A 1900s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Gates since 1904
Babies named Gates per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2024, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Gates's real moment was 1904.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 0 | 6 |
| 1910s | 0 | 11 |
| 1920s | 0 | 5 |
| 1930s | 0 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0 | 0 |
| 1950s | 0 | 12 |
| 1960s | 0 | 5 |
| 1970s | 0 | 5 |
| 1980s | 0 | 11 |
| 1990s | 39 | 64 |
| 2000s | 5 | 76 |
| 2010s | 0 | 127 |
| 2020s | 0 | 123 |
Meaning & origin
Gates first appeared in U.S. naming records in 1904, ranking 4,707 that year, its peak rank to date. After a long period of near dormancy, the name began a steady resurgence starting in 1986. In 2025, approximately 1 in 81,337 boys received the name, placing it at rank 4,707 once again and signaling a slow but consistent climb. Although no top states have recorded significant clusters, the name's trajectory suggests growing interest, possibly influenced by cultural figures associated with the surname. The name retains a strong occupational and locational feel, fitting a modern preference for surname-style first names.
Gates is an English surname transferred to given name use, originating as a topographic name for someone who lived near the gates of a town or as an occupational name for a gate keeper. The name has seen sporadic use as a first name since the early 20th century, with a notable modern revival possibly inspired by the prominence of the Gates family (e.g., Bill Gates).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Gate
Sibling names for Gates
Names that share Gates's style, for a brother or sister.
