Ocean
From ocean (“sea”), inspired by the fashionable French female name Océane.
Every Ocean since 1971 — 8,233 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Ocean
Ocean is uncommon for boys in the United States, ranked #720 in 2025 with 375 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1971, 8,233 American babies have been named Ocean — about 54% boys and 46% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2022, when 855 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 Ocean stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Ocean 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 | 345 | #787 | 375 | #720 |
| 2024 | 328 | #832 | 485 | #592 |
| 2023 | 335 | #823 | 466 | #609 |
| 2022 | 382 | #755 | 473 | #596 |
| 2021 | 313 | #871 | 368 | #712 |
| 2020 | 213 | #1,130 | 292 | #795 |
| 2019 | 193 | #1,212 | 184 | #1,087 |
| 2018 | 119 | #1,737 | 166 | #1,158 |
| 2017 | 77 | #2,379 | 111 | #1,505 |
| 2016 | 85 | #2,260 | 105 | #1,574 |
| 2015 | 65 | #2,731 | 82 | #1,821 |
| 2014 | 79 | #2,344 | 84 | #1,791 |
| 2013 | 62 | #2,800 | 87 | #1,706 |
| 2012 | 58 | #2,969 | 63 | #2,149 |
| 2011 | 43 | #3,646 | 70 | #1,982 |
| 2010 | 57 | #3,001 | 80 | #1,826 |
| 2009 | 60 | #2,923 | 89 | #1,740 |
| 2008 | 75 | #2,529 | 113 | #1,461 |
| 2007 | 91 | #2,192 | 99 | #1,590 |
| 2006 | 67 | #2,692 | 83 | #1,708 |
| 2005 | 93 | #2,028 | 67 | #1,906 |
| 2004 | 73 | #2,363 | 45 | #2,473 |
| 2003 | 66 | #2,486 | 69 | #1,759 |
| 2002 | 56 | #2,738 | 54 | #2,039 |
| 2001 | 50 | #2,913 | 32 | #2,909 |
| 2000 | 46 | #3,056 | 28 | #3,131 |
| 1995 | 33 | #3,406 | 25 | #2,900 |
| 1990 | 16 | #5,756 | 6 | #7,833 |
| 1985 | — | — | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — | — | — |
| 1975 | 9 | #6,299 | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ocean mean?
From ocean (“sea”), inspired by the fashionable French female name Océane.
How popular is the name Ocean in 2025?
Ocean ranked #720 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 375 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Ocean?
8,233 babies have been named Ocean in the United States since 1971, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Ocean most popular?
Ocean peaked in 2022, when 855 newborns received the name.
Is Ocean a boy or girl name?
Ocean is used for both: about 46% of babies named Ocean have been girls and 54% boys.
Is the name Ocean rising or falling?
Ocean is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.