Declining since 2020, #8,860 for girls today.
Popularity of Gypsy since 1891
Babies named Gypsy per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2020, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Gypsy's real moment was 1891.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 6 |
| 1900s | 15 |
| 1910s | 56 |
| 1920s | 54 |
| 1930s | 146 |
| 1940s | 117 |
| 1950s | 62 |
| 1960s | 38 |
| 1970s | 214 |
| 1980s | 158 |
| 1990s | 126 |
| 2000s | 164 |
| 2010s | 206 |
| 2020s | 139 |
Meaning & origin
Gypsy is an uncommon given name in the United States, first appearing in Social Security records in 1891, which also marks its peak year of usage. Since 2020, the name has been on a falling trajectory, with a ranking of 8860 in 2025. The name's rarity is reflected in its incidence rate of approximately 1 in every 146,115 births in the latest year. Despite its low usage, Gypsy carries cultural weight as a term historically applied to the Romani people, and its adoption as a personal name has drawn criticism for perpetuating stereotypes. The name has not been associated with any specific top states in recent decades, indicating its scattered and infrequent use across the country.
The word 'gypsy' originates from 'Egyptian,' as Romani people were mistakenly believed to have come from Egypt when they first appeared in Europe. As a given name, Gypsy first appeared in the late 19th century, likely inspired by the romanticized notion of Romani culture as nomadic and independent. It gained some popularity in English-speaking countries, particularly in the United States, but has always been rare and is often considered controversial due to its use as an ethnic slur.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Gyp
Variants: Gipsy
Sibling names for Gypsy
Names that share Gypsy's style, for a brother or sister.
