Swift
A boy's name of Old English origin with 21 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Only 21 babies have been named Swift in recorded U.S. history. That level of rarity means your child would almost certainly be the only one in their school, their workplace, and most rooms they walk into — a genuinely one-of-a-kind choice.
In the most recent SSA release, Swift ranks #12123 among U.S. boy names — distinctive enough to stand out.
Swift is a boy's baby name of Old English origin, from the Old English swift, meaning 'fast, quick, fleet.' Used as a surname, then given name, it carries the aspiration of speed and rapid movement — the quality of being first to arrive, quickest to respond, fastest to move. Taylor Swift has given the surname a particularly prominent cultural moment in the 2020s.
Swift is a name of pure speed — Old English admiration for quickness compressed into a single syllable that sounds exactly like what it means, a name that moves through the air as fast as the bird it describes.
EtymologyShow more
Swift first shows up in U.S. Social Security records in 1919. Its appearance in the 1910s coincides with waves of immigration, cultural exchange, and the early decades of American popular culture — all of which introduced and popularized new names.
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
Swift has 4+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1919.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 11 | #12972 | ▲ |
| 2010s | 5 | #14078 | — |
| 1910s | 5 | #4730 | — |
The Story of Swift
A Gen Alpha name
Peaking in 2024, Swift is a fresh, modern favorite. Boys named Swift are most likely born between 2014 and 2024.
How rare is Swift?
Only about 1 in every 600,000 babies born in 2024 was named Swift — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1919, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 2020s with 11 births that decade.
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(4 years, 1919–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 | #12123 |
| 2021 | 5 | #13821 |
| 2011 | 5 | #14078 |
| 1919 | 5 | #4730 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1919–2024