Urban: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#5,374

among boys · ↑505 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Urban

How common

1 in 94,893

boys born in 2025

Peak year

1924

104 babies

All-time total

3,264

#2,387 all-time among boys

First recorded

1880

in Social Security records

Urban popularity over time

3,264 babies have been named Urban since 1880, 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

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	70	7	–	#600
1890s	102	10	+46%	#435
1900s	103	10	+1%	#643
1910s	598	60	+481%	#611
1920s	783	78	+31%	#633
1930s	385	39	-51%	#815
1940s	240	24	-38%	#1,149
1950s	192	19	-20%	#1,403
1960s	123	12	-36%	#1,683
1970s	38	4	-69%	#2,884
1980s	50	5	+32%	#4,476
1990s	39	4	-22%	#6,938
2000s	108	11	+177%	#4,269
2010s	311	31	+188%	#3,098
2020s (to 2025)	122	20	-35%	#3,732

The story of Urban

Urban is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #5,374 in 2025 with 18 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1880, 3,264 American babies have been named Urban. Its peak came in 1924, when 104 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1920s.

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

How old are people named Urban?

The median living Urban is about 29 years old; half are between 10 and 69. An estimated 1,100 people named Urban 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.

Urban year by year

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

Year	Boys	Boys rank
2025	18	#5,374
2024	16	#5,879
2023	10	#8,214
2022	24	#4,429
2021	30	#3,732
2020	24	#4,265
2019	39	#3,098
2018	27	#3,984
2017	30	#3,667
2016	35	#3,287
2015	36	#3,222
2014	24	#4,253
2013	22	#4,452
2012	34	#3,293
2011	34	#3,302
2010	30	#3,626
2009	24	#4,269
2008	21	#4,700
2007	20	#4,792
2006	11	#7,389
2005	9	#8,260
2004	6	#11,268
2003	5	#12,661
2002	–	–
2001	6	#10,478
2000	6	#10,290
1995	–	–
1990	6	#8,067
1985	5	#7,531
1980	9	#4,476
1975	–	–
1970	12	#2,884
1965	5	#4,401
1960	22	#1,766
1955	26	#1,536
1950	13	#2,201
1945	20	#1,533
1940	23	#1,429
1935	40	#1,018
1930	52	#943
1925	88	#689
1920	88	#686
1915	67	#732
1910	13	#925
1905	5	#1,411
1900	10	#900
1895	7	#971
1890	7	#875
1885	–	–
1880	10	#633

Famous people named Urban

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

1 Urban Gad Danish film director (1879–1947) 19th century

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Urban?

The median living Urban is about 29 years old. Half of all living Urbans are between 10 and 69 years old.

How many people named Urban are alive today?

An estimated 1,100 people named Urban are alive in the United States, based on 3,264 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Urban mean?

Latin Urbānus, name of eight early popes, from urbānus (“of the town or city, urbane”).

How popular is the name Urban in 2025?

Urban ranked #5,374 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 18 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Urban?

3,264 babies have been named Urban in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Urban most popular?

Urban peaked in 1924, when 104 newborns received the name.

Is Urban a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Urban rising or falling?

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

Who are famous people named Urban?

Well-known people named Urban include Urban Gad (film director).

Names like Urban

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

Compare Urban with similar names → More names starting with U →