Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1951

Prentiss

Gender Boy · 2% girls Rank 2025 Below top lists
Rank 2025
–
among boys
Babies in 2025
<5
named Prentiss
How common
–
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1951
50 babies
All-time total
2,789
#2,707 all-time among boys
First recorded
1887
in Social Security records

Prentiss popularity over time

2,789 babies have been named Prentiss since 1887, 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
0.020.040.060.0818801900192019401960198020002020BoysGirls
BoysGirls

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 Girls Boys Total Per year Change Best rank
1880s – 5 5 1 – #1,035
1890s – 11 11 1 +120% #1,055
1900s – 47 47 5 +327% #985
1910s – 180 180 18 +283% #1,101
1920s – 254 254 25 +41% #1,322
1930s – 255 255 26 0% #1,187
1940s – 328 328 33 +29% #983
1950s 7 343 350 35 +7% #1,106
1960s 22 299 321 32 -8% #1,267
1970s 5 304 309 31 -4% #1,330
1980s 11 284 295 30 -5% #1,563
1990s – 179 179 18 -39% #2,537
2000s – 116 116 12 -35% #5,250
2010s 20 97 117 12 +1% #5,427
2020s (to 2025) – 22 22 4 -69% #8,669

The story of Prentiss

Prentiss 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 1887, 2,789 American babies have been named Prentiss. Its peak came in 1951, when 50 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1950s.

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

How old are people named Prentiss?

The median living Prentiss is about 51 years old; half are between 36 and 67. An estimated 1,700 people named Prentiss are alive in the United States today.

median 51 020406080100

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

Prentiss 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 – – 7 #10,661
2023 – – 6 #11,912
2022 – – – –
2021 – – 9 #8,669
2020 – – – –
2019 – – 8 #9,529
2018 5 #17,559 9 #8,660
2017 – – 8 #9,479
2016 – – 9 #8,649
2015 – – 10 #7,902
2014 5 #18,578 17 #5,427
2013 – – 7 #10,452
2012 10 #11,062 9 #8,698
2011 – – 8 #9,393
2010 – – 12 #6,992
2009 – – 16 #5,745
2008 – – 10 #8,145
2007 – – 13 #6,522
2006 – – 10 #7,863
2005 – – 13 #6,131
2004 – – 13 #6,058
2003 – – 12 #6,162
2002 – – 8 #8,252
2001 – – 7 #8,986
2000 – – 14 #5,250
1995 – – 13 #4,723
1990 – – 27 #2,537
1985 – – 31 #1,909
1980 – – 39 #1,563
1975 – – 40 #1,399
1970 – – 40 #1,330
1965 – – 37 #1,267
1960 – – 28 #1,544
1955 – – 33 #1,334
1950 – – 40 #1,136
1945 – – 19 #1,569
1940 – – 27 #1,303
1935 – – 14 #2,006
1930 – – 36 #1,187
1925 – – 23 #1,620
1920 – – 28 #1,412
1915 – – 27 #1,296
1910 – – 10 #1,101
1905 – – 6 #1,204
1900 – – 5 #1,456
1895 – – 6 #1,055
1890 – – – –
1885 – – – –
1880 – – – –

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Prentiss?

The median living Prentiss is about 51 years old. Half of all living Prentisss are between 36 and 67 years old.

How many people named Prentiss are alive today?

An estimated 1,700 people named Prentiss are alive in the United States, based on 2,789 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Prentiss in 2025?

Prentiss 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 Prentiss?

2,789 babies have been named Prentiss in the United States since 1887, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Prentiss most popular?

Prentiss peaked in 1951, when 50 newborns received the name.

Is Prentiss a boy or girl name?

Prentiss is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 98% of babies with the name.

Is the name Prentiss rising or falling?

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

Names like Prentiss

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

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