Spencer
Boy name · #360 in 2025 · Distinctive
Spencer is currently the #360 boy name in the United States — 908 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #252, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,982 boys born in 2025 was named Spencer.
Babies named Spencer per year. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Spencer first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 35 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1998, when 4,619 boys were named Spencer — good for #84 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 Spencer against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Spencer in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Spencer is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Spencer is most common
Geography matters for names, and Spencer is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Spencer is most common in WV (1.8 per 1,000), MO (1.4 per 1,000), AR (1.1 per 1,000), UT (1.1 per 1,000), MI (1 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.6 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Spencer is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Spencer
Statistically, parents drawn to Spencer tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Tanner, Javier, Skyler, Tyler, and Sergio.
TannerJavierSkylerTylerSergioTrevorChandlerRicardo
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Spencer | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 908 | #360 |
| 2024 | 845 | #384 |
| 2023 | 903 | #361 |
| 2022 | 990 | #338 |
| 2021 | 1,050 | #315 |
| 2020 | 1,046 | #317 |
| 2019 | 1,038 | #321 |
| 2018 | 1,117 | #307 |
| 2017 | 1,212 | #292 |
| 2016 | 1,371 | #267 |
| 2015 | 1,433 | #252 |
| 2014 | 1,520 | #247 |
| 2013 | 1,459 | #248 |
| 2012 | 1,536 | #234 |
| 2011 | 1,585 | #226 |
| 2010 | 1,555 | #227 |
| 2009 | 1,696 | #217 |
| 2008 | 2,092 | #191 |
| 2007 | 2,365 | #173 |
| 2006 | 2,186 | #184 |
| 2005 | 2,317 | #177 |
| 2004 | 2,664 | #151 |
| 2003 | 2,908 | #139 |
| 2002 | 3,448 | #110 |
| 2001 | 3,732 | #103 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Spencer a popular boy name?
Spencer ranked #360 among boys in 2025 with 908 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #252.
When was the name Spencer most popular?
Spencer peaked in 1998, when 4,619 American boys received the name (ranked #84 that year). Since 1998 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Spencer?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,982 newborn American boys was named Spencer. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it 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.