Declining since 2022, #9,714 for boys today.
Popularity of Bates since 1919
Babies named Bates per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 6 |
| 1920s | 30 |
| 1930s | 7 |
| 1940s | 0 |
| 1950s | 5 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 6 |
| 2010s | 67 |
| 2020s | 37 |
Meaning & origin
Bates is a rare and distinctive first name, most familiar as a surname. It first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1919, but its highest level of use came in 2014, when it ranked 9,714th. Since 2022, its frequency has been declining. As a given name, Bates retains a surname-like formality, similar to other patronymic names like Jones or Davis. Its rarity means most boys named Bates will likely share a name with few peers, though the surname association may lead to it being perceived as unconventional. The name's meaning ties to Bartholomew, an apostolic name with Aramaic roots. Despite its low current usage, Bates has a crisp, one-syllable sound that fits modern naming trends favoring short, strong names.
Bates is an English patronymic surname derived from the medieval given name Bate, itself a diminutive of Bartholomew. Bartholomew originates from the Aramaic bar-Talmay, meaning 'son of Talmay' (furrowed land). The surname Bates emerged in the Middle Ages and has been used as a given name occasionally since the 20th century.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Bateson
Sibling names for Bates
Names that share Bates's style, for a brother or sister.
