Jose
Boy name · #95 in 2025 · Uniqueness 43/100
In 2025, 3,678 baby boys were named Jose, placing it at #95 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #80, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 489 boys born in 2025 was named Jose.
The 145-year story
Jose first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 84 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2002, when 12,868 boys were named Jose — good for #30 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 Jose per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Jose against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Jose in class?
Jose scores 43 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 Jose is most common
Geography matters for names, and Jose is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Joses were TX (991), CA (681), FL (212), AZ (185), IL (114). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Jose
Statistically, parents drawn to Jose tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Juan, Jesus, Jorge, Jesse, and Luis.
JuanJesusJorgeJesseLuisIanCarlosJacob
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Jose | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,678 | #95 |
| 2024 | 3,784 | #91 |
| 2023 | 3,725 | #93 |
| 2022 | 4,031 | #88 |
| 2021 | 4,002 | #89 |
| 2020 | 3,855 | #94 |
| 2019 | 4,135 | #92 |
| 2018 | 4,318 | #89 |
| 2017 | 4,815 | #81 |
| 2016 | 5,119 | #77 |
| 2015 | 5,177 | #80 |
| 2014 | 5,485 | #76 |
| 2013 | 5,627 | #76 |
| 2012 | 6,041 | #72 |
| 2011 | 6,766 | #65 |
| 2010 | 7,703 | #52 |
| 2009 | 8,818 | #43 |
| 2008 | 9,826 | #40 |
| 2007 | 11,252 | #35 |
| 2006 | 11,604 | #30 |
| 2005 | 12,065 | #30 |
| 2004 | 12,187 | #28 |
| 2003 | 12,394 | #30 |
| 2002 | 12,868 | #30 |
| 2001 | 12,144 | #34 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Jose a popular boy name?
Jose ranked #95 among boys in 2025 with 3,678 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #80.
When was the name Jose most popular?
Jose peaked in 2002, when 12,868 American boys received the name (ranked #30 that year). Since 2002 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Jose?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 489 newborn American boys was named Jose. It scores 43/100 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.