Holding steady.
Popularity of Detroit since 1914
Babies named Detroit per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 35 |
| 1920s | 51 |
| 1930s | 12 |
| 1940s | 5 |
| 1950s | 10 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 5 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 5 |
| 2010s | 13 |
| 2020s | 12 |
Meaning & origin
Detroit is an unconventional given name drawn from the major U.S. city. Its recorded use is minimal, first appearing in Social Security data in 1914. The name reached its peak year in 1919, coinciding with the city's boom as an automotive hub. Since then, it has become virtually nonexistent as a personal name, with no recent rank data. The trajectory over the past century has been stable at a near-zero usage level. As a geographic name without a traditional meaning, Detroit remains a highly unusual choice, used only a handful of times historically.
Detroit is a place name taken directly from the city in Michigan, USA. The city's name comes from the French phrase "détroit" meaning "strait," referring to the narrow waterway connecting Lake St. Clair with the Detroit River. As a given name, it is extremely rare and appears to have been used sporadically in the early 20th century, likely inspired by the city's growing industrial prominence. It has no traditional roots as a personal name.
Sibling names for Detroit
Names that share Detroit's style, for a brother or sister.
