Snow
Primarily a girl's name of Old English origin with 1,030 recorded births. Also given to 67 boys.
Meaning & Origin
A surname.
Snow is a girl's and boy's baby name of Old English origin, from the Old English snāw meaning 'snow' — the crystalline, white precipitation associated with winter purity, silence, and transformation.
Snow has the same rare, elemental quality as River, Storm, and Rain. It's pure, white, and immediately evocative — a single syllable that conjures an entire season. Snow White gave it fairy-tale associations; Stark family member Robb's bastard last name Snow gave it Game of Thrones fantasy resonance. A nature name of absolute clarity.
EtymologyShow more
Snow first shows up in U.S. Social Security records in 1894. Names present in the earliest SSA data (which begins in 1880) were typically carried by immigrants from Europe, handed down through families, or drawn from biblical and classical sources.
Its Old English classification suggests a path from old english linguistic traditions into American usage, though the specific route — whether through immigration, literature, or cultural exchange — would require deeper historical research.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Snow climbed 7868 spots in the last 20 years — from #11493 to #3625.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 244 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 489 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 108 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 32 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 26 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 32 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 23 | — |
| 1920s | 23 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 17 | ▼ |
| 1900s | 23 | ▲ |
| 1890s | 13 | — |
The Story of Snow
A Gen Alpha name
Peaking in 2014, Snow is a fresh, modern favorite. Girls named Snow are most likely born between 2004 and 2024.
How rare is Snow?
Only about 1 in every 83,721 babies born in 2024 was named Snow — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1894, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 2010s with 489 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Snow by the numbers
- Would fill 21 school buses
- Meeting one Snow per day would take 2.8 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(56 years, 1894–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 43 | #3625 |
| 2023 | 43 | #3634 |
| 2022 | 54 | #3067 |
| 2021 | 56 | #2995 |
| 2020 | 48 | #3270 |
| 2019 | 48 | #3325 |
| 2018 | 66 | #2642 |
| 2017 | 60 | #2832 |
| 2016 | 55 | #3053 |
| 2015 | 59 | #2962 |
| 2014 | 79 | #2346 |
| 2013 | 59 | #2899 |
| 2012 | 35 | #4282 |
| 2011 | 13 | #9073 |
| 2010 | 15 | #8234 |
| 2009 | 14 | #8828 |
| 2008 | 17 | #7704 |
| 2007 | 12 | #10060 |
| 2006 | 17 | #7443 |
| 2005 | 5 | #18802 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Snow as a Boy's Name
While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Snow has also been given to 67 boys in the U.S. since 1914.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Snow a boy's or girl's name?
When was Snow most popular?
How popular is the name Snow?
Can Snow be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1894–2024