Sway: 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	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1940s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1950s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1960s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1970s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1980s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1990s	–	–	–	–	–	–
2000s	104	24	128	13	–	#7,857
2010s	83	37	120	12	-6%	#9,059
2020s (to 2025)	39	52	91	15	+26%	#8,478

Decade

Girls

Boys

Total

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

1930s

–

1940s

–

1950s

–

1960s

–

1970s

–

1980s

–

1990s

–

2000s

104

128

–

#7,857

2010s

120

-6%

#9,059

2020s (to 2025)

+26%

#8,478

The story of Sway

Sway 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 2001, 339 American babies have been named Sway, about 67% girls and 33% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2007, when 23 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 2000s.

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

How old are people named Sway?

The median living Sway is about 12 years old; half are between 5 and 18. An estimated 300 people named Sway 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.

Sway 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	–	–	11	#7,615
2024	–	–	12	#7,210
2023	10	#10,236	6	#12,065
2022	13	#8,478	9	#8,893
2021	6	#15,050	7	#10,654
2020	10	#10,176	7	#10,461
2019	–	–	7	#10,665
2018	8	#12,358	9	#8,740
2017	6	#15,720	5	#14,002
2016	6	#16,018	6	#11,960
2015	9	#11,739	–	–
2014	10	#10,865	5	#13,809
2013	12	#9,549	5	#13,807
2012	13	#9,059	–	–
2011	9	#12,036	–	–
2010	10	#11,158	–	–
2009	8	#13,546	5	#14,228
2008	7	#15,214	5	#14,338
2007	14	#8,957	9	#8,830
2006	13	#9,217	–	–
2005	15	#7,857	–	–
2004	13	#8,662	–	–
2003	14	#7,948	5	#12,525
2002	12	#8,777	–	–
2001	8	#11,930	–	–
2000	–	–	–	–
1995	–	–	–	–
1990	–	–	–	–
1985	–	–	–	–
1980	–	–	–	–
1975	–	–	–	–
1970	–	–	–	–
1965	–	–	–	–
1960	–	–	–	–
1955	–	–	–	–
1950	–	–	–	–
1945	–	–	–	–
1940	–	–	–	–
1935	–	–	–	–
1930	–	–	–	–
1925	–	–	–	–
1920	–	–	–	–
1915	–	–	–	–
1910	–	–	–	–
1905	–	–	–	–
1900	–	–	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Sway?

The median living Sway is about 12 years old. Half of all living Sways are between 5 and 18 years old.

How many people named Sway are alive today?

An estimated 300 people named Sway are alive in the United States, based on 339 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Sway in 2025?

Sway 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 Sway?

339 babies have been named Sway in the United States since 2001, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Sway most popular?

Sway peaked in 2007, when 23 newborns received the name.

Is Sway a boy or girl name?

Sway is used for both: about 67% of babies named Sway have been girls and 33% boys.

Is the name Sway rising or falling?

Sway is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Sway

Sway popularity over time

The story of Sway

How old are people named Sway?

Sway year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Sway