A 1890s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Essex since 1882
Babies named Essex per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2025, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Essex's real moment was 1894.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 15 |
| 1890s | 18 |
| 1900s | 5 |
| 1910s | 34 |
| 1920s | 57 |
| 1930s | 35 |
| 1940s | 49 |
| 1950s | 40 |
| 1960s | 13 |
| 1970s | 34 |
| 1980s | 8 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 22 |
| 2010s | 28 |
| 2020s | 77 |
Meaning & origin
Essex is a rare locational surname-name with roots in Old English history. First recorded for boys in the United States in 1882, it reached its peak year of usage in 1894. After declining for decades, the name has been rising again since 2019, though it remains uncommon: in 2025, about 1 in 81,337 newborn boys received the name, placing it at rank 4,707. Its popularity has historically been concentrated in New Jersey, the only top state for the name in the Social Security data. As a revived 19th-century surname-name, Essex shares the style of place-derived names like Harrison or Georgia, offering a distinctive option for parents seeking a name with historical gravitas.
Essex is a locational surname transferred to given name use, taken from the county of Essex in England. The county name comes from Old English 'East Seaxe', meaning 'East Saxons', referring to the Anglo-Saxon kingdom that existed in the area during the early Middle Ages. Its use as a first name in the United States dates to the late 19th century, with a notable peak in the 1890s.
Where Essex is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ez, Ess
Sibling names for Essex
Names that share Essex's style, for a brother or sister.
