Ebb
A boy's name of Old English origin with 247 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
The receding movement of the tide.
Ebb is a boy's baby name of Old English origin, from the Old English ebbian meaning 'to flow back' or 'to recede,' referring to the outgoing tide. It may also be a diminutive of Ebbe, the Scandinavian form of Ever (from Everard, meaning 'brave boar'). As a given name, Ebb carries the tidal rhythm of coastal life.
Ebb is genuinely rare as a given name — one syllable of coastal poetry, a name that carries the sea's rhythmic withdrawal and the peace of a tide going out.
EtymologyShow more
Ebb is cataloged under the Old English naming tradition. Names from the Old English tradition carry linguistic and cultural patterns that shape their sound, structure, and associations.
In the U.S., Ebb has been recorded as a boy's name since 1881, with 247 total births. Browse the Old English names hub on this site to explore the broader family.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Ebb has 37+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1881.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 18 | #3549 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 8 | #2769 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 44 | #3367 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 54 | #3704 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 47 | #2675 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 17 | #1213 | ▲ |
| 1890s | 13 | #542 | ▼ |
| 1880s | 46 | #911 | — |
The Story of Ebb
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1890, Ebb is a name steeped in history. Boys named Ebb are most likely born between 1881 and 1900.
How rare is Ebb?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Ebb is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1881, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1920s with 54 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Ebb by the numbers
- Would fill 5 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(37 years, 1881–1955)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1955 | 5 | #4016 |
| 1953 | 7 | #3211 |
| 1950 | 6 | #3419 |
| 1942 | 8 | #2769 |
| 1939 | 6 | #3214 |
| 1936 | 5 | #3694 |
| 1935 | 7 | #3040 |
| 1934 | 5 | #3827 |
| 1932 | 8 | #2917 |
| 1931 | 7 | #3182 |
| 1930 | 6 | #3696 |
| 1929 | 7 | #3319 |
| 1928 | 8 | #3160 |
| 1927 | 5 | #4365 |
| 1926 | 6 | #3838 |
| 1925 | 10 | #2805 |
| 1924 | 6 | #4005 |
| 1922 | 7 | #3616 |
| 1921 | 5 | #4523 |
| 1919 | 8 | #3186 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1881–1955