Holding steady.
Popularity of Burns since 1886
Babies named Burns per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1920, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Burns's real moment was 1891.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 5 |
| 1890s | 12 |
| 1900s | 0 |
| 1910s | 123 |
| 1920s | 168 |
| 1930s | 97 |
| 1940s | 69 |
| 1950s | 70 |
| 1960s | 29 |
| 1970s | 5 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 6 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
The name Burns, a Scottish surname meaning 'dweller near a stream', has been used as a first name since at least 1886. It peaked in popularity in 1891 at rank 303, but has since fallen out of common use, reflecting its nature as a rare surname-style given name. The trajectory has been stable over recent years, with no signs of revival, and it remains a distinctive choice for families honoring Scottish heritage.
Burns is a Scottish surname derived from the Old English 'burna', meaning 'stream'. It originated as a topographic name for someone who lived near a stream. The name gained prominence through the poet Robert Burns, though as a given name it has remained rare in the United States, with peak usage in the 1890s.
Sibling names for Burns
Names that share Burns's style, for a brother or sister.
