Gordon
Boy name · #1051 in 2025 · Uniqueness 66/100
Gordon is currently the #1051 boy name in the United States — 209 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #812, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 8,612 boys born in 2025 was named Gordon.
The 145-year story
Gordon first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 51 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1952, when 2,829 boys were named Gordon — good for #110 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 Gordon per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Gordon against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Gordon in class?
Gordon scores 66 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 Gordon is most common
Geography matters for names, and Gordon is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Gordons were NY (20), MI (14), MN (13), PA (12), CA (11). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Gordon
Statistically, parents drawn to Gordon tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Don, Byron, Nelson, Gary, and Glenn.
DonByronNelsonGaryGlennGerardGeraldAllan
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Gordon | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 209 | #1051 |
| 2024 | 200 | #1087 |
| 2023 | 223 | #987 |
| 2022 | 233 | #971 |
| 2021 | 243 | #929 |
| 2020 | 225 | #965 |
| 2019 | 267 | #841 |
| 2018 | 271 | #824 |
| 2017 | 275 | #818 |
| 2016 | 220 | #946 |
| 2015 | 279 | #812 |
| 2014 | 224 | #938 |
| 2013 | 189 | #1028 |
| 2012 | 195 | #1011 |
| 2011 | 183 | #1037 |
| 2010 | 180 | #1068 |
| 2009 | 183 | #1043 |
| 2008 | 212 | #949 |
| 2007 | 196 | #994 |
| 2006 | 215 | #905 |
| 2005 | 208 | #877 |
| 2004 | 246 | #752 |
| 2003 | 235 | #757 |
| 2002 | 275 | #673 |
| 2001 | 249 | #708 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Gordon a popular boy name?
Gordon ranked #1051 among boys in 2025 with 209 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #812.
When was the name Gordon most popular?
Gordon peaked in 1952, when 2,829 American boys received the name (ranked #110 that year). Since 1952 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Gordon?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 8,612 newborn American boys was named Gordon. It scores 66/100 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.