Austen
An English surname transferred from the given name; a variant of Austin.
Every Austen since 1917 — 9,416 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Austen
Austen is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #2,518 in 2025 with 53 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1917, 9,416 American babies have been named Austen — about 86% boys and 14% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1995, when 567 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1990s.
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 Austen stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Austen year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 44 | #3,469 | 53 | #2,518 |
| 2024 | 55 | #2,976 | 80 | #1,958 |
| 2023 | 53 | #3,101 | 60 | #2,319 |
| 2022 | 57 | #2,930 | 70 | #2,119 |
| 2021 | 71 | #2,488 | 77 | #1,945 |
| 2020 | 49 | #3,185 | 72 | #1,979 |
| 2019 | 72 | #2,453 | 108 | #1,549 |
| 2018 | 53 | #3,059 | 80 | #1,874 |
| 2017 | 73 | #2,468 | 88 | #1,748 |
| 2016 | 92 | #2,118 | 95 | #1,664 |
| 2015 | 61 | #2,850 | 120 | #1,427 |
| 2014 | 43 | #3,596 | 127 | #1,348 |
| 2013 | 25 | #5,336 | 125 | #1,353 |
| 2012 | 26 | #5,279 | 139 | #1,266 |
| 2011 | 28 | #4,937 | 150 | #1,178 |
| 2010 | 27 | #5,123 | 150 | #1,196 |
| 2009 | 17 | #7,375 | 147 | #1,218 |
| 2008 | 8 | #12,730 | 170 | #1,090 |
| 2007 | 20 | #6,594 | 166 | #1,098 |
| 2006 | 21 | #6,157 | 202 | #932 |
| 2005 | 11 | #9,543 | 184 | #950 |
| 2004 | 12 | #8,794 | 157 | #1,039 |
| 2003 | 16 | #6,929 | 174 | #942 |
| 2002 | 16 | #6,736 | 205 | #819 |
| 2001 | 12 | #8,258 | 214 | #788 |
| 2000 | 10 | #9,250 | 248 | #706 |
| 1995 | 27 | #3,892 | 540 | #420 |
| 1990 | 17 | #5,315 | 210 | #705 |
| 1985 | 15 | #4,881 | 80 | #1,021 |
| 1980 | 6 | #9,191 | 39 | #1,548 |
| 1975 | — | — | 11 | #3,266 |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | 5 | #4,250 |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Austen
- Austen Chamberlain Politician · 1863–1937
- Austen Henry Layard Archaeologist · 1817–1894
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Austen mean?
An English surname transferred from the given name; a variant of Austin.
How popular is the name Austen in 2025?
Austen ranked #2,518 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 53 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Austen?
9,416 babies have been named Austen in the United States since 1917, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Austen most popular?
Austen peaked in 1995, when 567 newborns received the name.
Is Austen a boy or girl name?
Austen is used for both: about 14% of babies named Austen have been girls and 86% boys.
Is the name Austen rising or falling?
Austen is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Austen?
Well-known people named Austen include Austen Chamberlain (politician), Austen Henry Layard (archaeologist).