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

Young is primarily a boy's name. It is also used as a girl's name, with 530 recorded births.

When was Young most popular?

Young reached its peak popularity in 1991 with 42 births that year. It is not currently in the top rankings.

How popular is the name Young?

Young is not currently in the top rankings but has been given to 2,234 babies in the U.S. since 1880. Its peak was in 1991.

Young

An uncommon Old English pick — distinctive and rare.

Boy's name| Also girlsOld EnglishNot ranked recently Also a pet name

Rare name

Meaning & Origin

A surname. A British distinguishing surname transferred from the nickname for the younger of two people having the same given name. A surname from Chinese. A Chinese surname from Cantonese. A Chinese surname from Hokkien. A Chinese surname from Mandarin.

Young is a boy's and girl's baby name used across multiple cultures. As an English surname it was a distinguishing name for 'the younger' of two people sharing a given name. It is also a transcription of Chinese surnames including Yáng and Yóng. The name carries a sense of vitality and freshness across all its traditions.

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Popularity Over Time

Young has 137+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1880.

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Young
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	14	#10978	▼
2010s	69	#9848	▼
2000s	105	#7129	▼
1990s	320	#2558	▲
1980s	300	#2083	▲
1970s	233	#2068	▲
1960s	130	#2588	▼
1950s	147	#2188	▲
1940s	145	#2112	—
1930s	158	#1958	▼
1920s	211	#1776	▲
1910s	177	#1486	▲
1900s	56	#1156	▼
1890s	66	#1002	▼
1880s	103	#654	—

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(137 years, 1880–2022)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Young
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2022	6	#12279	-2 (-25.0%)
2021	8	#9676	-5 (-38.5%)
2018	13	#6690	+7 (116.7%)
2017	6	#12200	+1 (20.0%)
2016	5	#14139	-7 (-58.3%)
2015	12	#7052	+3 (33.3%)
2014	9	#8760	+1 (12.5%)
2013	8	#9632	-2 (-20.0%)
2012	10	#8131	+4 (66.7%)
2010	6	#12177	-2 (-25.0%)
2009	8	#9843	-1 (-11.1%)
2008	9	#9001	-2 (-18.2%)
2007	11	#7573	0
2005	11	#7086	0
2004	11	#6960	0
2003	11	#6704	-2 (-15.4%)
2002	13	#5713	+4 (44.4%)
2001	9	#7518	-13 (-59.1%)
2000	22	#3760	-3 (-12.0%)
1999	25	#3277	+3 (13.6%)

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

Young as a Girl's Name

Though more common for boys, Young has a notable history as a girl's name too, with 530 births since 1920.

Unranked

Current rank

530

Total births

1983

Peak year

Compare Young as boy vs girl

Frequently Asked

Can Young be used for both boys and girls?

Yes, Young is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name, it is not currently ranked. As a girl's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Young has two lives

Young, the baby name

Rareboys

2,234 babies

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Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1880–2022) · Methodology