Babe
Primarily a girl's name with 383 recorded births. Also given to 345 boys.
Meaning & Origin
A male given name or nickname
Babe is a girl's and boy's baby name of English origin, functioning as both an affectionate nickname and an independent given name, conveying the warmth and tenderness of a beloved infant.
Most famously associated with Babe Didrikson Zaharias — widely considered the greatest female athlete of the 20th century — the name carries a paradoxical quality: playful and casual on the surface, yet attached to figures of remarkable strength and achievement.
EtymologyShow more
The ending of a name often carries more etymological information than the beginning. Babe's final sounds are open, approachable — ending on a vowel softens the overall impression. In English-language naming, many feminine names end on open vowels or soft consonants, creating a melodic, approachable quality. Babe follows that feminine pattern.
Explore the ending-based name pages on this site to find names that share Babe's suffix pattern — names with similar endings often share a style and era, even when they come from different linguistic backgrounds.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Babe has 39+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1890.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 5 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 58 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 133 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 115 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 52 | ▲ |
| 1890s | 20 | — |
The Story of Babe
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1915, Babe is a name steeped in history. Girls named Babe are most likely born between 1905 and 1925.
How rare is Babe?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Babe is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1890, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1920s with 133 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Babe by the numbers
- Would fill 8 school buses
- Meeting one Babe per day would take 1 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(39 years, 1890–1947)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1947 | 5 | #5360 |
| 1938 | 5 | #4395 |
| 1937 | 6 | #3839 |
| 1936 | 6 | #3732 |
| 1935 | 6 | #3791 |
| 1933 | 7 | #3436 |
| 1932 | 7 | #3600 |
| 1931 | 11 | #2592 |
| 1930 | 10 | #2862 |
| 1929 | 15 | #2201 |
| 1928 | 15 | #2292 |
| 1927 | 19 | #2029 |
| 1925 | 11 | #2958 |
| 1924 | 14 | #2527 |
| 1923 | 12 | #2743 |
| 1922 | 16 | #2301 |
| 1921 | 16 | #2295 |
| 1920 | 15 | #2365 |
| 1919 | 8 | #3492 |
| 1918 | 12 | #2693 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Babe as a Boy's Name
Babe is a true unisex name. As a boy's name, it has 345 recorded births since 1880.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Babe a boy's or girl's name?
When was Babe most popular?
How popular is the name Babe?
Can Babe be used for both boys and girls?
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1890–1947