Declining since 2019, #447 for boys today.
Popularity of Prince since 1880
Babies named Prince per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 180 |
| 1890s | 182 |
| 1900s | 240 |
| 1910s | 658 |
| 1920s | 772 |
| 1930s | 573 |
| 1940s | 590 |
| 1950s | 669 |
| 1960s | 551 |
| 1970s | 602 |
| 1980s | 1,526 |
| 1990s | 1,251 |
| 2000s | 2,336 |
| 2010s | 8,095 |
| 2020s | 5,376 |
Meaning & origin
Prince is a name that carries regal weight and has been in use since at least 1880, when it first appeared in U.S. records. It reached its peak popularity in 2019, ranking at its highest ever, but has since entered a decline. As of 2025, it sits at rank 447 with a 1-in-2,430 frequency, indicating a niche but still present choice. The name has seen particular favor in states like Nevada, Georgia, and North Carolina, and its trajectory suggests a modest downturn since the 2019 peak. While often associated with the iconic musician, Prince has deeper roots as a title-name and continues to be chosen by parents drawn to its bold, royal connotation. It has never been a top-100 staple but maintains steady usage, especially in Southern and Western states.
Prince derives from the Latin 'princeps', meaning 'first in rank, chief'. It entered English via Old French 'prince' and was used as a title for royal sons. As a given name, it emerged in the 19th century, partly inspired by the Puritan use of virtue names and later amplified by the fame of musicians like Prince Rogers Nelson, known mononymously as Prince.
Where Prince 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.
“Prince” around the world
Where Prince lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
55
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Prinny, Cee
Variants: Prins
Sibling names for Prince
Names that share Prince's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Princess, Royal, Noble, Destiny, Queen, Babygirl, Charisma, Diamond, Royalty, Treasure, Unique, Empress, Glory, Majesty, Queenie, Favour, Goddess, Heiress, Duchess, Gorgeous, Lamiracle, Charizma, Dutchess, Blessence, Comfort, Countess, Pryncess, Royaltee, Sweetie
Brothers: King, Duke, Earl, Legend, Royal, Kyng, Sir, Wisdom, Lord, Majestic, Master, Babyboy, Doctor, Famous, Kingdavid, Myking, Righteous, Awesome, Emperor, Khing, Kiing, Kingson
Names like Prince
Names whose popularity has moved with Prince's over the last 50 years.
