Journey
Girl name · #411 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Journey? In official American birth records, Journey has been tracked continuously since 1981, giving it 44 years of documented American history.
Journey is currently the #411 girl name in the United States — 757 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #274, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 2,378 girls born in 2025 was named Journey.
The 44-year story
Journey first appears in the Social Security records in 1981, when 7 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2018, when 1,397 girls were named Journey — good for #226 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 Journey per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Journey against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Journey in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Journey is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Journey is most common
Geography matters for names, and Journey is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Journey is most common in AL (1.4 per 1,000), MS (1.3 per 1,000), GA (1 per 1,000), AR (1 per 1,000), OK (1 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.6 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Journey is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Journey
Statistically, parents drawn to Journey tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Finley, Brinley, Kensley, Ainsley, and Charley.
FinleyBrinleyKensleyAinsleyCharleyPresleyHarleyMckinley
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Journey | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 757 | #411 |
| 2024 | 961 | #320 |
| 2023 | 933 | #331 |
| 2022 | 1,025 | #312 |
| 2021 | 1,178 | #264 |
| 2020 | 1,095 | #292 |
| 2019 | 1,298 | #245 |
| 2018 | 1,397 | #226 |
| 2017 | 1,167 | #276 |
| 2016 | 1,219 | #262 |
| 2015 | 1,157 | #274 |
| 2014 | 1,126 | #288 |
| 2013 | 960 | #335 |
| 2012 | 958 | #327 |
| 2011 | 867 | #369 |
| 2010 | 754 | #419 |
| 2009 | 613 | #498 |
| 2008 | 527 | #589 |
| 2007 | 422 | #690 |
| 2006 | 331 | #821 |
| 2005 | 343 | #772 |
| 2004 | 259 | #930 |
| 2003 | 265 | #898 |
| 2002 | 239 | #936 |
| 2001 | 235 | #940 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Journey?
In official American birth records, the name Journey first appeared in 1981 (over 44 years ago), when 7 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 44 years.
Is Journey a popular girl name?
Journey ranked #411 among girls in 2025 with 757 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #274.
When was the name Journey most popular?
Journey peaked in 2018, when 1,397 American girls received the name (ranked #226 that year). Since 2018 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Journey?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 2,378 newborn American girls was named Journey. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.