Unknown
Every Unknown since 1880 — 19,714 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Unknown
Unknown is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #2,757 in 2025 with 47 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 19,714 American babies have been named Unknown — about 50% boys and 50% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1954, when 1,192 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1950s.
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 Unknown stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Unknown 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 | 48 | #3,293 | 47 | #2,757 |
| 2024 | 38 | #3,956 | 43 | #2,953 |
| 2023 | 46 | #3,471 | 80 | #1,951 |
| 2022 | 52 | #3,162 | 85 | #1,873 |
| 2021 | 49 | #3,294 | 85 | #1,838 |
| 2020 | 42 | #3,603 | 61 | #2,260 |
| 2019 | 53 | #3,081 | 77 | #1,933 |
| 2018 | 66 | #2,644 | 85 | #1,806 |
| 2017 | 47 | #3,381 | 67 | #2,089 |
| 2016 | 37 | #4,075 | 50 | #2,549 |
| 2015 | 43 | #3,647 | 60 | #2,251 |
| 2014 | 72 | #2,516 | 79 | #1,871 |
| 2013 | 68 | #2,623 | 97 | #1,603 |
| 2012 | 64 | #2,767 | 99 | #1,597 |
| 2011 | 77 | #2,414 | 87 | #1,716 |
| 2010 | 65 | #2,751 | 89 | #1,724 |
| 2009 | 84 | #2,336 | 114 | #1,470 |
| 2008 | 62 | #2,885 | 73 | #1,967 |
| 2007 | 31 | #4,802 | 42 | #2,863 |
| 2006 | 16 | #7,851 | 25 | #3,993 |
| 2005 | 25 | #5,251 | 23 | #4,052 |
| 2004 | 20 | #6,204 | 24 | #3,853 |
| 2003 | 30 | #4,411 | 31 | #3,112 |
| 2002 | 18 | #6,378 | 27 | #3,341 |
| 2001 | 28 | #4,440 | 15 | #5,132 |
| 2000 | 42 | #3,267 | 39 | #2,475 |
| 1995 | 223 | #866 | 248 | #667 |
| 1990 | 162 | #1,092 | 192 | #738 |
| 1985 | — | — | 11 | #4,035 |
| 1980 | 7 | #9,062 | 9 | #4,475 |
| 1975 | 21 | #3,395 | 18 | #2,447 |
| 1970 | 18 | #3,569 | 42 | #1,295 |
| 1965 | 29 | #2,245 | 35 | #1,316 |
| 1960 | 133 | #925 | 194 | #564 |
| 1955 | 564 | #368 | 497 | #332 |
| 1950 | 511 | #348 | 404 | #336 |
| 1945 | 54 | #1,077 | 42 | #993 |
| 1940 | 19 | #1,894 | 6 | #3,439 |
| 1935 | 12 | #2,559 | 6 | #3,617 |
| 1930 | 10 | #3,036 | 13 | #2,284 |
| 1925 | 6 | #4,921 | 22 | #1,675 |
| 1920 | 9 | #3,571 | 18 | #1,956 |
| 1915 | 19 | #1,792 | 24 | #1,406 |
| 1910 | — | — | 13 | #924 |
| 1905 | 11 | #1,233 | 9 | #916 |
| 1900 | 15 | #1,005 | 16 | #648 |
| 1895 | — | — | 9 | #790 |
| 1890 | 7 | #1,195 | 5 | #1,151 |
| 1885 | — | — | 7 | #830 |
| 1880 | — | — | 5 | #1,049 |
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Unknown in 2025?
Unknown ranked #2,757 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 47 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Unknown?
19,714 babies have been named Unknown in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Unknown most popular?
Unknown peaked in 1954, when 1,192 newborns received the name.
Is Unknown a boy or girl name?
Unknown is used for both: about 50% of babies named Unknown have been girls and 50% boys.
Is the name Unknown rising or falling?
Unknown is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.