How Many People Are Named French?
Complete statistics for the name French: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
French is a very rare male name, with only 277 people bearing it in the US today, making up just 1 in 1,190,334 Americans. This name has a strong generational skew, with 91% of its bearers being over 60 years old.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life-path number 9 symbolizes humanitarianism, compassion, and spiritual enlightenment.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 95All 1,129 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1920Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Stable
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 French Through the Generations
French, a name steeped in history, has seen its peak popularity in 1920 when there were 35 births. Over the decades, it has maintained a stable presence, becoming a classic, old-school choice. Today, the majority of those named French are over 60, with only a handful under 30, indicating a name that's deeply rooted in the past but still cherished by some.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing French's English surname used as a first name roots
📄 About the Name French
How Many People Have the Name French?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 61,329 people in the United States currently share the name French. That works out to roughly 1 in every 5,404 Americans, placing it in the Uncommon category.
Is French a Common or Rare Name?
French is classified as Uncommon. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name French Mean?
French means "English occupational surname (one who rides)" and comes from English surname used as a first name origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 9.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of French in SSA data, approximately 100% are male and 0% are female.
When Was French Most Popular?
The name French reached peak popularity in 1920, with 35 babies registered that year. Current trend: Stable.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named French?
Approximately 61,329 people named French live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 61,329. That works out to roughly 1 in 5,404 Americans.
Is French a rare name?
French is classified as Uncommon in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 5,404 Americans has this name.
What does the name French mean?
French means "English occupational surname (one who rides)" and comes from English surname used as a first name origins.
Is French more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 100% of people named French are male and 0% are female.
When was French most popular?
French peaked in 1920 with 35 births that year. Current trend: Stable.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.