Holding steady.
Popularity of Plato since 1914
Babies named Plato per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1928, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Plato's real moment was 1914.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 40 |
| 1920s | 91 |
| 1930s | 45 |
| 1940s | 14 |
| 1950s | 0 |
| 1960s | 21 |
| 1970s | 5 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Plato is a name of Greek origin attached almost exclusively to one of history's most influential philosophers. In the United States, its use as a given name has been vanishingly rare: since it first appeared on the Social Security rolls in 1914, Plato has never ranked among the top 1000 names. Its highest recorded use was in 1914. In 2025, fewer than five boys received the name. The name carries a heavy intellectual weight that appeals to a niche of parents drawn to classical philosophy and ancient Greek culture.
Plato is an anglicized form of the Greek name Platon, derived from platys meaning "broad, wide." It was originally a nickname for the philosopher Aristocles, who was given the name Platon for his broad shoulders or forehead. The name has been used in the Western intellectual tradition as a given name since the Renaissance, albeit rarely.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Platon
Sibling names for Plato
Names that share Plato's style, for a brother or sister.
