Bowie
Boy name · #1228 in 2025 · Uniqueness 67/100
Bowie is currently the #1228 boy name in the United States — 164 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #2386, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 10,976 boys born in 2025 was named Bowie.
Babies named Bowie per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 105-year story
Bowie first appears in the Social Security records in 1920, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2021, when 237 boys were named Bowie — good for #951 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Bowie against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Bowie in class?
Bowie scores 67 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Bowie will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Bowie is most common
Geography matters for names, and Bowie is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Bowies were CA (24), FL (12), TX (12), OH (9), UT (8). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Bowie
Statistically, parents drawn to Bowie tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Ozzie, Cayde, Khyrie, Sire, and Wylie.
OzzieCaydeKhyrieSireWylieBraveBronxBeaux
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Bowie | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 164 | #1227 |
| 2024 | 167 | #1211 |
| 2023 | 194 | #1098 |
| 2022 | 198 | #1093 |
| 2021 | 237 | #951 |
| 2020 | 176 | #1119 |
| 2019 | 159 | #1202 |
| 2018 | 210 | #984 |
| 2017 | 156 | #1191 |
| 2016 | 134 | #1329 |
| 2015 | 54 | #2386 |
| 2014 | 59 | #2256 |
| 2013 | 26 | #3864 |
| 2012 | 24 | #4131 |
| 2011 | 30 | #3510 |
| 2010 | 44 | #2730 |
| 2009 | 19 | #4922 |
| 2008 | 25 | #4044 |
| 2007 | 18 | #4996 |
| 2006 | 21 | #4370 |
| 2005 | 13 | #5875 |
| 2004 | 9 | #7536 |
| 2003 | 9 | #7245 |
| 2002 | 7 | #8456 |
| 2001 | 6 | #9243 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Bowie a popular boy name?
Bowie ranked #1228 among boys in 2025 with 164 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2386.
When was the name Bowie most popular?
Bowie peaked in 2021, when 237 American boys received the name (ranked #951 that year). Since 2021 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Bowie?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 10,976 newborn American boys was named Bowie. It scores 67/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.