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#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201988peak #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 1988

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 boys named Bruce, so not publishedAKMaine: #154 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 1,213 boysMEVermont: #110 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 550 boysVTNew Hampshire: #143 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 1,284 boysNHWashington: #235 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 1,918 boysWAIdaho: #155 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 908 boysIDMontana: fewer than 5 boys named Bruce, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Bruce, so not publishedNDMinnesota: #175 for boys · 18 births · 1 in 1,703 boysMNIllinois: #225 for boys · 55 births · 1 in 1,517 boysILWisconsin: #156 for boys · 25 births · 1 in 1,296 boysWIMichigan: #165 for boys · 54 births · 1 in 1,198 boysMINew York: #242 for boys · 74 births · 1 in 1,753 boysNYMassachusetts: #169 for boys · 27 births · 1 in 1,536 boysMARhode Island: #126 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 901 boysRIOregon: #214 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 1,669 boysORNevada: #219 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 1,441 boysNVWyoming: fewer than 5 boys named Bruce, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Bruce, so not publishedSDIowa: #188 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 1,608 boysIAIndiana: #169 for boys · 29 births · 1 in 1,338 boysINOhio: #139 for boys · 74 births · 1 in 1,039 boysOHPennsylvania: #136 for boys · 77 births · 1 in 1,028 boysPANew Jersey: #148 for boys · 46 births · 1 in 1,118 boysNJConnecticut: #195 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 1,670 boysCTCalifornia: #255 for boys · 137 births · 1 in 1,841 boysCAUtah: #149 for boys · 18 births · 1 in 903 boysUTColorado: #281 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 2,414 boysCONebraska: fewer than 5 boys named Bruce, so not publishedNEMissouri: #169 for boys · 29 births · 1 in 1,259 boysMOKentucky: #143 for boys · 23 births · 1 in 1,027 boysKYWest Virginia: #112 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 690 boysWVVirginia: #161 for boys · 37 births · 1 in 1,085 boysVAMaryland: #186 for boys · 22 births · 1 in 1,394 boysMDDelaware: #87 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 442 boysDEArizona: #381 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 3,272 boysAZNew Mexico: #296 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 1,906 boysNMKansas: #313 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 2,779 boysKSArkansas: #150 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 864 boysARTennessee: #258 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 2,116 boysTNNorth Carolina: #176 for boys · 34 births · 1 in 1,280 boysNCSouth Carolina: #173 for boys · 25 births · 1 in 899 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: #144 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 692 boysDCOklahoma: #264 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 2,074 boysOKLouisiana: #210 for boys · 28 births · 1 in 1,128 boysLAMississippi: #225 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 1,366 boysMSAlabama: #236 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 1,722 boysALGeorgia: #191 for boys · 39 births · 1 in 1,197 boysGAHawaii: #220 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 1,126 boysHITexas: #288 for boys · 76 births · 1 in 1,896 boysTXFlorida: #164 for boys · 85 births · 1 in 994 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Delaware#87 · 1 in 442
  2. Vermont#110 · 1 in 550
  3. West Virginia#112 · 1 in 690
  4. Rhode Island#126 · 1 in 901
  5. Pennsylvania#136 · 1 in 1,028

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Delaware#87101 in 442
Vermont#11061 in 550
West Virginia#112151 in 690
Rhode Island#12671 in 901
Pennsylvania#136771 in 1,028
Ohio#139741 in 1,039
Kentucky#143231 in 1,027
New Hampshire#14361 in 1,284
District of Columbia#144121 in 692
New Jersey#148461 in 1,118
Utah#149181 in 903
Arkansas#150171 in 864
Maine#15461 in 1,213
Idaho#15571 in 908
Wisconsin#156251 in 1,296
Virginia#161371 in 1,085
Florida#164851 in 994
Michigan#165541 in 1,198
Indiana#169291 in 1,338
Massachusetts#169271 in 1,536
Missouri#169291 in 1,259
South Carolina#173251 in 899
Minnesota#175181 in 1,703
North Carolina#176341 in 1,280
Maryland#186221 in 1,394
Iowa#188111 in 1,608
Georgia#191391 in 1,197
Connecticut#195131 in 1,670
Louisiana#210281 in 1,128
Oregon#214111 in 1,669
Nevada#21951 in 1,441
Hawaii#22061 in 1,126
Illinois#225551 in 1,517
Mississippi#225121 in 1,366
Washington#235171 in 1,918
Alabama#236151 in 1,722
New York#242741 in 1,753
California#2551371 in 1,841
Tennessee#258161 in 2,116
Oklahoma#264101 in 2,074
Colorado#281101 in 2,414
Texas#288761 in 1,896
New Mexico#29661 in 1,906
Kansas#31361 in 2,779
Arizona#38191 in 3,272
Alaska———
Montana———
Nebraska———
North Dakota———
South Dakota———
Wyoming———

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 1988

girls
#10,386
6 births · 1 in 296,809 girls
boys
#205
1,286 births · 1 in 1,489 boys

Top girls' names in 1988

  1. #1Jessica51,556
  2. #2Ashley49,977
  3. #3Amanda39,459
  4. #4Sarah28,374
  5. #5Jennifer27,893
  6. #6Brittany26,816
  7. #7Stephanie22,843
  8. #8Samantha20,700
  9. #9Nicole20,315
  10. #10Elizabeth20,042
  11. #10,386Bruce6

Top boys' names in 1988

  1. #1Michael64,171
  2. #2Christopher53,014
  3. #3Matthew45,876
  4. #4Joshua42,653
  5. #5Andrew35,745
  6. #6David35,329
  7. #7Justin35,055
  8. #8Daniel34,718
  9. #9James32,523
  10. #10Robert30,319
  11. #205Bruce1,286
More about 1988

girls

1,780,854 girls got a published name in 1988; 1 in 296,809 of them was named Bruce, which outranked 25.2% of the 13,883 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 17.3% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Bruce
  1. #9,244Zinnia7
  2. #9,244Zuleyma7
  3. #9,244Zykia7
  4. #10,386Bruce6
  5. #10,386Aasia6
  6. #10,386Abbee6
  7. #10,386Abeer6
  8. #11,798Aaliya5
  9. #11,798Aariel5
  10. #11,798Abbigayle5

Tied with 1,411 names at #10,386; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1987
Risers
  1. ↑ 2,890Jalissa#3,857 → #967
  2. ↑ 2,381Taja#3,101 → #720
  3. ↑ 1,710Whitley#2,156 → #446
  4. ↑ 1,225Jalisa#1,662 → #437
  5. ↑ 883Jaleesa#1,227 → #344
Fallers
  1. ↓ 620Channing#590 → #1,210
  2. ↓ 346Denisse#954 → #1,300
  3. ↓ 319Jeana#966 → #1,285
  4. ↓ 314Eliana#826 → #1,140
  5. ↓ 311Nakia#893 → #1,204

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

boys

1,914,283 boys got a published name in 1988; 1 in 1,489 of them was named Bruce, which outranked 97.6% of the 8,495 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 21.4% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Bruce
  1. #202Reginald1,333
  2. #203Ivan1,330
  3. #204Pedro1,307
  4. #205Bruce1,286
  5. #206Rafael1,285
  6. #207Emmanuel1,280
  7. #208Jaime1,256
Biggest movers since 1987
Risers
  1. ↑ 3,252Nico#4,239 → #987
  2. ↑ 1,245Ridge#2,215 → #970
  3. ↑ 668Colten#1,484 → #816
  4. ↑ 600Brantley#1,587 → #987
  5. ↑ 518Long#1,337 → #819
Fallers
  1. ↓ 362Cordaro#908 → #1,270
  2. ↓ 246Ramsey#884 → #1,130
  3. ↓ 241Yaakov#974 → #1,215
  4. ↓ 233Adrain#990 → #1,223
  5. ↓ 230Kiel#846 → #1,076

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

See the top 100 for 1988 →