Skip

A boy's name of Old Norse origin with 2,103 recorded U.S. births.

Boy's name#6757 in 2024Rising fast

Meaning & Origin

A male given name from Old Norse.

Skip is a boy's baby name of Old Norse origin, derived from the Old Norse skip, meaning 'ship.' As a nickname, it has long been used as an informal short form of Skipper, with the casual, breezy energy of American mid-century nicknaming culture.

Skip peaked in popularity in the 1950s and 60s, when it had the same effortless cool as Chip, Bud, and Buzz. Today it carries a delightful vintage quality — retro without being stuffy, cheerful and unpretentious.

EtymologyShow more

Names travel. They cross oceans, change spelling, shift pronunciation, and accumulate new associations with each culture that adopts them. Skip is rooted in the Old Norse tradition, but its presence in American naming since 1930 means it has been shaped by English phonetics, local customs, and the cultural context of the families who chose it.

Skip’s 2,103 recorded births suggest it has found a niche — possibly within a specific cultural community, region, or naming subculture within the broader American landscape.

At a Glance

2,103

Total births

Since 1930

1960

Peak

105 births

1930

First recorded

95 years of data

Compare Skip with another name

Popularity Over Time

Skip has 74+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1930.

First appeared: 1930Peak: 1960 (105 births)Current: #6757

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Skip
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	56	#7702	▲
2010s	45	#11805	▲
2000s	5	#13073	▼
1990s	33	#7843	▼
1980s	187	#3520	▼
1970s	260	#1881	▼
1960s	518	#1150	▼
1950s	667	#917	▲
1940s	296	#1544	▲
1930s	36	#3661	—

The Story of Skip

A Baby Boomer name

Peaking in 1960, Skip is a timeless Baby Boomer name. Boys named Skip are most likely born between 1950 and 1970.

How rare is Skip?

Only about 1 in every 276,923 babies born in 2024 was named Skip — a truly uncommon choice.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1930, peaked in the 1950s with 667 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.

Skip by the numbers

Would fill 44 school buses
Meeting one Skip per day would take 5.8 years

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(74 years, 1930–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Skip
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	13	#6757	+5 (62.5%)
2023	8	#9611	-7 (-46.7%)
2022	15	#6104	+5 (50.0%)
2021	10	#8071	0
2020	10	#7966	+3 (42.9%)
2019	7	#10636	-1 (-12.5%)
2018	8	#9538	+3 (60.0%)
2017	5	#13960	-4 (-44.4%)
2016	9	#8705	+3 (50.0%)
2014	6	#11903	+1 (20.0%)
2012	5	#13927	0
2010	5	#13966	0
2005	5	#13073	-1 (-16.7%)
1996	6	#8857	0
1993	6	#8555	0
1992	6	#8301	-2 (-25.0%)
1991	8	#6432	+1 (14.3%)
1990	7	#7068	-3 (-30.0%)
1989	10	#5116	-1 (-9.1%)
1988	11	#4413	+6 (120.0%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Skip a boy's or girl's name?

Skip is primarily a boy's name.

When was Skip most popular?

Skip reached its peak popularity in 1960 with 105 births that year. It is currently ranked #6757 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Skip?

Skip is currently ranked #6757 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 2,103 babies since 1930.

Explore More

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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1930–2024