Declining since 2000, #581 for boys today.
Popularity of Seth since 1880
Babies named Seth per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 270 |
| 1890s | 168 |
| 1900s | 181 |
| 1910s | 642 |
| 1920s | 874 |
| 1930s | 612 |
| 1940s | 852 |
| 1950s | 2,101 |
| 1960s | 3,787 |
| 1970s | 16,584 |
| 1980s | 31,129 |
| 1990s | 42,213 |
| 2000s | 48,161 |
| 2010s | 14,671 |
| 2020s | 3,548 |
Meaning & origin
Seth is a biblical name of Hebrew origin, meaning 'appointed.' It has been in use in the United States since at least 1880, the earliest year of Social Security records. The name reached its peak popularity in 2000, and has since been on a declining trajectory. In 2025, it ranked 581 with a frequency of about 1 in 3,382 births. Seth has been most popular in states like Indiana, Mississippi, and Oregon. While not among the top names today, it remains a familiar and well-regarded choice, especially in religious communities.
Seth comes from the Hebrew name שֵׁת (Shet), meaning 'appointed' or 'placed.' In the Book of Genesis, Seth was born to Adam and Eve after the murder of Abel, and Eve declared that God had appointed him as a replacement. The name has been used in English since the Protestant Reformation, but it gained particular popularity in the United States during the 20th century.
Where Seth 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.
“Seth” around the world
Where Seth lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
30
babies in 2024
Ireland
5
babies in 2025
New Zealand
20
babies in 2025
Quebec
5
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Set
Variants: Sheth, Sete
Sibling names for Seth
Names that share Seth's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Eve, Naomi, Hannah, Leah, Ruth, Desiree, Adah, Blythe, Keturah, Eller, Lari, Loa, Rheba, Tamari, Anneth, Desa, Devra, Ketsia, Kysa, Natha, Rukia, Samona, Sanaiya, Satara, Nesa, Sabrie
Brothers: Noah, Isaac, Jacob, Ethan, Caleb, Abel, Adam, Cain, Jory, Chazz, Elam, Kain, Adlai, Cainan, Corde, Jubal, Laban, Radames, Sabian, Tabor, Japhet, Jep, Joseth, Zaul, Gid, Layn, Sanuel, Shammah
Names like Seth
Names whose popularity has moved with Seth's over the last 50 years.
