A 1890s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Stokes since 1892
Babies named Stokes per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1916, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Stokes's real moment was 1892.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 6 |
| 1900s | 5 |
| 1910s | 28 |
| 1920s | 44 |
| 1930s | 18 |
| 1940s | 18 |
| 1950s | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 25 |
| 2010s | 5 |
| 2020s | 47 |
Meaning & origin
Stokes is a rare surname-turned-first name with English roots, first recorded for boys in 1892. It reached its peak popularity in that same year, though data from that era is sparse. The name has recently experienced a modest revival, with a trajectory showing rising use since 2018. In 2025, the name ranked 8,910, occurring in roughly 1 in 213,510 male births. Its appeal lies in its strong, one-syllable sound and its heritage as a toponymic surname, originally denoting a place associated with a monastery or holy site. While Stokes has no strong ties to any particular U.S. state in the data, it fits well with modern tastes for occupational and locative surnames as first names. Parents drawn to names like Ford or Blake may appreciate Stokes for its similar crisp, traditional feel.
Stokes is derived from the Old English 'stoc', meaning 'place' or 'monastery'. It originated as a habitational surname for those living near a holy site or a secondary settlement. As a given name, it emerged in the late 19th century, particularly in the United States, where surnames were occasionally adopted as first names.
Sibling names for Stokes
Names that share Stokes's style, for a brother or sister.
