Duncan
Boy name · #1123 in 2025 · Uniqueness 68/100
Duncan is currently the #1123 boy name in the United States — 190 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #790, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 9,474 boys born in 2025 was named Duncan.
The 145-year story
Duncan first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 12 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1997, when 644 boys were named Duncan — good for #378 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 Duncan per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Duncan against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Duncan in class?
Duncan scores 68 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 Duncan will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Duncan is most common
Geography matters for names, and Duncan is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Duncans were CA (15), TX (15), OH (12), IL (9), CO (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 Duncan
Statistically, parents drawn to Duncan tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Darian, Coleman, Keenan, Kristian, and Brendan.
DarianColemanKeenanKristianBrendanDarienDerianDevon
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Duncan | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 190 | #1123 |
| 2024 | 195 | #1103 |
| 2023 | 244 | #930 |
| 2022 | 253 | #913 |
| 2021 | 216 | #1016 |
| 2020 | 217 | #982 |
| 2019 | 205 | #1013 |
| 2018 | 235 | #915 |
| 2017 | 251 | #869 |
| 2016 | 286 | #806 |
| 2015 | 294 | #790 |
| 2014 | 287 | #800 |
| 2013 | 262 | #823 |
| 2012 | 263 | #830 |
| 2011 | 275 | #800 |
| 2010 | 329 | #708 |
| 2009 | 318 | #735 |
| 2008 | 324 | #716 |
| 2007 | 288 | #764 |
| 2006 | 351 | #656 |
| 2005 | 359 | #617 |
| 2004 | 402 | #566 |
| 2003 | 421 | #543 |
| 2002 | 472 | #487 |
| 2001 | 500 | #474 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Duncan a popular boy name?
Duncan ranked #1123 among boys in 2025 with 190 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #790.
When was the name Duncan most popular?
Duncan peaked in 1997, when 644 American boys received the name (ranked #378 that year). Since 1997 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Duncan?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 9,474 newborn American boys was named Duncan. It scores 68/100 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.