Germain
A patronymic from a medieval given name, identical with the French one; or from an ethnic term for a German.
Every Germain since 1913 — 1,034 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Germain
Germain is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #10,027 in 2025 with 7 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1913, 1,034 American babies have been named Germain. Its peak came in 1972, when 32 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1970s.
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 Germain stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Germain 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 | — | — | 7 | #10,027 |
| 2024 | — | — | 6 | #11,387 |
| 2023 | — | — | — | — |
| 2022 | — | — | — | — |
| 2021 | — | — | — | — |
| 2020 | — | — | 5 | #12,701 |
| 2019 | — | — | 9 | #8,420 |
| 2018 | — | — | 7 | #10,021 |
| 2017 | — | — | 7 | #10,055 |
| 2016 | — | — | 9 | #8,371 |
| 2015 | — | — | 6 | #11,150 |
| 2014 | — | — | 15 | #5,822 |
| 2013 | — | — | 11 | #7,197 |
| 2012 | — | — | 8 | #9,148 |
| 2011 | — | — | 10 | #7,685 |
| 2010 | — | — | 13 | #6,481 |
| 2009 | — | — | 15 | #5,902 |
| 2008 | — | — | 23 | #4,306 |
| 2007 | — | — | 13 | #6,385 |
| 2006 | — | — | 19 | #4,747 |
| 2005 | — | — | 18 | #4,697 |
| 2004 | — | — | 9 | #7,748 |
| 2003 | — | — | 9 | #7,447 |
| 2002 | — | — | 15 | #4,989 |
| 2001 | — | — | 6 | #9,682 |
| 2000 | — | — | 13 | #5,384 |
| 1995 | — | — | 11 | #5,265 |
| 1990 | — | — | 21 | #3,001 |
| 1985 | — | — | 18 | #2,753 |
| 1980 | 5 | #10,903 | 26 | #2,077 |
| 1975 | — | — | 24 | #1,968 |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | 5 | #4,254 |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | 5 | #3,882 |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | 8 | #3,124 |
| 1925 | — | — | 5 | #4,480 |
| 1920 | — | — | 8 | #3,323 |
| 1915 | — | — | 5 | #4,054 |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Germain
- Germain Henri Hess Chemist · 1802–1850
- Germain Pilon Sculptor · 1525–1590
- Germain Derycke Cyclist · 1929–1978
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Germain mean?
A patronymic from a medieval given name, identical with the French one; or from an ethnic term for a German.
How popular is the name Germain in 2025?
Germain ranked #10,027 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 7 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Germain?
1,034 babies have been named Germain in the United States since 1913, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Germain most popular?
Germain peaked in 1972, when 32 newborns received the name.
Is Germain a boy or girl name?
Germain is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 96% of babies with the name.
Is the name Germain rising or falling?
Germain is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Germain?
Well-known people named Germain include Germain Henri Hess (chemist), Germain Pilon (sculptor), Germain Derycke (cyclist).