Rising since 1995, #2,676 for boys today.
Popularity of Slate since 1990
Babies named Slate per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 59 |
| 2000s | 165 |
| 2010s | 379 |
| 2020s | 260 |
Meaning & origin
Slate entered the U.S. baby name landscape in 1990, first appearing in Social Security records that year. By 2025, it ranked 2,676th and was given to approximately 1 in 35,585 boys. The name reached its highest rank to date in 2018, aligning with a broader trend of short, one-syllable word names ending in 't' (like Tate, Sage, and Cole). Over the past three decades, Slate's trajectory has been consistently rising since 1995, suggesting growing but still uncommon use. No top states have been recorded for the name, indicating its distribution is relatively even or too rare to pinpoint geographic concentration. As a modern coinage, Slate lacks deep historical roots, but its connection to durable gray stone lends it a subtle, sturdy appeal.
Slate emerged as a given name in the late 20th century, likely inspired by the English surname Slate, which itself may have denoted a slater or roofer. Alternatively, it may be a direct word name drawn from the rock used for roofing and writing tablets. The name gained modest use in the 1990s and has been gradually rising, particularly in the United States.
Sibling names for Slate
Names that share Slate's style, for a brother or sister.
