Rising since 1987, #4,352 for girls today.
Popularity of Mesa since 1972
Babies named Mesa per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 27 |
| 1980s | 24 |
| 1990s | 124 |
| 2000s | 199 |
| 2010s | 302 |
| 2020s | 167 |
Meaning & origin
Mesa is a modern geographical name drawn from the Spanish word for 'table,' referencing the flat-topped landforms of the American Southwest. It was first recorded as a given name in 1972, and while it remains uncommon, its trajectory has been rising since 1987, with its peak popularity occurring in 2013. In 2025, Mesa ranked 4,352 nationally, with a frequency of 1 in 50,227 births. The name shows a strong regional concentration in Utah, which reflects a broader trend of nature-inspired and place-name choices in that state. Mesa exemplifies the American tradition of adopting evocative landscape terms as personal names, alongside similar choices like Sierra and Aspen.
Mesa is taken directly from the Spanish word for 'table,' and by extension refers to a flat-topped hill or plateau common in the American Southwest. As a given name, it first appeared in the United States in the early 1970s, likely influenced by place names and the natural landscape. Its use as a first name remains rare but has shown a modest increase since the late 1980s.
Where Mesa is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Sibling names for Mesa
Names that share Mesa's style, for a brother or sister.
