Rising since 1998, #3,757 for boys today.
Popularity of Becket since 1969
Babies named Becket per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 6 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 108 |
| 2010s | 282 |
| 2020s | 193 |
Meaning & origin
Becket is a rare given name in the United States, first recorded in 1969 and never ranking in the top 1,000. Its recent popularity has been rising since 1998, reaching a peak rank of 3,757 in 2023. The name remains uncommon, with about 1 in every 58,899 boys receiving it. Its use is concentrated among families seeking a distinctive surname-style first name with historical depth, particularly due to its association with Thomas Becket. While no top state data is available for Becket, it is most likely found in regions where surname-as-first-name trends are strong, such as the Northeast and West Coast.
Becket is derived from the Middle English 'beket', a diminutive of 'bee', referring to a beehouse or skep. It originated as an English surname, most famously borne by Thomas Becket, the 12th-century Archbishop of Canterbury. As a given name, it has been used sparingly since the late 20th century, possibly influenced by the surname tradition and the modern taste for occupational and nature-related names.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Beck, Becky
Variants: Beckett
Sibling names for Becket
Names that share Becket's style, for a brother or sister.
