Sinclair
Derived from Saint Clare, to whom the clan's churches were dedicated.
Every Sinclair since 1900 — 1,912 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Sinclair
Sinclair is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #6,400 in 2025 with 14 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1900, 1,912 American babies have been named Sinclair — about 75% boys and 25% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2025, when 43 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
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 Sinclair stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Sinclair 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 | 29 | #4,740 | 14 | #6,400 |
| 2024 | 28 | #4,876 | 13 | #6,776 |
| 2023 | 22 | #5,722 | 5 | #13,890 |
| 2022 | 13 | #8,467 | 7 | #10,686 |
| 2021 | 18 | #6,651 | 8 | #9,571 |
| 2020 | 9 | #10,974 | 9 | #8,624 |
| 2019 | 12 | #9,042 | 7 | #10,638 |
| 2018 | 17 | #7,069 | 7 | #10,583 |
| 2017 | 16 | #7,394 | 10 | #8,056 |
| 2016 | 9 | #11,663 | 12 | #7,081 |
| 2015 | 17 | #7,228 | 10 | #7,954 |
| 2014 | 8 | #12,919 | — | — |
| 2013 | 10 | #10,900 | 9 | #8,664 |
| 2012 | 12 | #9,639 | — | — |
| 2011 | 14 | #8,566 | 8 | #9,474 |
| 2010 | 5 | #19,457 | 11 | #7,500 |
| 2009 | 8 | #13,522 | 7 | #10,806 |
| 2008 | 11 | #10,699 | 9 | #8,901 |
| 2007 | 8 | #13,764 | — | — |
| 2006 | 15 | #8,185 | — | — |
| 2005 | 12 | #9,370 | 5 | #13,070 |
| 2004 | 9 | #11,488 | 7 | #9,792 |
| 2003 | 11 | #9,605 | — | — |
| 2002 | 13 | #8,223 | 8 | #8,332 |
| 2001 | 15 | #7,269 | — | — |
| 2000 | 15 | #7,119 | 5 | #11,879 |
| 1995 | 15 | #6,227 | 10 | #5,853 |
| 1990 | 6 | #12,736 | 16 | #3,752 |
| 1985 | — | — | 11 | #4,015 |
| 1980 | — | — | 12 | #3,585 |
| 1975 | — | — | 10 | #3,627 |
| 1970 | — | — | 11 | #3,042 |
| 1965 | — | — | 7 | #3,503 |
| 1960 | — | — | 12 | #2,522 |
| 1955 | — | — | 18 | #1,898 |
| 1950 | — | — | 15 | #2,012 |
| 1945 | — | — | 12 | #2,116 |
| 1940 | — | — | 6 | #3,420 |
| 1935 | — | — | 13 | #2,114 |
| 1930 | — | — | 14 | #2,161 |
| 1925 | — | — | 12 | #2,570 |
| 1920 | — | — | 19 | #1,878 |
| 1915 | — | — | 17 | #1,772 |
| 1910 | — | — | 7 | #1,405 |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | 8 | #1,040 |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Sinclair
- Sinclair Lewis Writer · 1885–1951
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Sinclair mean?
Derived from Saint Clare, to whom the clan's churches were dedicated.
How popular is the name Sinclair in 2025?
Sinclair ranked #6,400 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 14 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Sinclair?
1,912 babies have been named Sinclair in the United States since 1900, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Sinclair most popular?
Sinclair peaked in 2025, when 43 newborns received the name.
Is Sinclair a boy or girl name?
Sinclair is used for both: about 25% of babies named Sinclair have been girls and 75% boys.
Is the name Sinclair rising or falling?
Sinclair is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Sinclair?
Well-known people named Sinclair include Sinclair Lewis (writer).