Norman
Boy name · #1196 in 2025 · Uniqueness 66/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Norman against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Norman in class?
Norman scores 66 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 Norman is most common
Geography matters for names, and Norman is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Normans were MI (13), NY (12), TX (9), FL (8), OH (8). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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. It scores 66/100 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.