Smith

A Old English name gently fading from the charts.

Boy's name| Also girlsOld EnglishDeclining Also a pet name
#1584 29in 2024

Meaning & Origin

An English surname originating as an occupation (the most common in Britain, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand).

Smith is a boy's and girl's baby name of Old English origin, the most common English surname, from the Old English smid meaning 'craftsman' or 'metalworker.' As a given name, it's an audacious choice — taking the most ordinary surname in the English language and making it extraordinary through context.

Smith as a first name is rare enough to be striking, familiar enough to be immediately understood. It has a working-class, craft-honoring quality — the smith who forges metal is the foundation of civilization. A name that wears its ordinariness as a badge of honor.

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Popularity Over Time

Smith climbed 982 spots in the last 20 years — from #2566 to #1584.

0418112216218801900192019401960198020002024

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Smith
DecadeBirthsTrend
2020s599
2010s1,258
2000s394
1990s204
1980s220
1970s131
1960s164
1950s199
1940s277
1930s376
1920s559
1910s481
1900s168
1890s143
1880s181

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(144 years, 18802024)
Year-by-year popularity data for the name Smith
YearBirthsRank
2024109#1584
2023113#1555
2022112#1584
2021142#1319
2020123#1411
2019148#1268
2018134#1346
2017154#1204
2016162#1178
2015156#1187
2014139#1283
2013122#1384
201289#1708
201176#1861
201078#1866
200947#2653
200859#2257
200757#2297
200641#2821
200545#2523

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

Smith as a Girl's Name

While overwhelmingly a boy's name, Smith has also been given to 181 girls in the U.S. since 1972.

#11973
Current rank
181
Total births
2018
Peak year
Compare Smith as boy vs girl

Frequently Asked

Can Smith be used for both boys and girls?
Yes, Smith is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name, it currently ranks #1584. As a girl's name, it ranks #11973.

Smith has two lives

Smith, the baby name
#1584boys
5,354 babies
Currently viewing
Smith, the pet name
#1403pet name
77 pets
View pet page →

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (18802024) · Methodology