Sebastian
Boy name · #16 in 2025 · Very well-known
Sebastian is currently the #16 boy name in the United States — 8,605 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #35, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 209 boys born in 2025 was named Sebastian.
Babies named Sebastian per year. Source: SSA.
The 144-year story
Sebastian first appears in the Social Security records in 1881, when 6 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2016, when 10,309 boys were named Sebastian — good for #23 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Sebastian against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Sebastian in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Sebastian is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very well-known". A low score means broad familiarity: teachers will spell it right, and your child may share it with a classmate. For many families that's a feature, not a bug.
Where Sebastian is most common
Geography matters for names, and Sebastian is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Sebastian is most common in CA (11 per 1,000), NM (11 per 1,000), DC (9.9 per 1,000), NV (9.4 per 1,000), WY (9.2 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 5.9 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Sebastian is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Nicknames & related forms of Sebastian
Sebastian carries a whole family of nicknames and spellings — names that will feel like the same name in a classroom.
SebastianSebBash
Names like Sebastian
Statistically, parents drawn to Sebastian tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Julian, Hudson, Santiago, Jackson, and Owen.
JulianHudsonSantiagoJacksonOwenRomanGraysonLucas
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Sebastian | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8,605 | #16 |
| 2024 | 8,593 | #14 |
| 2023 | 8,892 | #13 |
| 2022 | 9,403 | #13 |
| 2021 | 8,932 | #19 |
| 2020 | 9,029 | #19 |
| 2019 | 9,884 | #18 |
| 2018 | 10,137 | #18 |
| 2017 | 10,197 | #23 |
| 2016 | 10,309 | #23 |
| 2015 | 9,632 | #35 |
| 2014 | 9,315 | #34 |
| 2013 | 7,553 | #46 |
| 2012 | 6,744 | #64 |
| 2011 | 6,551 | #68 |
| 2010 | 6,366 | #68 |
| 2009 | 5,993 | #70 |
| 2008 | 6,041 | #74 |
| 2007 | 6,274 | #73 |
| 2006 | 6,287 | #76 |
| 2005 | 4,956 | #86 |
| 2004 | 4,521 | #97 |
| 2003 | 4,649 | #93 |
| 2002 | 5,137 | #80 |
| 2001 | 4,979 | #81 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Sebastian a popular boy name?
Sebastian ranked #16 among boys in 2025 with 8,605 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #35.
When was the name Sebastian most popular?
Sebastian peaked in 2016, when 10,309 American boys received the name (ranked #23 that year). Since 2016 the name has recovered some ground.
How rare is the name Sebastian?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 209 newborn American boys was named Sebastian. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very well-known".
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.