A 1980s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Atari since 1979
Babies named Atari per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0 | 10 |
| 1980s | 30 | 44 |
| 1990s | 0 | 0 |
| 2000s | 11 | 17 |
| 2010s | 7 | 14 |
| 2020s | 10 | 10 |
Meaning & origin
Atari entered the U.S. baby name landscape in 1979, just a few years after the founding of the iconic video game company. It reached its peak popularity in 1982, likely riding the wave of the arcade and home console boom. After declining for decades, the name has experienced a revival since 2022, reflecting a broader trend of retro and tech-inspired names. Despite its niche appeal, Atari remains an uncommon choice: in the most recent year of data, 2025, it ranked 12,008th, with roughly 1 in 341,615 newborns receiving the name. Its trajectory shows a steady increase in recent years, signaling renewed interest among parents seeking a unique, modern name with a nod to gaming history.
Atari is a modern name taken directly from the Japanese video game company founded in 1972. The word 'atari' (当たり) in Japanese means 'hit' or 'success', originating from the board game Go to describe a move that threatens to capture a stone. The name was popularized as a given name following the brand's prominence in the 1970s and 1980s, though it was adopted in the United States before Japan.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ari, Tari
Sibling names for Atari
Names that share Atari's style, for a brother or sister.
