Holding steady, #7,679 for boys today.
Popularity of Early since 1880
Babies named Early per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1927, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Early's real moment was 1897.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 0 | 147 |
| 1890s | 11 | 221 |
| 1900s | 12 | 244 |
| 1910s | 42 | 587 |
| 1920s | 102 | 774 |
| 1930s | 62 | 516 |
| 1940s | 62 | 518 |
| 1950s | 64 | 396 |
| 1960s | 12 | 209 |
| 1970s | 0 | 147 |
| 1980s | 0 | 90 |
| 1990s | 0 | 44 |
| 2000s | 0 | 45 |
| 2010s | 6 | 26 |
| 2020s | 0 | 25 |
Meaning & origin
Early is a rare American name that saw most of its use in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It first appeared in Social Security records in 1880, and its peak year was 1897, when it reached its highest frequency. Despite a century of decline, the name has remained in occasional use; in 2025 it was given to roughly 1 in every 170,808 boys, placing it at rank 7,679. The trajectory of the name is classified as stable, with no significant revival in recent decades. Early may appeal to parents looking for a simple, word-based name with a vintage feel, though it lacks ties to notable figures or a deeply established meaning.
Early is likely an English surname turned given name. The surname Early could derive from the Old English 'eorl' meaning 'nobleman' or more plausibly from a habitational name from a place meaning 'eagle wood' (Old English 'earn' eagle + 'leah' clearing). Alternatively, it may have been a nickname for an early riser, from the Middle English 'erly'. Its use as a first name is rare and mostly dates to the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the United States.
Sibling names for Early
Names that share Early's style, for a brother or sister.
