Bruce

Last seen for girls in 1995 at #13,386 · #536 for boys in 2025, 558 births
Given to boys 99.6% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · boys
1952 · 14,480 births
Debut · boys
47 births
In top 100 · boys
39 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · boys
386,880
since 1880

Bruce over time

boys

Rank among boys' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201947peak #25, 1952boys
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025—#536558
2024—#536555
2023—#542547
2022—#563526
2021—#535549
2020—#498587
2019—#471624
2018—#473614
2017—#429722
2016—#440702
2015—#404766
2014—#401773
2013—#417710
2012—#422668
2011—#469574
2010—#533485
2009—#466586
2008—#478581
2007—#439636
2006—#481550
2005—#504490
2004—#474532
2003—#486509
2002—#467510
2001—#424579
2000—#432563
1999—#407589
1998—#383652
1997—#383631
1996—#364663
1995#13,3865#362665
1994—#331747
1993—#321822
1992—#291922
1991#11,5096#2611,039
1990—#2391,170
1989—#2221,212
1988#10,3866#2051,286
1987#7,9878#1991,304
1986#7,7498#1891,348
1985#4,63516#1831,412
1984#6,29110#1751,460
1983#5,82411#1781,439
1982#6,8889#1691,588
1981#8,1287#1641,634
1980#4,32717#1571,650
1979#5,42712#1521,712
1978#4,93113#1511,701
1977#4,94213#1481,700
1976#3,81217#1481,689
1975#5,9849#1401,789
1974#4,22714#1361,854
1973#3,97115#1341,914
1972#3,89415#1212,313
1971#3,06222#1082,973
1970#3,71216#943,482
1969#3,19918#724,041
1968#2,29628#614,486
1967#2,86819#555,067
1966#2,05832#535,843
1965#2,29327#506,325
1964#1,91838#467,890
1963#2,06133#439,275
1962#2,11331#4110,038
1961#2,15030#4010,705
1960#1,98233#3910,972
1959#1,82037#3811,914
1958#1,82036#3612,472
1957#1,95731#3413,882
1956#1,87133#3314,660
1955#1,83933#3214,082
1954#1,73935#3014,155
1953#1,78331#2814,048
1952#1,78131#2514,480
1951#1,61135#2614,090
1950#1,83527#2612,674
1949#1,62733#2612,265
1948#1,90125#2811,065
1947#1,94625#2910,524
1946#2,22818#328,459
1945#2,33914#485,615
1944#2,09617#515,262
1943#1,94920#515,431
1942#2,11717#505,385
1941#2,39713#514,302
1940#2,02916#553,789
1939#3,4297#643,233
1938#2,02116#663,127
1937#2,19614#702,810
1936#2,8579#732,630
1935#3,1568#772,447
1934#2,28913#782,401
1933#2,54011#912,037
1932#2,49012#981,935
1931#2,9729#1011,787
1930#2,20215#1091,712
1929#2,58712#1121,618
1928#1,89720#1121,628
1927#2,55213#1231,459
1926#3,04610#1271,413
1925#4,0287#1301,354
1924#2,97311#1331,311
1923#2,58713#1351,224
1922#2,95811#1421,106
1921#2,63313#1461,070
1920#2,01519#149996
1919#2,64012#151880
1918#2,67412#146988
1917#4,0836#156805
1916#2,02816#162740
1915#3,4347#171663
1914#2,8767#169530
1913#2,8276#175390
1912—#178328
1911#2,4635#197155
1910—#23998
1909—#185121
1908#2,1015#20499
1907—#21389
1906—#22477
1905—#20585
1904—#19887
1903—#22067
1902—#23460
1901—#21165
1900—#21086
1899—#20066
1898—#21964
1897—#22258
1896#1,4166#21669
1895#1,5925#21365
1894—#21163
1893—#21264
1892—#22660
1891—#22750
1890—#21659
1889—#20562
1888—#26245
1887—#24144
1886—#22855
1885—#21356
1884—#26940
1883—#21550
1882—#19366
1881—#27034
1880—#24147
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Bruce was already there! It came in at #241, and was given to 47 baby boys.


Quietest stretch: 1880–1881, when fewer than 48 boys a year got the name.

Where Bruce is popular in 1947

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: #28 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 91 boysAKMaine: #19 for boys · 140 births · 1 in 77 boysMEVermont: #15 for boys · 65 births · 1 in 61 boysVTNew Hampshire: #12 for boys · 106 births · 1 in 57 boysNHWashington: #26 for boys · 253 births · 1 in 109 boysWAIdaho: #29 for boys · 54 births · 1 in 126 boysIDMontana: #27 for boys · 49 births · 1 in 132 boysMTNorth Dakota: #23 for boys · 82 births · 1 in 91 boysNDMinnesota: #15 for boys · 544 births · 1 in 64 boysMNIllinois: #31 for boys · 659 births · 1 in 141 boysILWisconsin: #26 for boys · 315 births · 1 in 124 boysWIMichigan: #27 for boys · 583 births · 1 in 131 boysMINew York: #25 for boys · 1,350 births · 1 in 117 boysNYMassachusetts: #21 for boys · 569 births · 1 in 92 boysMARhode Island: #28 for boys · 70 births · 1 in 121 boysRIOregon: #26 for boys · 147 births · 1 in 115 boysORNevada: #20 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 79 boysNVWyoming: #41 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 177 boysWYSouth Dakota: #26 for boys · 60 births · 1 in 119 boysSDIowa: #25 for boys · 224 births · 1 in 135 boysIAIndiana: #31 for boys · 255 births · 1 in 177 boysINOhio: #33 for boys · 562 births · 1 in 169 boysOHPennsylvania: #34 for boys · 656 births · 1 in 181 boysPANew Jersey: #22 for boys · 501 births · 1 in 99 boysNJConnecticut: #25 for boys · 191 births · 1 in 110 boysCTCalifornia: #27 for boys · 890 births · 1 in 134 boysCAUtah: #21 for boys · 105 births · 1 in 94 boysUTColorado: #43 for boys · 72 births · 1 in 214 boysCONebraska: #34 for boys · 85 births · 1 in 172 boysNEMissouri: #45 for boys · 185 births · 1 in 236 boysMOKentucky: #59 for boys · 124 births · 1 in 303 boysKYWest Virginia: #64 for boys · 75 births · 1 in 349 boysWVVirginia: #65 for boys · 119 births · 1 in 322 boysVAMaryland: #28 for boys · 155 births · 1 in 165 boysMDDelaware: #19 for boys · 34 births · 1 in 97 boysDEArizona: #61 for boys · 35 births · 1 in 263 boysAZNew Mexico: #112 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 449 boysNMKansas: #40 for boys · 105 births · 1 in 191 boysKSArkansas: #120 for boys · 35 births · 1 in 687 boysARTennessee: #88 for boys · 83 births · 1 in 507 boysTNNorth Carolina: #84 for boys · 112 births · 1 in 476 boysNCSouth Carolina: #93 for boys · 63 births · 1 in 457 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: #31 for boys · 77 births · 1 in 162 boysDCOklahoma: #62 for boys · 80 births · 1 in 311 boysOKLouisiana: #81 for boys · 99 births · 1 in 344 boysLAMississippi: #182 for boys · 24 births · 1 in 1,215 boysMSAlabama: #109 for boys · 65 births · 1 in 614 boysALGeorgia: #128 for boys · 64 births · 1 in 704 boysGAHawaii: #60 for boys · 29 births · 1 in 211 boysHITexas: #105 for boys · 181 births · 1 in 542 boysTXFlorida: #49 for boys · 127 births · 1 in 227 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. New Hampshire#12 · 1 in 57
  2. Vermont#15 · 1 in 61
  3. Minnesota#15 · 1 in 64
  4. Maine#19 · 1 in 77
  5. Delaware#19 · 1 in 97

Best ever in a state: #12 in New Hampshire, 1947.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
New Hampshire#121061 in 57
Minnesota#155441 in 64
Vermont#15651 in 61
Delaware#19341 in 97
Maine#191401 in 77
Nevada#20201 in 79
Massachusetts#215691 in 92
Utah#211051 in 94
New Jersey#225011 in 99
North Dakota#23821 in 91
Connecticut#251911 in 110
Iowa#252241 in 135
New York#251,3501 in 117
Oregon#261471 in 115
South Dakota#26601 in 119
Washington#262531 in 109
Wisconsin#263151 in 124
California#278901 in 134
Michigan#275831 in 131
Montana#27491 in 132
Alaska#28101 in 91
Maryland#281551 in 165
Rhode Island#28701 in 121
Idaho#29541 in 126
District of Columbia#31771 in 162
Illinois#316591 in 141
Indiana#312551 in 177
Ohio#335621 in 169
Nebraska#34851 in 172
Pennsylvania#346561 in 181
Kansas#401051 in 191
Wyoming#41161 in 177
Colorado#43721 in 214
Missouri#451851 in 236
Florida#491271 in 227
Kentucky#591241 in 303
Hawaii#60291 in 211
Arizona#61351 in 263
Oklahoma#62801 in 311
West Virginia#64751 in 349
Virginia#651191 in 322
Louisiana#81991 in 344
North Carolina#841121 in 476
Tennessee#88831 in 507
South Carolina#93631 in 457
Texas#1051811 in 542
Alabama#109651 in 614
New Mexico#112201 in 449
Arkansas#120351 in 687
Georgia#128641 in 704
Mississippi#182241 in 1,215

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Bruce
Momentum · boys
Holding steady
  • Held #536 since 2024
  • 38 spots since 2020 (#498 → #536)
  • 132 spots since 2015 (#404 → #536)
  • Biggest jump: 77 spots in 1882 (#270 → #193)
  • Biggest drop: 67 spots in 2010 (#466 → #533)
Rise & fade · boys
72 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1952 at #25 (14,480 births)
  • Births halved by 1965, 13 yrs later
Top of the charts · boys
Top 100 for 39 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 39 yrs · run 1932–1970
  • Top 1,000: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
Share of babies · boys
1 in 134
  • Highest: 1 in 134 boys born in 1951 were named Bruce (0.75%)
  • Latest: 1 in 3,061 boys born in 2025 (0.03%)
  • Its best rank, #25 in 1952, was only 1 in 134 (0.74%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
Era · boys
The 1950s
  • 35.3% of all boys named Bruce (136,457) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s499#193 (1882)#234
1890s618#200 (1899)#216
1900s836#185 (1909)#210
1910s5,577#146 (1918)#174
1920s13,179#112 (1928)#131
1930s24,119#64 (1939)#83
1940s72,097#26 (1949)#42
1950s136,457#25 (1952)#31
1960s74,642#39 (1960)#50
1970s21,127#94 (1970)#133
1980s14,333#157 (1980)#184
1990s7,900#239 (1990)#334
2000s5,536#424 (2001)#465
2010s6,638#401 (2014)#446
2020s3,322#498 (2020)#535

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Bruce in 1947

girls
#1,946
25 births · 1 in 70,911 girls
boys
#29
10,524 births · 1 in 174 boys

Top girls' names in 1947

  1. #1Linda99,692
  2. #2Mary71,690
  3. #3Patricia51,278
  4. #4Barbara48,800
  5. #5Sandra34,779
  6. #6Carol33,543
  7. #7Nancy32,445
  8. #8Susan31,952
  9. #9Sharon28,533
  10. #10Donna23,517
  11. #1,946Bruce25

Top boys' names in 1947

  1. #1James94,767
  2. #2Robert91,655
  3. #3John88,324
  4. #4William67,002
  5. #5Richard58,532
  6. #6David57,810
  7. #7Michael50,506
  8. #8Thomas44,842
  9. #9Charles40,781
  10. #10Larry34,946
  11. #29Bruce10,524
More about 1947

girls

1,772,766 girls got a published name in 1947; 1 in 70,911 of them was named Bruce, which outranked 68.1% of the 6,104 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 25.7% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Bruce
  1. #1,897Vernon26
  2. #1,897Wenda26
  3. #1,897Wylene26
  4. #1,946Bruce25
  5. #1,946Alfredia25
  6. #1,946Alyson25
  7. #1,946Arden25
  8. #1,993Adriane24
  9. #1,993Allen24
  10. #1,993Alona24

Tied with 46 names at #1,946; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1946
Risers
  1. ↑ 417Michaele#1,276 → #859
  2. ↑ 385Carlotta#997 → #612
  3. ↑ 332Ricki#1,290 → #958
  4. ↑ 300Daria#1,220 → #920
  5. ↑ 290Ivy#1,087 → #797
Fallers
  1. ↓ 341Merlene#961 → #1,302
  2. ↓ 285Beatriz#985 → #1,270
  3. ↓ 276Ruthanne#874 → #1,150
  4. ↓ 253Estela#897 → #1,150
  5. ↓ 242Verla#885 → #1,127

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,829,599 boys got a published name in 1947; 1 in 174 of them was named Bruce, which outranked 99.3% of the 4,266 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 34.4% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Bruce
  1. #26Terry12,751
  2. #27Raymond12,352
  3. #28Gerald10,750
  4. #29Bruce10,524
  5. #30Wayne10,169
  6. #31Douglas9,895
  7. #32Lawrence9,582
Biggest movers since 1946
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,271Brock#2,271 → #1,000
  2. ↑ 586Shawn#1,509 → #923
  3. ↑ 500Jed#1,475 → #975
  4. ↑ 358Jody#935 → #577
  5. ↑ 355Deryl#1,355 → #1,000
Fallers
  1. ↓ 497Hurley#952 → #1,449
  2. ↓ 393Prentice#878 → #1,271
  3. ↓ 362Darvin#935 → #1,297
  4. ↓ 310Lary#826 → #1,136
  5. ↓ 303Judith#856 → #1,159

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1947 →