Whitman: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#3,508

among boys · ↑684 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Whitman · +27% vs 2024

How common

1 in 51,760

boys born in 2025

Peak year

2018

39 babies

All-time total

901

#5,494 all-time among boys

First recorded

1909

in Social Security records

Whitman popularity over time

901 babies have been named Whitman since 1909, 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	–	–	–	–
1900s	5	1	–	#1,674
1910s	47	5	+840%	#2,264
1920s	36	4	-23%	#2,958
1930s	19	2	-47%	#2,823
1940s	22	2	+16%	#3,124
1950s	19	2	-14%	#3,316
1960s	18	2	-5%	#3,588
1970s	6	1	-67%	#4,715
1980s	33	3	+450%	#4,949
1990s	66	7	+100%	#5,359
2000s	155	16	+135%	#4,365
2010s	308	31	+99%	#3,050
2020s (to 2025)	167	28	-10%	#3,508

Where Whitman is heading

A five-year projection from the recent trend in births per 1,000 boys (damped so it flattens over time), converted to babies at today's birth totals. The implied rank places that projection in the 2025 field. A projection, not a promise: real trends bend.

Year	Projected babies	Per 1,000 boys	Implied rank
2026	32	0.02	outside top 500
2027	32	0.02	outside top 500
2028	32	0.02	outside top 500
2029	31	0.02	outside top 500
2030	31	0.02	outside top 500

The story of Whitman

Whitman is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #3,508 in 2025 with 33 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.

Since 1909, 901 American babies have been named Whitman. Its peak came in 2018, when 39 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 2010s.

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

How old are people named Whitman?

The median living Whitman is about 12 years old; half are between 6 and 22. An estimated 800 people named Whitman 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.

Whitman year by year

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

Year	Boys	Boys rank
2025	33	#3,508
2024	26	#4,192
2023	28	#3,996
2022	26	#4,181
2021	25	#4,231
2020	29	#3,727
2019	32	#3,565
2018	39	#3,050
2017	36	#3,247
2016	36	#3,225
2015	31	#3,587
2014	25	#4,127
2013	35	#3,184
2012	26	#3,999
2011	24	#4,213
2010	24	#4,232
2009	18	#5,313
2008	23	#4,386
2007	23	#4,365
2006	14	#6,077
2005	11	#7,076
2004	14	#5,798
2003	14	#5,543
2002	6	#10,616
2001	16	#4,883
2000	16	#4,778
1995	–	–
1990	10	#5,359
1985	–	–
1980	6	#6,221
1975	–	–
1970	6	#4,715
1965	5	#4,420
1960	–	–
1955	–	–
1950	7	#3,316
1945	–	–
1940	7	#3,124
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	10	#2,958
1915	6	#3,819
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Whitman?

The median living Whitman is about 12 years old. Half of all living Whitmans are between 6 and 22 years old.

How many people named Whitman are alive today?

An estimated 800 people named Whitman are alive in the United States, based on 901 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Whitman in 2025?

Whitman ranked #3,508 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 33 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Whitman?

901 babies have been named Whitman in the United States since 1909, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Whitman most popular?

Whitman peaked in 2018, when 39 newborns received the name.

Is Whitman a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Whitman rising or falling?

Whitman has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Will Whitman become more popular?

Whitman looks stable. If the recent trend holds, we project roughly 31 boys named Whitman in 2030, ranking outside the top 500. Forecasts assume the current trend continues and become less certain further out.

Names like Whitman

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

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