Whitfield: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

–

among boys

Babies in 2025

named Whitfield

How common

–

boys born in 2025

Peak year

1919

18 babies

All-time total

434

#8,585 all-time among boys

First recorded

1890

in Social Security records

Whitfield popularity over time

434 babies have been named Whitfield since 1890, 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	–	–	–	–
1890s	10	1	–	#1,157
1900s	5	1	-50%	#1,542
1910s	71	7	+1320%	#1,878
1920s	117	12	+65%	#1,978
1930s	40	4	-66%	#2,461
1940s	26	3	-35%	#2,912
1950s	36	4	+38%	#3,283
1960s	15	2	-58%	#3,330
1970s	22	2	+47%	#4,714
1980s	–	–	–	–
1990s	–	–	–	–
2000s	7	1	–	#9,354
2010s	52	5	+643%	#7,592
2020s (to 2025)	33	6	+6%	#8,691

The story of Whitfield

Whitfield 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 1890, 434 American babies have been named Whitfield. Its peak came in 1919, when 18 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1910s.

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

How old are people named Whitfield?

The median living Whitfield is about 23 years old; half are between 7 and 66. An estimated 200 people named Whitfield 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.

Whitfield 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	8	#9,824
2023	5	#14,080
2022	5	#14,223
2021	6	#12,066
2020	9	#8,691
2019	–	–
2018	11	#7,592
2017	6	#12,169
2016	6	#12,102
2015	5	#13,941
2014	8	#9,588
2013	5	#13,965
2012	–	–
2011	6	#12,216
2010	5	#14,156
2009	–	–
2008	–	–
2007	–	–
2006	–	–
2005	–	–
2004	–	–
2003	–	–
2002	7	#9,354
2001	–	–
2000	–	–
1995	–	–
1990	–	–
1985	–	–
1980	–	–
1975	–	–
1970	6	#4,714
1965	–	–
1960	8	#3,330
1955	7	#3,496
1950	5	#4,181
1945	5	#3,769
1940	5	#3,923
1935	–	–
1930	6	#3,987
1925	10	#2,931
1920	6	#4,270
1915	8	#3,070
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	5	#1,157
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Famous people named Whitfield

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

1 Whitfield Diffie American cryptographer (born 1944) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Whitfield?

The median living Whitfield is about 23 years old. Half of all living Whitfields are between 7 and 66 years old.

How many people named Whitfield are alive today?

An estimated 200 people named Whitfield are alive in the United States, based on 434 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Whitfield mean?

Whitfield is a masculine given name borne by:Whitfield Connor (1916–1988), American actor, director and producer Whitfield Cook (1909–2003), American writer of screenplays, stage plays, short stories and novels Whitfield Crane, Am

How popular is the name Whitfield in 2025?

Whitfield 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 Whitfield?

434 babies have been named Whitfield in the United States since 1890, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Whitfield most popular?

Whitfield peaked in 1919, when 18 newborns received the name.

Is Whitfield a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Whitfield rising or falling?

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

Who are famous people named Whitfield?

Well-known people named Whitfield include Whitfield Diffie (mathematician).

Names like Whitfield

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

Compare Whitfield with similar names → More names starting with W →