Holding steady, #8,243 for boys today.
Popularity of Anselm since 1912
Babies named Anselm per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2016, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Anselm's real moment was 1912.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 43 |
| 1920s | 49 |
| 1930s | 0 |
| 1940s | 15 |
| 1950s | 14 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 8 |
| 1980s | 5 |
| 1990s | 6 |
| 2000s | 42 |
| 2010s | 73 |
| 2020s | 49 |
Meaning & origin
Anselm is a rare and distinguished name with deep Germanic roots, meaning 'protected by God' or 'divine helmet'. First recorded in U.S. data in 1912, it reached its peak popularity that same year and has since become extremely uncommon, ranking 8,243 in 2025 with an estimated 1 in 189,786 boys receiving the name. Its trajectory has been stable over recent decades, neither surging nor declining significantly. The name is strongly associated with Saint Anselm of Canterbury, a major figure in medieval theology and philosophy. Though never widely used in the United States, Anselm carries a scholarly, venerable aura that appeals to parents seeking a name with historical weight and a clear, strong meaning.
Anselm derives from the Old High German elements 'ans' meaning 'god' and 'helm' meaning 'helmet' or 'protection', thus 'divine helmet' or 'protected by God'. The name was popularized by Saint Anselm of Canterbury (11th century), a Benedictine monk, philosopher, and Archbishop of Canterbury. It has been used in England since the Middle Ages and remains more common in German-speaking countries.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ans, Ansy, Selmy
Variants: Anselmo, Anselmus
Sibling names for Anselm
Names that share Anselm's style, for a brother or sister.
