Boston
Boy name · #620 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Boston? In official American birth records, Boston has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Boston ranks #620 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 451 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #605, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 3,991 boys born in 2025 was named Boston.
The 145-year story
Boston first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2014, when 497 boys were named Boston — good for #555 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Boston per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Boston against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Boston in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Boston is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Boston will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Boston is most common
Geography matters for names, and Boston is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Boston is most common in UT (2.3 per 1,000), ID (1.2 per 1,000), IA (0.9 per 1,000), KS (0.9 per 1,000), KY (0.6 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.3 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Boston is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Boston
Statistically, parents drawn to Boston tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Layton, Kolton, Jaxton, Paxton, and Braxton.
LaytonKoltonJaxtonPaxtonBraxtonMaxtonBrightonBenton
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Boston | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 451 | #620 |
| 2024 | 451 | #627 |
| 2023 | 433 | #636 |
| 2022 | 454 | #616 |
| 2021 | 464 | #599 |
| 2020 | 463 | #594 |
| 2019 | 451 | #607 |
| 2018 | 407 | #640 |
| 2017 | 389 | #659 |
| 2016 | 416 | #638 |
| 2015 | 451 | #605 |
| 2014 | 497 | #555 |
| 2013 | 465 | #566 |
| 2012 | 487 | #536 |
| 2011 | 456 | #557 |
| 2010 | 462 | #546 |
| 2009 | 492 | #537 |
| 2008 | 461 | #563 |
| 2007 | 388 | #627 |
| 2006 | 374 | #631 |
| 2005 | 302 | #687 |
| 2004 | 188 | #909 |
| 2003 | 130 | #1155 |
| 2002 | 116 | #1200 |
| 2001 | 75 | #1591 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Boston?
In official American birth records, the name Boston first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Boston a popular boy name?
Boston ranked #620 among boys in 2025 with 451 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #605.
When was the name Boston most popular?
Boston peaked in 2014, when 497 American boys received the name (ranked #555 that year). Since 2014 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Boston?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 3,991 newborn American boys was named Boston. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.