Rising since 2002, #4,249 for boys today.
Popularity of Hawthorne since 1916
Babies named Hawthorne per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 18 |
| 1920s | 17 |
| 1930s | 5 |
| 1940s | 12 |
| 1950s | 14 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 5 |
| 2000s | 29 |
| 2010s | 188 |
| 2020s | 138 |
Meaning & origin
Hawthorne is a surname-turned-first-name with a distinctly literary and natural feel. First recorded as a given name in 1916, it remained rare for most of the 20th century. Since 2002, however, its trajectory has been rising, reaching a peak in 2016. In 2025 it ranked 4,249, with about 1 in 71,170 boys receiving the name. Its appeal likely stems from the growing fashion for occupational and place surnames, as well as the association with Nathaniel Hawthorne, one of America's most celebrated novelists. Though still uncommon, Hawthorne fits comfortably alongside other nature-inspired surname names like Ellery and Fletcher.
Hawthorne is an English surname derived from the Old English words 'haga' (hedge, enclosure) and 'þorn' (thorn tree), referring to someone who lived near a hawthorn hedge or thicket. The name gained currency as a given name in the United States during the 20th century, partly inspired by the American author Nathaniel Hawthorne (whose adopted surname itself references the plant). Though never common, it has seen a modest uptick in usage since the early 2000s.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Hawth, Thorn, Hawk
Variants: Hawthorn
Sibling names for Hawthorne
Names that share Hawthorne's style, for a brother or sister.
