Joe
Boy name · #991 in 2025 · Uniqueness 72/100
In 2025, 230 baby boys were named Joe, placing it at #991 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #597, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 7,826 boys born in 2025 was named Joe.
Babies named Joe per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Joe first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 731 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1936, when 8,023 boys were named Joe — good for #23 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Joe against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Joe in class?
Joe scores 72 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 Joe will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Joe is most common
Geography matters for names, and Joe is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Joes were TX (60), CA (28), NY (14), FL (10), GA (9). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Joe
Statistically, parents drawn to Joe tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Jerry, Eugene, Jimmy, Eddie, and Gene.
JerryEugeneJimmyEddieGeneBobbyLeeBilly
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Joe | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 230 | #991 |
| 2024 | 272 | #882 |
| 2023 | 256 | #909 |
| 2022 | 262 | #895 |
| 2021 | 310 | #794 |
| 2020 | 337 | #728 |
| 2019 | 350 | #707 |
| 2018 | 347 | #696 |
| 2017 | 365 | #684 |
| 2016 | 434 | #619 |
| 2015 | 460 | #597 |
| 2014 | 490 | #567 |
| 2013 | 476 | #555 |
| 2012 | 499 | #526 |
| 2011 | 536 | #490 |
| 2010 | 592 | #453 |
| 2009 | 607 | #453 |
| 2008 | 725 | #408 |
| 2007 | 732 | #402 |
| 2006 | 816 | #368 |
| 2005 | 800 | #370 |
| 2004 | 826 | #344 |
| 2003 | 899 | #327 |
| 2002 | 922 | #310 |
| 2001 | 965 | #302 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Joe a popular boy name?
Joe ranked #991 among boys in 2025 with 230 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #597.
When was the name Joe most popular?
Joe peaked in 1936, when 8,023 American boys received the name (ranked #23 that year). Since 1936 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Joe?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 7,826 newborn American boys was named Joe. It scores 72/100 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.