Santa: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#8,267

among girls · ↓2,845 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Santa · -46% vs 2024

How common

1 in 123,636

girls born in 2025

Peak year

1915

90 babies

All-time total

4,410

#2,812 all-time among girls

First recorded

1896

in Social Security records

Santa popularity over time

4,410 babies have been named Santa since 1896, 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

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	12	–	12	1	–	#1,558
1900s	88	–	88	9	+633%	#909
1910s	556	16	572	57	+550%	#723
1920s	735	9	744	74	+30%	#778
1930s	453	–	453	45	-39%	#878
1940s	381	5	386	39	-15%	#1,160
1950s	477	5	482	48	+25%	#1,247
1960s	453	–	453	45	-6%	#1,449
1970s	439	5	444	44	-2%	#1,799
1980s	276	–	276	28	-38%	#2,302
1990s	216	–	216	22	-22%	#4,032
2000s	113	–	113	11	-48%	#6,563
2010s	97	–	97	10	-14%	#9,517
2020s (to 2025)	74	–	74	12	+27%	#5,422

The story of Santa

Santa is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #8,267 in 2025 with 13 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1896, 4,410 American babies have been named Santa. Its peak came in 1915, when 90 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1910s.

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

How old are people named Santa?

The median living Santa is about 56 years old; half are between 40 and 70. An estimated 2,400 people named Santa 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.

Santa 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	13	#8,267	–	–
2024	24	#5,422	–	–
2023	12	#8,893	–	–
2022	11	#9,569	–	–
2021	5	#17,267	–	–
2020	9	#10,950	–	–
2019	8	#12,254	–	–
2018	9	#11,287	–	–
2017	11	#9,827	–	–
2016	10	#10,720	–	–
2015	11	#10,041	–	–
2014	6	#16,182	–	–
2013	12	#9,517	–	–
2012	11	#10,319	–	–
2011	9	#11,986	–	–
2010	10	#11,105	–	–
2009	12	#9,878	–	–
2008	15	#8,456	–	–
2007	11	#10,696	–	–
2006	20	#6,563	–	–
2005	11	#10,000	–	–
2004	9	#11,450	–	–
2003	6	#15,399	–	–
2002	14	#7,752	–	–
2001	10	#9,960	–	–
2000	5	#17,093	–	–
1995	21	#4,813	–	–
1990	21	#4,656	–	–
1985	28	#3,223	–	–
1980	43	#2,302	–	–
1975	41	#2,127	–	–
1970	50	#1,799	–	–
1965	46	#1,667	–	–
1960	52	#1,554	–	–
1955	50	#1,439	–	–
1950	55	#1,247	–	–
1945	44	#1,209	–	–
1940	31	#1,370	–	–
1935	32	#1,299	–	–
1930	68	#878	–	–
1925	82	#826	–	–
1920	71	#864	–	–
1915	85	#723	5	#4,304
1910	18	#1,059	–	–
1905	8	#1,519	–	–
1900	5	#2,186	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Santa?

The median living Santa is about 56 years old. Half of all living Santas are between 40 and 70 years old.

How many people named Santa are alive today?

An estimated 2,400 people named Santa are alive in the United States, based on 4,410 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Santa mean?

Santa is a given name. As a Latvian feminine given name, the name day of people named Santa is September 14.

How popular is the name Santa in 2025?

Santa ranked #8,267 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 13 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Santa?

4,410 babies have been named Santa in the United States since 1896, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Santa most popular?

Santa peaked in 1915, when 90 newborns received the name.

Is Santa a boy or girl name?

Santa is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 99% of babies with the name.

Is the name Santa rising or falling?

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

Names like Santa

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

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