A 1900s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Houston since 1880
Babies named Houston per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2021, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Houston's real moment was 1901.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 162 |
| 1890s | 185 |
| 1900s | 305 |
| 1910s | 1,117 |
| 1920s | 1,579 |
| 1930s | 1,097 |
| 1940s | 1,093 |
| 1950s | 839 |
| 1960s | 634 |
| 1970s | 482 |
| 1980s | 1,164 |
| 1990s | 2,302 |
| 2000s | 2,198 |
| 2010s | 2,621 |
| 2020s | 2,326 |
Meaning & origin
Houston is a masculine given name with Scottish and English origins, originally a surname derived from a place name meaning 'Hugh's town.' It first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1880 and reached its peak popularity in 1901. After a period of decline, the name has been rising in use since 1985, reflecting a broader trend of surname-style given names. In 2025, it ranked 675th, with a rate of about 1 in 4,249 boys. The name has been most common in the southern states, particularly Mississippi, West Virginia, and Kentucky, and its revival may be partly influenced by the city of Houston, Texas. Houston fits well with other trend-aware names like Dallas, Mason, and Cooper.
Houston originated as a Scottish surname, derived from the village of Houston in Renfrewshire, Scotland. The place name is thought to come from the Old English personal name 'Hugh' combined with 'tun' meaning 'settlement' or 'town,' yielding 'Hugh's town.' The surname was later adopted as a given name, particularly in the United States.
Where Houston 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.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Huey, Hous
Sibling names for Houston
Names that share Houston's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Houston
Names whose popularity has moved with Houston's over the last 50 years.
