Unisex name · peaked 1977

Seneca

Every Seneca since 1956 — 3,523 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex — comparable across eras
0.040.080.110.1518801900192019401960198020002020GirlsBoys
GirlsBoys
Rank 2025
#4,343
among girls
Babies in 2025
49
named Seneca
Peak year
1977
219 babies
All-time total
3,523
since 1956

The story of Seneca

Seneca is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #4,343 in 2025 with 33 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.

Since 1956, 3,523 American babies have been named Seneca — about 50% girls and 50% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1977, when 219 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1970s.

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

Seneca 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 33 #4,343 16 #5,808
2024 25 #5,275 21 #4,853
2023 26 #5,105 16 #5,878
2022 29 #4,777 20 #4,989
2021 37 #4,005 12 #7,029
2020 34 #4,150 17 #5,422
2019 15 #7,664 23 #4,453
2018 34 #4,227 24 #4,328
2017 25 #5,316 22 #4,571
2016 33 #4,419 30 #3,667
2015 33 #4,394 18 #5,254
2014 28 #5,010 20 #4,837
2013 29 #4,868 20 #4,769
2012 30 #4,817 11 #7,462
2011 31 #4,662 17 #5,392
2010 31 #4,716 27 #3,885
2009 39 #4,004 27 #3,898
2008 40 #3,996 26 #4,015
2007 40 #3,968 41 #2,914
2006 52 #3,217 34 #3,210
2005 39 #3,796 29 #3,439
2004 42 #3,557 29 #3,357
2003 45 #3,284 26 #3,510
2002 29 #4,366 31 #3,007
2001 38 #3,536 27 #3,307
2000 37 #3,583 30 #2,980
1995 53 #2,449 9 #6,325
1990 34 #3,280 15 #3,935
1985 26 #3,391 29 #2,007
1980 51 #2,059 147 #724
1975 15 #4,316 7 #4,703
1970
1965
1960 16 #3,188
1955
1950
1945
1940
1935
1930
1925
1920
1915
1910
1905
1900
1895
1890
1885
1880

Famous people named Seneca

  1. Seneca the Younger Philosopher · -4–65
  2. Seneca the Elder Writer · -54–39

Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

Frequently asked questions

How popular is the name Seneca in 2025?

Seneca ranked #4,343 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 33 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Seneca?

3,523 babies have been named Seneca in the United States since 1956, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Seneca most popular?

Seneca peaked in 1977, when 219 newborns received the name.

Is Seneca a boy or girl name?

Seneca is used for both: about 50% of babies named Seneca have been girls and 50% boys.

Is the name Seneca rising or falling?

Seneca has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Seneca?

Well-known people named Seneca include Seneca the Younger (philosopher), Seneca the Elder (writer).

Names like Seneca

Compare Seneca with similar names →