Holding steady.
Popularity of Little since 1883
Babies named Little per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1975, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Little's real moment was 1896.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 0 | 15 |
| 1890s | 0 | 20 |
| 1900s | 0 | 25 |
| 1910s | 5 | 124 |
| 1920s | 34 | 199 |
| 1930s | 16 | 140 |
| 1940s | 19 | 161 |
| 1950s | 30 | 167 |
| 1960s | 29 | 210 |
| 1970s | 47 | 248 |
| 1980s | 28 | 145 |
| 1990s | 10 | 95 |
| 2000s | 0 | 14 |
| 2010s | 0 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0 | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Little is a rare English given name derived from a surname or nickname meaning 'small.' It first appeared in U.S. records in 1883 and reached its peak popularity in 1896, though even then it was uncommon. The name never ranked in the top 1000 and has seen negligible use since. By 2025, it remains exceedingly rare, with no recorded births in recent decades. Its trajectory is stable, meaning it has consistently been a minor curiosity rather than a rising trend.
Little originates as an English surname or byname derived from the Middle English 'littel,' meaning 'small.' It was occasionally used as a given name in the 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in the United States, but has never been common as a first name.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Littell
Sibling names for Little
Names that share Little's style, for a brother or sister.
