German
Boy name · #1539 in 2025 · Uniqueness 70/100
German ranks #1539 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 112 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1190, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 16,071 boys born in 2025 was named German.
Babies named German per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 143-year story
German first appears in the Social Security records in 1882, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1991, when 304 boys were named German — good for #581 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 German against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another German in class?
German scores 70 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 German will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where German is most common
Geography matters for names, and German is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Germans were CA (23), TX (22), AZ (10), NC (7), FL (5). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like German
Statistically, parents drawn to German tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Coleman, Keenan, Hernan, Stefan, and Jovan.
ColemanKeenanHernanStefanJovanEfrainDuncanDarian
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named German | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 112 | #1539 |
| 2024 | 102 | #1650 |
| 2023 | 123 | #1465 |
| 2022 | 124 | #1457 |
| 2021 | 115 | #1529 |
| 2020 | 121 | #1423 |
| 2019 | 132 | #1354 |
| 2018 | 161 | #1181 |
| 2017 | 152 | #1207 |
| 2016 | 171 | #1130 |
| 2015 | 155 | #1190 |
| 2014 | 161 | #1166 |
| 2013 | 150 | #1192 |
| 2012 | 166 | #1111 |
| 2011 | 150 | #1178 |
| 2010 | 187 | #1036 |
| 2009 | 215 | #945 |
| 2008 | 247 | #861 |
| 2007 | 215 | #919 |
| 2006 | 237 | #847 |
| 2005 | 251 | #780 |
| 2004 | 216 | #824 |
| 2003 | 266 | #706 |
| 2002 | 226 | #762 |
| 2001 | 274 | #664 |
Frequently asked questions
Is German a popular boy name?
German ranked #1539 among boys in 2025 with 112 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1190.
When was the name German most popular?
German peaked in 1991, when 304 American boys received the name (ranked #581 that year). Since 1991 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name German?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 16,071 newborn American boys was named German. It scores 70/100 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.