Esteban
Boy name · #461 in 2025 · Distinctive
Esteban is currently the #461 boy name in the United States — 673 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #399, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 2,675 boys born in 2025 was named Esteban.
Babies named Esteban per year. Source: SSA.
The 134-year story
Esteban first appears in the Social Security records in 1891, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2005, when 1,024 boys were named Esteban — good for #320 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 Esteban against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Esteban in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Esteban 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 Esteban is most common
Geography matters for names, and Esteban is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Esteban is most common in AZ (1 per 1,000), TX (1 per 1,000), CA (0.9 per 1,000), NV (0.9 per 1,000), MD (0.4 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.5 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Esteban is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Esteban
Statistically, parents drawn to Esteban tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Donovan, Fabian, Dorian, Adan, and Cristian.
DonovanFabianDorianAdanCristianKeeganEmanuelTristan
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Esteban | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 673 | #461 |
| 2024 | 682 | #458 |
| 2023 | 703 | #442 |
| 2022 | 718 | #431 |
| 2021 | 716 | #435 |
| 2020 | 633 | #471 |
| 2019 | 685 | #446 |
| 2018 | 687 | #440 |
| 2017 | 725 | #428 |
| 2016 | 762 | #416 |
| 2015 | 775 | #399 |
| 2014 | 790 | #395 |
| 2013 | 761 | #392 |
| 2012 | 760 | #392 |
| 2011 | 764 | #382 |
| 2010 | 762 | #378 |
| 2009 | 798 | #381 |
| 2008 | 853 | #364 |
| 2007 | 893 | #354 |
| 2006 | 972 | #331 |
| 2005 | 1,024 | #320 |
| 2004 | 810 | #351 |
| 2003 | 843 | #338 |
| 2002 | 817 | #336 |
| 2001 | 827 | #334 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Esteban a popular boy name?
Esteban ranked #461 among boys in 2025 with 673 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #399.
When was the name Esteban most popular?
Esteban peaked in 2005, when 1,024 American boys received the name (ranked #320 that year). Since 2005 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Esteban?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 2,675 newborn American boys was named Esteban. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it 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.