Denver
Boy name · #519 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Denver? In official American birth records, Denver has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Denver is currently the #519 boy name in the United States — 578 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #897, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 3,114 boys born in 2025 was named Denver.
Babies named Denver per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Denver first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 5 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2022, with 645 babies and a rank of #479. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. 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 Denver against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Denver in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Denver is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Denver is most common
Geography matters for names, and Denver is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Denver is most common in AR (1.2 per 1,000), KY (1.1 per 1,000), OK (1 per 1,000), MS (1 per 1,000), LA (0.9 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.4 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Denver is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Denver
Statistically, parents drawn to Denver tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Ledger, Wilder, Miller, Fletcher, and Palmer.
LedgerWilderMillerFletcherPalmerCasperKaiserEver
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Denver | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 578 | #518 |
| 2024 | 633 | #488 |
| 2023 | 590 | #510 |
| 2022 | 645 | #479 |
| 2021 | 579 | #508 |
| 2020 | 542 | #526 |
| 2019 | 423 | #636 |
| 2018 | 370 | #675 |
| 2017 | 274 | #820 |
| 2016 | 269 | #839 |
| 2015 | 242 | #897 |
| 2014 | 188 | #1054 |
| 2013 | 162 | #1119 |
| 2012 | 141 | #1249 |
| 2011 | 142 | #1229 |
| 2010 | 128 | #1331 |
| 2009 | 132 | #1314 |
| 2008 | 169 | #1095 |
| 2007 | 147 | #1197 |
| 2006 | 146 | #1154 |
| 2005 | 151 | #1093 |
| 2004 | 134 | #1163 |
| 2003 | 157 | #1007 |
| 2002 | 146 | #1049 |
| 2001 | 164 | #944 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Denver?
In official American birth records, the name Denver 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 Denver a popular boy name?
Denver ranked #519 among boys in 2025 with 578 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #897.
When was the name Denver most popular?
Denver peaked in 2022, when 645 American boys received the name (ranked #479 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Denver?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 3,114 newborn American boys was named Denver. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.