Ken

Last seen for girls in 1990 at #12,958 · #3,240 for boys in 2025, 36 births
Given to boys 99.9% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · boys
1960 · 1,775 births
Debut · boys
7 births
In top 100 · boys
never
of 146 years
Total births · boys
33,013
since 1900

Ken over time

boys

Rank among boys' names. Ken has never cracked the top 100 here.

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201966peak #177, 1960boys
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—#3,24036
2024—#3,27236
2023—#3,22837
2022—#2,64850
2021—#2,52352
2020—#2,36656
2019—#2,55651
2018—#2,21062
2017—#2,15463
2016—#1,72490
2015—#1,75387
2014—#1,76685
2013—#1,87875
2012—#1,498107
2011—#1,68788
2010—#2,01068
2009—#1,562104
2008—#1,504108
2007—#1,376120
2006—#1,239135
2005—#1,302117
2004—#1,053153
2003—#1,282110
2002—#1,094134
2001—#1,129124
2000—#1,128123
1999—#1,114119
1998—#1,189104
1997—#1,016125
1996—#1,030119
1995—#987126
1994—#1,053112
1993—#1,097104
1992—#1,029113
1991—#939127
1990#12,9585#857142
1989—#856138
1988—#907111
1987—#829126
1986—#901102
1985—#845113
1984—#811116
1983—#856105
1982—#760134
1981—#717145
1980—#739141
1979—#794119
1978—#717137
1977—#762124
1976—#715137
1975#9,0675#659156
1974—#564202
1973—#513232
1972—#464287
1971—#424363
1970#7,9955#368486
1969—#356494
1968—#305601
1967—#284650
1966—#252820
1965—#2181,100
1964—#1921,475
1963—#1781,634
1962#6,5785#1811,684
1961#6,5675#1881,665
1960#6,3905#1771,775
1959—#1821,653
1958—#1851,533
1957—#2211,178
1956—#285657
1955—#345439
1954—#367370
1953—#394317
1952—#382321
1951—#395296
1950—#362347
1949—#320456
1948—#261622
1947—#247707
1946—#227684
1945—#272479
1944—#287427
1943—#294444
1942—#302407
1941—#312345
1940—#326303
1939—#335276
1938—#349252
1937—#385203
1936—#376211
1935—#435167
1934—#457152
1933—#550108
1932—#511127
1931—#60595
1930—#71876
1929—#87857
1928—#1,22834
1927—#1,01248
1926—#91654
1925—#1,12139
1924—#1,24634
1923—#1,32230
1922—#1,36729
1921—#1,58823
1920—#1,27332
1919—#1,75219
1918—#1,90517
1917—#1,58721
1916—#1,77117
1915—#1,55320
1914—#1,97511
1913—#1,80310
1912—#1,26814
1911—#1,5376
1910—#1,5895
1909——
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1900—#1,0507
1899——
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First appearance
1900

The first year at least five boys were named Ken! It came in at #1,050, and was given to 7 baby boys.


Quietest stretch: 1901–1910, when fewer than 6 boys a year got the name.

Where Ken is popular in 1966

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 boys named Ken, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 boys named Ken, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 boys named Ken, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 boys named Ken, so not publishedNHWashington: #135 for boys · 30 births · 1 in 808 boysWAIdaho: #150 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 767 boysIDMontana: fewer than 5 boys named Ken, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Ken, so not publishedNDMinnesota: #196 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 2,124 boysMNIllinois: #222 for boys · 48 births · 1 in 1,985 boysILWisconsin: #187 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 1,915 boysWIMichigan: #210 for boys · 40 births · 1 in 1,978 boysMINew York: #353 for boys · 34 births · 1 in 4,620 boysNYMassachusetts: #256 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 4,834 boysMARhode Island: fewer than 5 boys named Ken, so not publishedRIOregon: #157 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 936 boysORNevada: #141 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 670 boysNVWyoming: fewer than 5 boys named Ken, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Ken, so not publishedSDIowa: #213 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 1,972 boysIAIndiana: #211 for boys · 25 births · 1 in 1,821 boysINOhio: #212 for boys · 43 births · 1 in 2,156 boysOHPennsylvania: #278 for boys · 23 births · 1 in 4,153 boysPANew Jersey: #259 for boys · 18 births · 1 in 3,117 boysNJConnecticut: #251 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 2,980 boysCTCalifornia: #192 for boys · 142 births · 1 in 1,167 boysCAUtah: #177 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 939 boysUTColorado: #334 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 3,326 boysCONebraska: #189 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 1,481 boysNEMissouri: #243 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 2,254 boysMOKentucky: #373 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 5,583 boysKYWest Virginia: fewer than 5 boys named Ken, so not publishedWVVirginia: #259 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 2,314 boysVAMaryland: #254 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 2,960 boysMDDelaware: fewer than 5 boys named Ken, so not publishedDEArizona: #355 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 2,854 boysAZNew Mexico: fewer than 5 boys named Ken, so not publishedNMKansas: #188 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 1,328 boysKSArkansas: #218 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 1,432 boysARTennessee: #315 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 3,344 boysTNNorth Carolina: #295 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 2,690 boysNCSouth Carolina: #354 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 3,855 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 boys named Ken, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #242 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 1,801 boysOKLouisiana: #236 for boys · 26 births · 1 in 1,358 boysLAMississippi: #271 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 1,942 boysMSAlabama: #258 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 1,908 boysALGeorgia: #222 for boys · 30 births · 1 in 1,406 boysGAHawaii: #212 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 1,010 boysHITexas: #314 for boys · 45 births · 1 in 2,228 boysTXFlorida: #269 for boys · 24 births · 1 in 1,987 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Washington#135 · 1 in 808
  2. Nevada#141 · 1 in 670
  3. Idaho#150 · 1 in 767
  4. Oregon#157 · 1 in 936
  5. Utah#177 · 1 in 939

Best ever in a state: #81 in Montana, 1959.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Washington#135301 in 808
Nevada#14151 in 670
Idaho#15071 in 767
Oregon#157161 in 936
Utah#177111 in 939
Wisconsin#187201 in 1,915
Kansas#188121 in 1,328
Nebraska#18981 in 1,481
California#1921421 in 1,167
Minnesota#196151 in 2,124
Michigan#210401 in 1,978
Indiana#211251 in 1,821
Hawaii#21261 in 1,010
Ohio#212431 in 2,156
Iowa#213121 in 1,972
Arkansas#218111 in 1,432
Georgia#222301 in 1,406
Illinois#222481 in 1,985
Louisiana#236261 in 1,358
Oklahoma#242101 in 1,801
Missouri#243171 in 2,254
Connecticut#25181 in 2,980
Maryland#254101 in 2,960
Massachusetts#256101 in 4,834
Alabama#258161 in 1,908
New Jersey#259181 in 3,117
Virginia#259161 in 2,314
Florida#269241 in 1,987
Mississippi#271111 in 1,942
Pennsylvania#278231 in 4,153
North Carolina#295161 in 2,690
Texas#314451 in 2,228
Tennessee#315101 in 3,344
Colorado#33451 in 3,326
New York#353341 in 4,620
South Carolina#35461 in 3,855
Arizona#35551 in 2,854
Kentucky#37351 in 5,583
Alaska———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Maine———
Montana———
New Hampshire———
New Mexico———
North Dakota———
Rhode Island———
South Dakota———
Vermont———
West Virginia———
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 Ken
Momentum · boys
Falling
  • 32 spots since 2024 (#3,272 → #3,240)
  • 874 spots since 2020 (#2,366 → #3,240)
  • 1,487 spots since 2015 (#1,753 → #3,240)
  • Biggest jump: 350 spots in 1929 (#1,228 → #878)
  • Biggest drop: 96 spots in 1927 (#916 → #1,012)
Rise & fade · boys
60 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1900
  • Peaked 1960 at #177 (1,775 births)
  • Births halved by 1966, 6 yrs later
Top of the charts · boys
Top 1,000 for 65 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: never
  • Top 1,000: 65 yrs · run 1929–1991
Share of babies · boys
1 in 1,201
  • Highest: 1 in 1,201 boys born in 1960 were named Ken (0.08%)
  • Latest: 1 in 47,447 boys born in 2025 (0.00%)
Era · boys
The 1960s
  • 36.0% of all boys named Ken (11,898) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1900s7#1,050 (1900)#1,050
1910s140#1,268 (1912)#1,674
1920s380#878 (1929)#1,195
1930s1,667#335 (1939)#472
1940s4,874#227 (1946)#285
1950s7,111#182 (1959)#312
1960s11,898#177 (1960)#233
1970s2,243#368 (1970)#598
1980s1,231#717 (1981)#822
1990s1,191#857 (1990)#1,031
2000s1,228#1,053 (2004)#1,267
2010s776#1,498 (2012)#1,924
2020s267#2,366 (2020)#2,880

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.

Ken in 1966

boys
#252
820 births · 1 in 2,175 boys

Top boys' names in 1966

  1. #1Michael79,985
  2. #2David66,408
  3. #3James65,163
  4. #4John65,016
  5. #5Robert59,317
  6. #6William38,237
  7. #7Mark34,801
  8. #8Richard34,457
  9. #9Jeffrey30,200
  10. #10Thomas29,003
  11. #252Ken820
More about 1966

boys

1,783,461 boys got a published name in 1966; 1 in 2,175 of them was named Ken, which outranked 94.4% of the 4,540 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 28.2% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Ken
  1. #249Geoffrey838
  2. #250Charlie836
  3. #251Clinton825
  4. #252Ken820
  5. #253Arnold816
  6. #254Neal815
  7. #255Terence805
Biggest movers since 1965
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,207Jarrod#1,720 → #513
  2. ↑ 893Heath#1,254 → #361
  3. ↑ 467Illya#1,294 → #827
  4. ↑ 419Jarrett#1,294 → #875
  5. ↑ 399Reynold#1,360 → #961
Fallers
  1. ↓ 464Quint#986 → #1,450
  2. ↓ 303Dario#934 → #1,237
  3. ↓ 299Darran#1,000 → #1,299
  4. ↓ 281Artie#897 → #1,178
  5. ↓ 268Daryn#716 → #984

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

See the top 100 for 1966 →