Spence: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

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	Boys	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	5	1	–	#1,295
1910s	43	4	+760%	#2,244
1920s	43	4	0%	#3,180
1930s	47	5	+9%	#2,317
1940s	81	8	+72%	#2,194
1950s	97	10	+20%	#2,162
1960s	134	13	+38%	#1,249
1970s	187	19	+40%	#1,219
1980s	137	14	-27%	#2,768
1990s	118	12	-14%	#3,047
2000s	125	13	+6%	#4,304
2010s	64	6	-49%	#7,981
2020s (to 2025)	33	6	-14%	#8,886

Decade

Boys

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

#1,295

1910s

+760%

#2,244

1920s

#3,180

1930s

+9%

#2,317

1940s

+72%

#2,194

1950s

+20%

#2,162

1960s

134

+38%

#1,249

1970s

187

+40%

#1,219

1980s

137

-27%

#2,768

1990s

118

-14%

#3,047

2000s

125

+6%

#4,304

2010s

-49%

#7,981

2020s (to 2025)

-14%

#8,886

The story of Spence

Spence 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 1902, 1,114 American babies have been named Spence. Its peak came in 1970, when 47 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 Spence stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Spence?

The median living Spence is about 43 years old; half are between 25 and 56. An estimated 900 people named Spence 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.

Spence year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Boys	Boys rank
2025	–	–
2024	5	#13,966
2023	8	#9,627
2022	9	#8,886
2021	6	#11,944
2020	5	#13,775
2019	7	#10,651
2018	–	–
2017	6	#12,029
2016	9	#8,714
2015	7	#10,474
2014	–	–
2013	9	#8,670
2012	7	#10,603
2011	10	#7,981
2010	9	#8,695
2009	9	#8,900
2008	–	–
2007	11	#7,512
2006	13	#6,406
2005	20	#4,440
2004	11	#6,913
2003	11	#6,660
2002	19	#4,304
2001	17	#4,647
2000	14	#5,266
1995	9	#6,340
1990	21	#3,047
1985	8	#5,086
1980	14	#3,228
1975	8	#4,260
1970	47	#1,219
1965	8	#3,216
1960	10	#2,847
1955	9	#2,948
1950	8	#2,995
1945	7	#2,965
1940	10	#2,461
1935	6	#3,600
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	9	#3,180
1915	11	#2,435
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Spence?

The median living Spence is about 43 years old. Half of all living Spences are between 25 and 56 years old.

How many people named Spence are alive today?

An estimated 900 people named Spence are alive in the United States, based on 1,114 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Spence mean?

Spence is a masculine given name or nickname, often a short form of Spencer.

How popular is the name Spence in 2025?

Spence 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 Spence?

1,114 babies have been named Spence in the United States since 1902, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Spence most popular?

Spence peaked in 1970, when 47 newborns received the name.

Is Spence a boy or girl name?

Spence is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Spence rising or falling?

Spence has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Spence

Spence popularity over time

The story of Spence

How old are people named Spence?

Spence year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Spence