Ken
Boy name · #3246 in 2025 · Uniqueness 88/100
In 2025, 36 baby boys were named Ken, placing it at #3246 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1753, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 50,000 boys born in 2025 was named Ken.
Babies named Ken per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 125-year story
Ken first appears in the Social Security records in 1900, when 7 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1960, when 1,775 boys were named Ken — good for #177 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 Ken against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Ken in class?
Ken scores 88 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 Ken will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Ken is most common
State-level data for Ken is sparse in 2025 — the name's footprint is too small for most states to report (the SSA suppresses counts under 5 per state for privacy).
Names like Ken
Statistically, parents drawn to Ken tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Daren, Glen, Dan, Loren, and Jim.
DarenGlenDanLorenJimKirkDarinTed
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Ken | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 36 | #3240 |
| 2024 | 36 | #3272 |
| 2023 | 37 | #3228 |
| 2022 | 50 | #2648 |
| 2021 | 52 | #2523 |
| 2020 | 56 | #2366 |
| 2019 | 51 | #2556 |
| 2018 | 62 | #2210 |
| 2017 | 63 | #2154 |
| 2016 | 90 | #1724 |
| 2015 | 87 | #1753 |
| 2014 | 85 | #1766 |
| 2013 | 75 | #1878 |
| 2012 | 107 | #1498 |
| 2011 | 88 | #1687 |
| 2010 | 68 | #2010 |
| 2009 | 104 | #1562 |
| 2008 | 108 | #1504 |
| 2007 | 120 | #1376 |
| 2006 | 135 | #1239 |
| 2005 | 117 | #1302 |
| 2004 | 153 | #1053 |
| 2003 | 110 | #1282 |
| 2002 | 134 | #1094 |
| 2001 | 124 | #1129 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ken a popular boy name?
Ken ranked #3246 among boys in 2025 with 36 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1753.
When was the name Ken most popular?
Ken peaked in 1960, when 1,775 American boys received the name (ranked #177 that year). Since 1960 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Ken?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 50,000 newborn American boys was named Ken. It scores 88/100 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.