Ned
From rebracketing of the phrase mine Ed to my Ned.
Every Ned since 1880 — 17,297 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Ned
Ned is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #9,452 in 2025 with 8 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 17,297 American babies have been named Ned. Its peak came in 1939, when 319 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1930s.
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 Ned stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Ned 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 | — | — | 8 | #9,452 |
| 2024 | — | — | 11 | #7,604 |
| 2023 | — | — | 15 | #6,136 |
| 2022 | — | — | 6 | #11,876 |
| 2021 | — | — | 9 | #8,635 |
| 2020 | — | — | 17 | #5,399 |
| 2019 | — | — | 15 | #6,021 |
| 2018 | — | — | 12 | #6,997 |
| 2017 | — | — | 5 | #13,665 |
| 2016 | — | — | 10 | #7,979 |
| 2015 | — | — | 17 | #5,450 |
| 2014 | — | — | 11 | #7,395 |
| 2013 | — | — | 14 | #6,147 |
| 2012 | — | — | 12 | #6,913 |
| 2011 | — | — | 16 | #5,598 |
| 2010 | — | — | 11 | #7,437 |
| 2009 | — | — | 11 | #7,556 |
| 2008 | — | — | 12 | #7,070 |
| 2007 | — | — | 16 | #5,616 |
| 2006 | — | — | 16 | #5,462 |
| 2005 | — | — | 27 | #3,588 |
| 2004 | — | — | 23 | #3,965 |
| 2003 | — | — | 18 | #4,566 |
| 2002 | — | — | 21 | #4,005 |
| 2001 | — | — | 19 | #4,241 |
| 2000 | — | — | 15 | #4,976 |
| 1995 | — | — | 28 | #2,666 |
| 1990 | — | — | 48 | #1,694 |
| 1985 | — | — | 51 | #1,367 |
| 1980 | — | — | 73 | #1,063 |
| 1975 | — | — | 81 | #914 |
| 1970 | — | — | 98 | #822 |
| 1965 | — | — | 127 | #659 |
| 1960 | — | — | 222 | #531 |
| 1955 | — | — | 268 | #454 |
| 1950 | — | — | 280 | #404 |
| 1945 | — | — | 256 | #376 |
| 1940 | — | — | 282 | #339 |
| 1935 | — | — | 255 | #346 |
| 1930 | — | — | 259 | #354 |
| 1925 | — | — | 280 | #353 |
| 1920 | — | — | 284 | #350 |
| 1915 | — | — | 252 | #334 |
| 1910 | — | — | 45 | #392 |
| 1905 | — | — | 27 | #419 |
| 1900 | — | — | 46 | #310 |
| 1895 | — | — | 38 | #293 |
| 1890 | — | — | 49 | #240 |
| 1885 | — | — | 26 | #340 |
| 1880 | — | — | 33 | #289 |
Famous people named Ned
- Ned Kelly Mafioso · 1855–1880
- Ned Beatty Actor · b. 1937
- Ned Maddrell Religious figure · 1877–1974
- Ned Zelic Soccer player · b. 1971
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ned mean?
From rebracketing of the phrase mine Ed to my Ned.
How popular is the name Ned in 2025?
Ned ranked #9,452 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 8 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Ned?
17,297 babies have been named Ned in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Ned most popular?
Ned peaked in 1939, when 319 newborns received the name.
Is Ned a boy or girl name?
Ned is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Ned rising or falling?
Ned has been roughly stable over the past decade.
Who are famous people named Ned?
Well-known people named Ned include Ned Kelly (mafioso), Ned Beatty (actor), Ned Maddrell (religious figure).