Jordan
Boy name · #131 in 2025 · Well-known
How old is the name Jordan? In official American birth records, Jordan has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 2,732 baby boys were named Jordan, placing it at #131 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #59, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 659 boys born in 2025 was named Jordan.
Babies named Jordan per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Jordan first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 23 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1990, when 16,137 boys were named Jordan — good for #29 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 Jordan against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Jordan in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Jordan is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "well-known". A low score means broad familiarity: teachers will spell it right, and your child may share it with a classmate. For many families that's a feature, not a bug.
Where Jordan is most common
Geography matters for names, and Jordan is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Jordan is most common in RI (3.5 per 1,000), MA (2.5 per 1,000), AR (2.5 per 1,000), CT (2.3 per 1,000), NJ (2.2 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 1.9 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Jordan is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Jordan
Statistically, parents drawn to Jordan tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Jonathan, Juan, Austin, Johnathan, and Christian.
JonathanJuanAustinJohnathanChristianJustinRyanEvan
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Jordan | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,732 | #131 |
| 2024 | 3,336 | #104 |
| 2023 | 3,655 | #96 |
| 2022 | 3,919 | #92 |
| 2021 | 4,026 | #88 |
| 2020 | 4,287 | #82 |
| 2019 | 4,344 | #89 |
| 2018 | 4,703 | #80 |
| 2017 | 5,176 | #73 |
| 2016 | 5,680 | #65 |
| 2015 | 6,327 | #59 |
| 2014 | 6,903 | #55 |
| 2013 | 7,220 | #53 |
| 2012 | 7,828 | #48 |
| 2011 | 8,096 | #46 |
| 2010 | 8,253 | #46 |
| 2009 | 8,669 | #45 |
| 2008 | 9,099 | #48 |
| 2007 | 10,060 | #44 |
| 2006 | 9,935 | #46 |
| 2005 | 9,398 | #46 |
| 2004 | 9,560 | #43 |
| 2003 | 10,331 | #38 |
| 2002 | 11,152 | #37 |
| 2001 | 10,815 | #39 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Jordan?
In official American birth records, the name Jordan first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 23 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Jordan a popular boy name?
Jordan ranked #131 among boys in 2025 with 2,732 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #59.
When was the name Jordan most popular?
Jordan peaked in 1990, when 16,137 American boys received the name (ranked #29 that year). Since 1990 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Jordan?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 659 newborn American boys was named Jordan. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "well-known".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.