Baby Names US
Unisex name ★ peaked 1950

San

Gender Unisex · 75% girls Rank 2025 #11,755
Rank 2025
#11,755
among girls · ↑5,506 vs 2024
Babies in 2025
13
named San
How common
1 in 200,908
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1950
74 babies
All-time total
2,502
#4,892 all-time among girls
First recorded
1911
in Social Security records

San popularity over time

2,502 babies have been named San since 1911, 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
0.010.030.040.0518801900192019401960198020002020GirlsBoys
GirlsBoys

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 – – – – – –
1890s – – – – – –
1900s – – – – – –
1910s 7 10 17 2 – #2,164
1920s 71 15 86 9 +406% #2,951
1930s 64 – 64 6 -26% #2,710
1940s 191 26 217 22 +239% #1,433
1950s 442 43 485 49 +124% #1,142
1960s 460 73 533 53 +10% #1,621
1970s 336 100 436 44 -18% #1,679
1980s 170 155 325 33 -25% #3,118
1990s 85 102 187 19 -42% #6,391
2000s 20 34 54 5 -71% #17,090
2010s 10 46 56 6 +4% #18,397
2020s (to 2025) 20 22 42 7 +25% #11,755

The story of San

San is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #11,755 in 2025 with 8 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1911, 2,502 American babies have been named San, about 75% girls and 25% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1950, when 74 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 San stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named San?

The median living San is about 55 years old; half are between 43 and 66. An estimated 2,100 people named San are alive in the United States today.

median 55 020406080100

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

San 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 8 #11,755 5 #13,552
2024 5 #17,261 6 #12,108
2023 – – – –
2022 – – – –
2021 7 #13,249 5 #13,741
2020 – – 6 #11,771
2019 – – 5 #13,790
2018 – – – –
2017 – – 5 #13,899
2016 5 #18,397 5 #13,847
2015 5 #18,660 8 #9,420
2014 – – 10 #8,023
2013 – – 5 #13,709
2012 – – – –
2011 – – – –
2010 – – 8 #9,517
2009 – – – –
2008 – – 10 #8,195
2007 5 #19,990 – –
2006 – – – –
2005 – – 5 #13,006
2004 5 #18,282 5 #12,890
2003 – – 9 #7,718
2002 – – 5 #12,168
2001 5 #17,417 – –
2000 5 #17,090 – –
1995 7 #11,515 13 #4,737
1990 14 #6,391 15 #3,933
1985 10 #6,838 15 #3,191
1980 28 #3,118 16 #2,935
1975 39 #2,189 13 #3,048
1970 42 #2,002 9 #3,482
1965 43 #1,735 6 #3,861
1960 47 #1,653 5 #4,514
1955 35 #1,796 – –
1950 66 #1,142 8 #2,989
1945 18 #2,047 – –
1940 6 #4,272 – –
1935 7 #3,699 – –
1930 6 #4,490 – –
1925 8 #3,978 – –
1920 5 #5,650 – –
1915 – – – –
1910 – – – –
1905 – – – –
1900 – – – –
1895 – – – –
1890 – – – –
1885 – – – –
1880 – – – –

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average San?

The median living San is about 55 years old. Half of all living Sans are between 43 and 66 years old.

How many people named San are alive today?

An estimated 2,100 people named San are alive in the United States, based on 2,502 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name San in 2025?

San ranked #11,755 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 8 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named San?

2,502 babies have been named San in the United States since 1911, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name San most popular?

San peaked in 1950, when 74 newborns received the name.

Is San a boy or girl name?

San is used for both: about 75% of babies named San have been girls and 25% boys.

Is the name San rising or falling?

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

Names like San

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

Compare San with similar names → More names starting with S →