boys' name · peaked 2012

Aiken

From a mostly Irish variant of Adkin and Atkin, diminutives of the given name Adam.

Every Aiken since 1920 — 359 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex — comparable across eras
00.010.010.0218801900192019401960198020002020Peak 2012Boys
Rank 2025
#7,209
among boys
Babies in 2025
11
named Aiken
Peak year
2012
26 babies
All-time total
359
since 1920

The story of Aiken

Aiken is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #7,209 in 2025 with 11 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1920, 359 American babies have been named Aiken. Its peak came in 2012, when 26 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2010s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Aiken stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

Aiken year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 11 #7,209
2024 7 #9,927
2023 10 #7,762
2022 10 #7,779
2021 13 #6,341
2020 20 #4,701
2019 17 #5,344
2018 15 #5,777
2017 16 #5,531
2016 19 #4,949
2015 15 #5,755
2014 22 #4,392
2013 22 #4,319
2012 26 #3,899
2011 23 #4,226
2010 16 #5,489
2009 15 #5,810
2008 13 #6,404
2007 13 #6,273
2006 12 #6,469
2005 7 #9,137
2004 6 #9,981
2003 9 #7,257
2002 6 #9,420
2001
2000
1995
1990
1985
1980
1975
1970
1965
1960
1955
1950
1945
1940
1935
1930
1925
1920 5 #4,294
1915
1910
1905
1900
1895
1890
1885
1880

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Aiken mean?

From a mostly Irish variant of Adkin and Atkin, diminutives of the given name Adam.

How popular is the name Aiken in 2025?

Aiken ranked #7,209 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 11 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Aiken?

359 babies have been named Aiken in the United States since 1920, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Aiken most popular?

Aiken peaked in 2012, when 26 newborns received the name.

Is Aiken a boy or girl name?

Aiken is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Aiken rising or falling?

Aiken is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.

Names like Aiken

Compare Aiken with similar names →