Baby Names US
Unisex name ★ peaked 1991

Young

Gender Unisex · 19% girls Rank 2025 Below top lists
Rank 2025
–
among boys
Babies in 2025
<5
named Young
How common
–
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1991
60 babies
All-time total
2,764
#3,073 all-time among boys
First recorded
1880
in Social Security records

Young popularity over time

2,764 babies have been named Young 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
0.040.080.110.1518801900192019401960198020002020BoysGirls
BoysGirls

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 – 103 103 10 – #504
1890s – 66 66 7 -36% #786
1900s – 56 56 6 -15% #742
1910s – 177 177 18 +216% #1,037
1920s 11 211 222 22 +25% #1,307
1930s 22 158 180 18 -19% #1,504
1940s 39 145 184 18 +2% #1,698
1950s 93 147 240 24 +30% #1,761
1960s 62 130 192 19 -20% #1,834
1970s 85 233 318 32 +66% #1,703
1980s 126 300 426 43 +34% #1,576
1990s 92 320 412 41 -3% #1,894
2000s – 105 105 11 -75% #3,760
2010s – 69 69 7 -34% #6,693
2020s (to 2025) – 14 14 2 -66% #9,681

The story of Young

Young 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 1880, 2,764 American babies have been named Young, about 81% boys and 19% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1991, when 60 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1990s.

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

How old are people named Young?

The median living Young is about 43 years old; half are between 33 and 57. An estimated 1,800 people named Young are alive in the United States today.

median 43 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Young 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 – – – –
2024 – – – –
2023 – – – –
2022 – – 6 #12,286
2021 – – 8 #9,681
2020 – – – –
2019 – – – –
2018 – – 13 #6,693
2017 – – 6 #12,203
2016 – – 5 #14,142
2015 – – 12 #7,052
2014 – – 9 #8,760
2013 – – 8 #9,633
2012 – – 10 #8,131
2011 – – – –
2010 – – 6 #12,178
2009 – – 8 #9,843
2008 – – 9 #9,001
2007 – – 11 #7,573
2006 – – – –
2005 – – 11 #7,086
2004 – – 11 #6,960
2003 – – 11 #6,705
2002 – – 13 #5,715
2001 – – 9 #7,520
2000 – – 22 #3,760
1995 8 #10,503 31 #2,498
1990 14 #6,460 31 #2,306
1985 15 #5,074 29 #2,018
1980 12 #5,908 21 #2,442
1975 13 #4,850 30 #1,703
1970 – – 14 #2,619
1965 8 #5,284 12 #2,473
1960 7 #5,690 14 #2,314
1955 7 #5,202 17 #1,978
1950 8 #4,311 18 #1,814
1945 – – 6 #3,336
1940 – – 13 #2,080
1935 5 #4,887 17 #1,755
1930 – – 23 #1,558
1925 – – 18 #1,933
1920 5 #5,756 21 #1,746
1915 – – 16 #1,877
1910 – – 7 #1,418
1905 – – – –
1900 – – 8 #1,048
1895 – – 8 #871
1890 – – 7 #882
1885 – – 10 #640
1880 – – 14 #504

Famous people named Young

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

  1. 1 Young Thug Young Thug American rapper (born 1991) Contemporary
  2. 2 Young Buck Young Buck American rapper (born 1980) b. 1981 · Contemporary
  3. 3 Young Maylay Young Maylay American rapper (born 1979) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Young?

The median living Young is about 43 years old. Half of all living Youngs are between 33 and 57 years old.

How many people named Young are alive today?

An estimated 1,800 people named Young are alive in the United States, based on 2,764 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Young in 2025?

Young 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 Young?

2,764 babies have been named Young in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Young most popular?

Young peaked in 1991, when 60 newborns received the name.

Is Young a boy or girl name?

Young is used for both: about 19% of babies named Young have been girls and 81% boys.

Is the name Young rising or falling?

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

Who are famous people named Young?

Well-known people named Young include Young Thug (singer), Young Buck (singer), Young Maylay (singer).

Names like Young

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

Compare Young with similar names → More names starting with Y →