Declining since 2001, #991 for boys today.
Popularity of Blaine since 1880
Babies named Blaine per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2001, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Blaine's real moment was 1884.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 175 |
| 1890s | 96 |
| 1900s | 84 |
| 1910s | 824 |
| 1920s | 1,483 |
| 1930s | 1,397 |
| 1940s | 1,624 |
| 1950s | 3,102 |
| 1960s | 3,602 |
| 1970s | 2,604 |
| 1980s | 3,669 |
| 1990s | 4,622 |
| 2000s | 4,799 |
| 2010s | 3,667 |
| 2020s | 1,323 |
Meaning & origin
Blaine is a Scottish-derived surname-turned-given name, most common for boys. It first appeared in U.S. records in 1880 and reached its peak rank of 1884, when it was most popular. In 2025, it ranked 991st, with a frequency of 1 in 7,426 births. Usage has been falling since 2001, though it remains in modest use. Top states for Blaine include Nevada, Tennessee, and Louisiana. The name gained visibility through 19th-century politician James G. Blaine and later through fictional characters, though its etymology traces to a Gaelic word for 'yellow'.
Blaine is derived from a Scottish surname, which itself may come from the Gaelic word 'bláth' meaning 'yellow' or 'blànan' meaning 'little yellow one'. The surname was adopted as a given name in the 19th century, possibly influenced by the political prominence of James G. Blaine, a U.S. politician in the late 1800s.
Where Blaine is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys 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
Variants: Blayne
Sibling names for Blaine
Names that share Blaine's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Blaine
Names whose popularity has moved with Blaine's over the last 50 years.
