Trace
Boy name · #757 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Trace? In official American birth records, Trace has been tracked continuously since 1956, giving it 69 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 340 baby boys were named Trace, placing it at #757 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #801, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 5,294 boys born in 2025 was named Trace.
The 69-year story
Trace first appears in the Social Security records in 1956, when 17 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2008, when 534 boys were named Trace — good for #510 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 Trace per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Trace against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Trace in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Trace is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Trace will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Trace is most common
Geography matters for names, and Trace is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Trace is most common in LA (0.8 per 1,000), TN (0.5 per 1,000), OH (0.4 per 1,000), CO (0.4 per 1,000), IN (0.3 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.2 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Trace is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Trace
Statistically, parents drawn to Trace tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Reece, Drake, Reese, Pierce, and Chace.
ReeceDrakeReesePierceChaceSladeBlazeJustice
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Trace | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 340 | #757 |
| 2024 | 383 | #702 |
| 2023 | 404 | #672 |
| 2022 | 373 | #707 |
| 2021 | 348 | #735 |
| 2020 | 316 | #760 |
| 2019 | 302 | #775 |
| 2018 | 319 | #744 |
| 2017 | 266 | #833 |
| 2016 | 287 | #803 |
| 2015 | 291 | #801 |
| 2014 | 308 | #763 |
| 2013 | 382 | #642 |
| 2012 | 379 | #634 |
| 2011 | 437 | #573 |
| 2010 | 494 | #523 |
| 2009 | 505 | #531 |
| 2008 | 534 | #510 |
| 2007 | 437 | #585 |
| 2006 | 470 | #537 |
| 2005 | 445 | #543 |
| 2004 | 447 | #530 |
| 2003 | 496 | #494 |
| 2002 | 437 | #520 |
| 2001 | 369 | #563 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Trace?
In official American birth records, the name Trace first appeared in 1956 (over 69 years ago), when 17 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 69 years.
Is Trace a popular boy name?
Trace ranked #757 among boys in 2025 with 340 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #801.
When was the name Trace most popular?
Trace peaked in 2008, when 534 American boys received the name (ranked #510 that year). Since 2008 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Trace?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 5,294 newborn American boys was named Trace. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.