Baby
Primarily a boy's name with 6,325 recorded births. Also given to 6,078 girls.
Meaning & Origin
A surname.
Baby is a girl's or boy's baby name used as an actual given name across multiple cultures. In the Philippines and Southeast Asia, Baby is a common given name (rather than just a term of endearment), reflecting naming traditions where affectionate terms become permanent names. It has also been used in Latin America and parts of Africa.
Baby as a given name carries the warmth of the most universal endearment — chosen by parents who want their child to always feel cherished, wrapped permanently in the affection that the word itself conveys with absolute simplicity.
EtymologyShow more
In the American context, Baby is a boy's name with over a century of recorded use (1919–2024). American naming is uniquely syncretic — it borrows from dozens of traditions, invents freely, and recombines elements in ways that make strict etymological tracing difficult for many names.
Today, Baby is an active part of the American naming landscape (ranked #11064), continuing to accumulate its own cultural meaning with each new child who carries it.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Baby was #798 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #11064, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 138 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 227 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 1,521 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 2,952 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 1,042 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 215 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 25 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 22 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 77 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 101 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 5 | — |
The Story of Baby
A Millennial name
Peaking in 1994, Baby is a Millennial-era classic. Boys named Baby are most likely born between 1984 and 2004.
How rare is Baby?
Only about 1 in every 600,000 babies born in 2024 was named Baby — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1919, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 1990s with 2,952 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Baby by the numbers
- Would fill 132 school buses
- Meeting one Baby per day would take 17.3 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(83 years, 1919–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 | #11064 |
| 2023 | 27 | #4007 |
| 2022 | 43 | #2922 |
| 2021 | 34 | #3365 |
| 2020 | 28 | #3737 |
| 2019 | 39 | #3059 |
| 2018 | 37 | #3113 |
| 2017 | 32 | #3446 |
| 2016 | 18 | #5150 |
| 2015 | 13 | #6364 |
| 2014 | 13 | #6333 |
| 2013 | 18 | #4995 |
| 2012 | 20 | #4708 |
| 2011 | 16 | #5453 |
| 2010 | 21 | #4534 |
| 2009 | 16 | #5580 |
| 2008 | 21 | #4554 |
| 2007 | 18 | #5015 |
| 2006 | 33 | #3230 |
| 2005 | 185 | #945 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Baby as a Girl's Name
Baby is a true unisex name. As a girl's name, it has 6,078 recorded births since 1912.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Baby a boy's or girl's name?
When was Baby most popular?
How popular is the name Baby?
Can Baby be used for both boys and girls?
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1919–2024