Unisex name · peaked 2023

Promise

A female given name from English.

Every Promise since 1975 — 6,838 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
0.080.150.230.318801900192019401960198020002020GirlsBoys
GirlsBoys
Rank 2025
#826
among girls
Babies in 2025
348
named Promise
Peak year
2023
422 babies
All-time total
6,838
since 1975

The story of Promise

Promise is uncommon for girls in the United States, ranked #826 in 2025 with 330 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1975, 6,838 American babies have been named Promise — about 94% girls and 6% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2023, when 422 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.

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 Promise stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

Promise 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 330 #826 18 #5,343
2024 337 #819 21 #4,837
2023 395 #714 27 #4,086
2022 365 #780 38 #3,202
2021 390 #731 18 #5,283
2020 319 #853 25 #4,114
2019 320 #844 27 #3,969
2018 295 #912 17 #5,487
2017 242 #1,063 21 #4,704
2016 215 #1,172 10 #8,018
2015 246 #1,071 18 #5,231
2014 249 #1,047 11 #7,425
2013 218 #1,118 16 #5,587
2012 211 #1,164 9 #8,700
2011 217 #1,133 9 #8,603
2010 217 #1,132 18 #5,193
2009 203 #1,230 14 #6,348
2008 203 #1,240 14 #6,322
2007 179 #1,356 10 #8,024
2006 149 #1,486 10 #7,864
2005 116 #1,715 9 #8,141
2004 107 #1,790 9 #8,017
2003 98 #1,881 8 #8,434
2002 68 #2,371 8 #8,253
2001 99 #1,804 6 #10,222
2000 74 #2,168 6 #10,015
1995 45 #2,718 5 #9,933
1990 12 #7,183
1985 23 #3,703
1980 11 #6,206
1975 5 #10,162
1970
1965
1960
1955
1950
1945
1940
1935
1930
1925
1920
1915
1910
1905
1900
1895
1890
1885
1880

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Promise mean?

A female given name from English.

How popular is the name Promise in 2025?

Promise ranked #826 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 330 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Promise?

6,838 babies have been named Promise in the United States since 1975, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Promise most popular?

Promise peaked in 2023, when 422 newborns received the name.

Is Promise a boy or girl name?

Promise is used for both: about 94% of babies named Promise have been girls and 6% boys.

Is the name Promise rising or falling?

Promise is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Names like Promise

Compare Promise with similar names →