Declining since 2022, #995 for girls today.
Popularity of Scout since 1992
Babies named Scout per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 276 | 171 |
| 2000s | 811 | 436 |
| 2010s | 2,098 | 693 |
| 2020s | 1,944 | 792 |
Meaning & origin
Scout is a unisex name that entered the U.S. baby name charts in 1992. Its greatest popularity came in 2022, when it reached its peak rank. Since then, it has been falling in use. In terms of geographic distribution, Scout is most common in North Dakota, Utah, and Iowa. The name is strongly associated with the free-spirited character from literature, lending it a sense of adventure and curiosity. As a modern coinage derived from an English word, it reflects the trend of using occupational and nature-related vocabulary as first names.
Scout is an English vocabulary word meaning 'one sent to observe.' It was popularized as a given name through Harper Lee's 1960 novel To Kill a Mockingbird, whose young protagonist Jean Louise 'Scout' Finch is a tomboyish and inquisitive girl. The name gained wider use as a first name in the 1990s, partly due to celebrity adoptions.
Where Scout is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Sibling names for Scout
Names that share Scout's style, for a brother or sister.
