Rising since 1985, #1,196 for boys today.
Popularity of Ever since 1888
Babies named Ever per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 12 | 0 |
| 1890s | 30 | 0 |
| 1900s | 74 | 0 |
| 1910s | 170 | 5 |
| 1920s | 239 | 0 |
| 1930s | 192 | 0 |
| 1940s | 140 | 5 |
| 1950s | 53 | 6 |
| 1960s | 6 | 0 |
| 1970s | 12 | 33 |
| 1980s | 10 | 173 |
| 1990s | 30 | 543 |
| 2000s | 239 | 1,294 |
| 2010s | 997 | 1,332 |
| 2020s | 708 | 1,072 |
Meaning & origin
Ever is a modern word name with a straightforward meaning: 'always' or 'forever.' First recorded in the U.S. in 1916, it remained obscure for decades. Since 1985, it has experienced a steady upward trajectory, reaching its peak rank in 2023. In 2025, it ranked 1196th with a frequency of 1 in 10,107 births. The name is most popular in Maryland, Virginia, and Texas, reflecting a broad but concentrated appeal. Ever fits the contemporary trend of using meaningful English words as names, without a long historical or cultural tradition behind it.
Ever is a modern word name taken directly from the English adverb meaning 'always' or 'forever.' It began appearing on U.S. birth records in the early 20th century but remained rare until the late 1900s, when word names and virtue names gained popularity. Its rise parallels the broader trend for abstract, aspirational names. The name has no traditional etymology beyond its literal meaning.
Where Ever is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Ever” around the world
Where Ever lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ev, Evie
Variants: Everly
Sibling names for Ever
Names that share Ever's style, for a brother or sister.
