Eugene
Boy name · #943 in 2025 · Uniqueness 65/100
In 2025, 249 baby boys were named Eugene, placing it at #943 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #826, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 7,229 boys born in 2025 was named Eugene.
The 145-year story
Eugene first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 328 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1927, when 9,742 boys were named Eugene — good for #20 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. 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 Eugene per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Eugene against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Eugene in class?
Eugene scores 65 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 Eugene is most common
Geography matters for names, and Eugene is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Eugenes were CA (23), TX (22), FL (12), NY (12), CO (10). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Eugene
Statistically, parents drawn to Eugene tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Gene, Ernest, Edmund, Melvin, and Alfred.
GeneErnestEdmundMelvinAlfredWallaceHaroldEddie
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Eugene | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 249 | #943 |
| 2024 | 276 | #873 |
| 2023 | 251 | #919 |
| 2022 | 248 | #929 |
| 2021 | 279 | #850 |
| 2020 | 272 | #839 |
| 2019 | 296 | #785 |
| 2018 | 254 | #862 |
| 2017 | 274 | #820 |
| 2016 | 300 | #790 |
| 2015 | 274 | #826 |
| 2014 | 291 | #790 |
| 2013 | 291 | #770 |
| 2012 | 315 | #735 |
| 2011 | 263 | #825 |
| 2010 | 287 | #773 |
| 2009 | 312 | #742 |
| 2008 | 341 | #695 |
| 2007 | 351 | #677 |
| 2006 | 352 | #654 |
| 2005 | 340 | #639 |
| 2004 | 383 | #582 |
| 2003 | 383 | #576 |
| 2002 | 405 | #547 |
| 2001 | 422 | #525 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Eugene a popular boy name?
Eugene ranked #943 among boys in 2025 with 249 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #826.
When was the name Eugene most popular?
Eugene peaked in 1927, when 9,742 American boys received the name (ranked #20 that year). Since 1927 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Eugene?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 7,229 newborn American boys was named Eugene. It scores 65/100 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.