Declining since 2022.
Popularity of Fate since 1880
Babies named Fate per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1919, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Fate's real moment was 1897.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 0 | 101 |
| 1890s | 0 | 101 |
| 1900s | 0 | 82 |
| 1910s | 0 | 188 |
| 1920s | 0 | 199 |
| 1930s | 0 | 152 |
| 1940s | 0 | 115 |
| 1950s | 0 | 72 |
| 1960s | 0 | 42 |
| 1970s | 0 | 23 |
| 1980s | 0 | 17 |
| 1990s | 11 | 23 |
| 2000s | 65 | 32 |
| 2010s | 54 | 19 |
| 2020s | 13 | 20 |
Meaning & origin
Fate is an exceedingly rare word name drawn from the English vocabulary, with a peak recorded usage in 1897. Since 2022 its trajectory has been falling, and it has never appeared among the top 1000 names for any year. The name has no widely recognized variants or nicknames, and its use has spanned both sexes, though it remains a highly unusual choice in any era. The U.S. Social Security data shows no single state where Fate has had significant prevalence, reflecting its rarity across the country. As a word name, it carries a stark, philosophical weight that may appeal to parents seeking a unique and meaningful identity.
Fate is a modern word name taken directly from the English noun 'fate', ultimately from Latin 'fatum' meaning 'that which has been spoken' or 'divine utterance'. As a given name, it appears sporadically in U.S. records from the late 19th century, likely chosen for its poetic and aspirational quality. Its usage has been rare, reflecting a preference for virtue-word names.
Sibling names for Fate
Names that share Fate's style, for a brother or sister.
