Declining since 2019, #9,714 for boys today.
Popularity of Boss since 1881
Babies named Boss per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2018, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Boss's real moment was 1894.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 40 |
| 1890s | 72 |
| 1900s | 22 |
| 1910s | 50 |
| 1920s | 40 |
| 1930s | 6 |
| 1940s | 5 |
| 1950s | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 28 |
| 2010s | 123 |
| 2020s | 65 |
Meaning & origin
Boss is an occupational surname that transitioned to given-name use in the late 19th century. It first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1881, and its peak year was 1894. Since 2019, the name has been falling in popularity. In the current data year of 2025, Boss ranks 9,714 with approximately 1 in 244,011 boys receiving the name. Despite its strong, authoritative sound as a common English word, it has never been widespread and remains a rare choice.
Boss is an occupational surname that originated in medieval England, derived from the Middle Dutch word 'baes', meaning master or overseer. It was likely given to someone who held authority over a household or business, or as a nickname for a domineering person. The name has been in limited use as a given name since the late 19th century, possibly influenced by the English word 'boss'.
Sibling names for Boss
Names that share Boss's style, for a brother or sister.
