Rising since 2013, #4,987 for girls today.
Popularity of Purpose since 2008
Babies named Purpose per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5 | 0 |
| 2010s | 25 | 6 |
| 2020s | 111 | 62 |
Meaning & origin
The name Purpose first appeared on the U.S. naming charts in 2008, and its usage has been rising gradually since 2013. As of 2025, it reached its peak rank of 4,987th, with an incidence of about 1 in every 61,818 newborns. This rare and modern virtue name reflects a cultural trend of selecting abstract nouns for children, akin to names like Grace or Hope, but with a contemporary edge. Its trajectory shows steady growth, though it remains far from mainstream, appealing to parents seeking a distinctive name with a clear, aspirational meaning.
Purpose is an English vocabulary word that came into use as a given name in the 21st century, part of a trend of adopting abstract and aspirational word names. As a virtue name, it reflects the cultural value of having direction and meaning in life. Its use as a first name is very recent and rare.
Sibling names for Purpose
Names that share Purpose's style, for a brother or sister.
