Norman
Boy name · #1196 in 2025 · Rare
Norman ranks #1196 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 169 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1231, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 10,651 boys born in 2025 was named Norman.
The 145-year story
Norman first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 102 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1928, when 5,590 boys were named Norman — good for #39 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 Norman per year. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Norman against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Norman in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Norman is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Norman will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Norman is most common
State-level data for Norman is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Norman
Statistically, parents drawn to Norman tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Herman, Melvin, Vernon, Marvin, and Milton.
HermanMelvinVernonMarvinMiltonEugeneCarmenHarold
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Norman | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 169 | #1196 |
| 2024 | 149 | #1308 |
| 2023 | 138 | #1360 |
| 2022 | 168 | #1191 |
| 2021 | 170 | #1165 |
| 2020 | 174 | #1127 |
| 2019 | 160 | #1193 |
| 2018 | 156 | #1202 |
| 2017 | 172 | #1116 |
| 2016 | 183 | #1077 |
| 2015 | 148 | #1231 |
| 2014 | 174 | #1097 |
| 2013 | 160 | #1135 |
| 2012 | 160 | #1145 |
| 2011 | 130 | #1309 |
| 2010 | 147 | #1209 |
| 2009 | 164 | #1125 |
| 2008 | 196 | #995 |
| 2007 | 192 | #1005 |
| 2006 | 182 | #1008 |
| 2005 | 197 | #906 |
| 2004 | 211 | #842 |
| 2003 | 220 | #791 |
| 2002 | 210 | #810 |
| 2001 | 228 | #756 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Norman a popular boy name?
Norman ranked #1196 among boys in 2025 with 169 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1231.
When was the name Norman most popular?
Norman peaked in 1928, when 5,590 American boys received the name (ranked #39 that year). Since 1928 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Norman?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 10,651 newborn American boys was named Norman. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it 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.