Kirk
Boy name · #2540 in 2025 · Uniqueness 81/100
Kirk is currently the #2540 boy name in the United States — 52 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #1691, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 34,615 boys born in 2025 was named Kirk.
The 145-year story
Kirk first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 6 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1962, when 2,560 boys were named Kirk — good for #138 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.
Babies named Kirk per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Kirk against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Kirk in class?
Kirk scores 81 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 Kirk will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Kirk is most common
State-level data for Kirk 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 Kirk
Statistically, parents drawn to Kirk tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Kurt, Kerry, Rick, Kent, and Kris.
KurtKerryRickKentKrisKarlKellyKen
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Kirk | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 52 | #2539 |
| 2024 | 52 | #2559 |
| 2023 | 52 | #2541 |
| 2022 | 55 | #2493 |
| 2021 | 67 | #2134 |
| 2020 | 67 | #2094 |
| 2019 | 76 | #1938 |
| 2018 | 70 | #2046 |
| 2017 | 95 | #1661 |
| 2016 | 80 | #1863 |
| 2015 | 92 | #1691 |
| 2014 | 104 | #1536 |
| 2013 | 112 | #1468 |
| 2012 | 97 | #1602 |
| 2011 | 96 | #1601 |
| 2010 | 102 | #1558 |
| 2009 | 111 | #1497 |
| 2008 | 95 | #1633 |
| 2007 | 124 | #1350 |
| 2006 | 121 | #1345 |
| 2005 | 141 | #1143 |
| 2004 | 140 | #1128 |
| 2003 | 158 | #1001 |
| 2002 | 161 | #976 |
| 2001 | 178 | #882 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Kirk a popular boy name?
Kirk ranked #2540 among boys in 2025 with 52 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1691.
When was the name Kirk most popular?
Kirk peaked in 1962, when 2,560 American boys received the name (ranked #138 that year). Since 1962 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Kirk?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 34,615 newborn American boys was named Kirk. It scores 81/100 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.