Declining since 2006, #1,733 for girls today.
Popularity of America since 1880
Babies named America per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 150 |
| 1890s | 154 |
| 1900s | 150 |
| 1910s | 268 |
| 1920s | 312 |
| 1930s | 166 |
| 1940s | 143 |
| 1950s | 148 |
| 1960s | 208 |
| 1970s | 491 |
| 1980s | 568 |
| 1990s | 1,353 |
| 2000s | 5,982 |
| 2010s | 2,777 |
| 2020s | 652 |
Meaning & origin
America first appeared in U.S. birth records as early as 1880, but it has never been a common name. It reached its highest popularity in 2002, ranking in the top 1000 for that year. Since 2006, its usage has been steadily falling; by 2025, it ranks 1733, with only 1 in 13737 newborns receiving the name. The name is most frequently given in Nevada, Arizona, and Texas. As a patriotic or geographical name, America carries a strong symbolic weight and is part of a broader trend of place-inspired names, though it remains relatively rare.
The name America is taken directly from the name of the continent, which itself is derived from the Latinized form of the Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci's first name. As a given name, America has been used sporadically since the 19th century, often as a patriotic or symbolic choice. It gained modest popularity in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, particularly for girls.
Where America is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ame, Rica, Merica
Variants: Amerika
Sibling names for America
Names that share America's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like America
Names whose popularity has moved with America's over the last 50 years.
