | 17 | #4,754 |
| 2002 | — | — | 14 | #5,317 |
| 2001 | — | — | 20 | #4,071 |
| 2000 | — | — | 15 | #4,979 |
| 1995 | — | — | 24 | #2,997 |
| 1990 | — | — | 31 | #2,297 |
| 1985 | — | — | 27 | #2,110 |
| 1980 | — | — | 48 | #1,371 |
| 1975 | — | — | 50 | #1,202 |
| 1970 | — | — | 81 | #897 |
| 1965 | — | — | 111 | #709 |
| 1960 | — | — | 181 | #579 |
| 1955 | — | — | 190 | #533 |
| 1950 | — | — | 213 | #452 |
| 1945 | — | — | 196 | #428 |
| 1940 | — | — | 287 | #338 |
| 1935 | — | — | 400 | #272 |
| 1930 | — | — | 559 | #228 |
| 1925 | — | — | 609 | #221 |
| 1920 | — | — | 515 | #244 |
| 1915 | — | — | 332 | #266 |
| 1910 | — | — | 39 | #444 |
| 1905 | — | — | 29 | #399 |
| 1900 | — | — | 21 | #525 |
| 1895 | — | — | 18 | #485 |
| 1890 | — | — | 9 | #720 |
| 1885 | — | — | 6 | #905 |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Norbert
- Norbert Wiener Mathematician · 1894–1964
- Norbert Elias Sociologist · 1897–1990
- Norbert of Xanten Religious figure · 1080–1134
- Norbert Burgmüller Composer · 1810–1836
- Norbert Blüm Politician · 1935–2020
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Norbert mean?
From Old High German nord (“north”) + beraht (“bright”).
How popular is the name Norbert in 2025?
Norbert 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 Norbert?
20,385 babies have been named Norbert in the United States since 1885, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Norbert most popular?
Norbert peaked in 1924, when 635 newborns received the name.
Is Norbert a boy or girl name?
Norbert is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Norbert rising or falling?
Norbert has been roughly stable over the past decade.
Who are famous people named Norbert?
Well-known people named Norbert include Norbert Wiener (mathematician), Norbert Elias (sociologist), Norbert of Xanten (religious figure).