Syed
Boy name · #1218 in 2025 · Rare
In 2025, 166 baby boys were named Syed, placing it at #1218 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1162, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 10,843 boys born in 2025 was named Syed.
The 60-year story
Syed first appears in the Social Security records in 1965, when 7 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2000, when 224 boys were named Syed — good for #753 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.
Babies named Syed per year. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Syed against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Syed in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Syed is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Syed will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Syed is most common
Geography matters for names, and Syed is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Syed is most common in NY (0.4 per 1,000), VA (0.4 per 1,000), IL (0.3 per 1,000), TX (0.2 per 1,000), CA (0.1 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.1 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Syed is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Syed
Statistically, parents drawn to Syed tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Obed, Saeed, Said, Skye, and Saad.
ObedSaeedSaidSkyeSaadWaleedStoneAhmad
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Syed | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 166 | #1217 |
| 2024 | 105 | #1620 |
| 2023 | 145 | #1315 |
| 2022 | 141 | #1330 |
| 2021 | 127 | #1431 |
| 2020 | 134 | #1335 |
| 2019 | 126 | #1401 |
| 2018 | 137 | #1324 |
| 2017 | 148 | #1236 |
| 2016 | 157 | #1203 |
| 2015 | 160 | #1162 |
| 2014 | 139 | #1276 |
| 2013 | 156 | #1155 |
| 2012 | 140 | #1258 |
| 2011 | 130 | #1309 |
| 2010 | 147 | #1209 |
| 2009 | 137 | #1278 |
| 2008 | 156 | #1161 |
| 2007 | 156 | #1144 |
| 2006 | 141 | #1190 |
| 2005 | 135 | #1182 |
| 2004 | 141 | #1124 |
| 2003 | 178 | #924 |
| 2002 | 168 | #954 |
| 2001 | 167 | #926 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Syed a popular boy name?
Syed ranked #1218 among boys in 2025 with 166 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1162.
When was the name Syed most popular?
Syed peaked in 2000, when 224 American boys received the name (ranked #753 that year). Since 2000 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Syed?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 10,843 newborn American boys was named Syed. 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.