Pharoah: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#9,482

among boys · ↓3,885 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Pharoah

How common

1 in 213,510

boys born in 2025

Peak year

2017

37 babies

All-time total

678

#6,578 all-time among boys

First recorded

1936

in Social Security records

Pharoah popularity over time

678 babies have been named Pharoah since 1936, 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

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	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–
1930s	5	1	–	#3,941
1940s	–	–	–	–
1950s	–	–	–	–
1960s	–	–	–	–
1970s	64	6	–	#3,223
1980s	23	2	-64%	#5,459
1990s	81	8	+252%	#4,486
2000s	164	16	+102%	#4,172
2010s	218	22	+33%	#3,177
2020s (to 2025)	123	21	-6%	#3,187

The story of Pharoah

Pharoah is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #9,482 in 2025 with 8 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1936, 678 American babies have been named Pharoah. Its peak came in 2017, when 37 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 2010s.

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

How old are people named Pharoah?

The median living Pharoah is about 15 years old; half are between 7 and 25. An estimated 700 people named Pharoah are alive in the United States today.

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

Pharoah year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Boys	Boys rank
2025	8	#9,482
2024	17	#5,597
2023	15	#6,150
2022	21	#4,812
2021	26	#4,096
2020	36	#3,187
2019	33	#3,476
2018	26	#4,079
2017	37	#3,177
2016	21	#4,734
2015	22	#4,513
2014	18	#5,212
2013	13	#6,518
2012	17	#5,432
2011	14	#6,169
2010	17	#5,416
2009	16	#5,742
2008	13	#6,668
2007	24	#4,217
2006	18	#5,013
2005	17	#4,976
2004	14	#5,720
2003	16	#4,981
2002	10	#6,922
2001	17	#4,632
2000	19	#4,172
1995	10	#5,799
1990	–	–
1985	–	–
1980	–	–
1975	9	#3,863
1970	10	#3,223
1965	–	–
1960	–	–
1955	–	–
1950	–	–
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Famous people named Pharoah

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

1 Pharoah Sanders American jazz saxophonist (1940–2022) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Pharoah?

The median living Pharoah is about 15 years old. Half of all living Pharoahs are between 7 and 25 years old.

How many people named Pharoah are alive today?

An estimated 700 people named Pharoah are alive in the United States, based on 678 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Pharoah in 2025?

Pharoah ranked #9,482 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 8 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Pharoah?

678 babies have been named Pharoah in the United States since 1936, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Pharoah most popular?

Pharoah peaked in 2017, when 37 newborns received the name.

Is Pharoah a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Pharoah rising or falling?

Pharoah is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Pharoah?

Well-known people named Pharoah include Pharoah Sanders (musician).

Names like Pharoah

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

Compare Pharoah with similar names → More names starting with P →