Duke
Boy name · #695 in 2025 · Uniqueness 61/100
Duke is currently the #695 boy name in the United States — 390 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #601, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 4,615 boys born in 2025 was named Duke.
The 145-year story
Duke first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 7 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2018, when 529 boys were named Duke — good for #533 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 Duke per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Duke against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Duke in class?
Duke scores 61 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Duke is most common
Geography matters for names, and Duke is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Dukes were CA (43), TX (29), FL (17), AZ (14), IL (14). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Duke
Statistically, parents drawn to Duke tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Zeke, Dax, Case, Kyree, and Kase.
ZekeDaxCaseKyreeKaseDashKaceKane
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Duke | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 390 | #695 |
| 2024 | 381 | #704 |
| 2023 | 395 | #683 |
| 2022 | 403 | #676 |
| 2021 | 419 | #652 |
| 2020 | 424 | #633 |
| 2019 | 522 | #541 |
| 2018 | 529 | #533 |
| 2017 | 523 | #541 |
| 2016 | 515 | #558 |
| 2015 | 455 | #601 |
| 2014 | 384 | #668 |
| 2013 | 323 | #722 |
| 2012 | 160 | #1145 |
| 2011 | 147 | #1198 |
| 2010 | 141 | #1245 |
| 2009 | 89 | #1731 |
| 2008 | 104 | #1543 |
| 2007 | 96 | #1614 |
| 2006 | 89 | #1617 |
| 2005 | 75 | #1752 |
| 2004 | 62 | #1953 |
| 2003 | 74 | #1673 |
| 2002 | 59 | #1888 |
| 2001 | 53 | #2007 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Duke a popular boy name?
Duke ranked #695 among boys in 2025 with 390 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #601.
When was the name Duke most popular?
Duke peaked in 2018, when 529 American boys received the name (ranked #533 that year). Since 2018 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Duke?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 4,615 newborn American boys was named Duke. It scores 61/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
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.