Hunter
Girl name · #841 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Hunter? In official American birth records, Hunter has been tracked continuously since 1902, giving it 123 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 323 baby girls were named Hunter, placing it at #841 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #791, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 5,573 girls born in 2025 was named Hunter.
The 123-year story
Hunter first appears in the Social Security records in 1902, when 6 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1998, when 997 girls were named Hunter — good for #304 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 Hunter per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Hunter against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Hunter in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Hunter is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Hunter will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Hunter is most common
Geography matters for names, and Hunter is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Hunter is most common in OR (0.8 per 1,000), CO (0.6 per 1,000), TN (0.4 per 1,000), GA (0.3 per 1,000), PA (0.3 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.2 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Hunter is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Hunter
Statistically, parents drawn to Hunter tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Chandler, Skyler, Haley, Montana, and Hanna.
ChandlerSkylerHaleyMontanaHannaKianaCarsonMikaela
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Hunter | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 323 | #841 |
| 2024 | 307 | #878 |
| 2023 | 347 | #806 |
| 2022 | 364 | #782 |
| 2021 | 340 | #816 |
| 2020 | 329 | #830 |
| 2019 | 311 | #861 |
| 2018 | 329 | #825 |
| 2017 | 384 | #736 |
| 2016 | 338 | #842 |
| 2015 | 356 | #791 |
| 2014 | 364 | #768 |
| 2013 | 273 | #929 |
| 2012 | 208 | #1179 |
| 2011 | 197 | #1217 |
| 2010 | 178 | #1317 |
| 2009 | 186 | #1301 |
| 2008 | 200 | #1257 |
| 2007 | 212 | #1194 |
| 2006 | 244 | #1050 |
| 2005 | 236 | #1027 |
| 2004 | 354 | #742 |
| 2003 | 324 | #764 |
| 2002 | 472 | #561 |
| 2001 | 628 | #441 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Hunter?
In official American birth records, the name Hunter first appeared in 1902 (over 123 years ago), when 6 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 123 years.
Is Hunter a popular girl name?
Hunter ranked #841 among girls in 2025 with 323 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #791.
When was the name Hunter most popular?
Hunter peaked in 1998, when 997 American girls received the name (ranked #304 that year). Since 1998 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Hunter?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 5,573 newborn American girls was named Hunter. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.