Declining since 2016, #5,208 for boys today.
Popularity of Urban since 1880
Babies named Urban per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1924, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Urban's real moment was 1894.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 70 |
| 1890s | 102 |
| 1900s | 103 |
| 1910s | 598 |
| 1920s | 783 |
| 1930s | 385 |
| 1940s | 240 |
| 1950s | 192 |
| 1960s | 123 |
| 1970s | 38 |
| 1980s | 50 |
| 1990s | 39 |
| 2000s | 108 |
| 2010s | 311 |
| 2020s | 122 |
Meaning & origin
Urban is a name of Latin origin meaning 'of the city' or 'city dweller', derived from the word 'urbanus'. It has historical roots linked to several popes, including Pope Urban I and Pope Urban II, and was mildly popular in the United States around the turn of the 20th century. In 1894, the year it reached its peak, Urban was most popular. However, as of 2025, its rank has fallen to 5,208, with roughly 1 in 94,893 boys receiving the name, indicating a substantial decline in usage. Urban currently carries a classic, somewhat vintage feel and is very rarely chosen for newborns today.
Derived from the Latin word 'urbanus' meaning 'of the city' or 'city dweller'. The name was borne by several early saints, including Pope Urban I and Pope Urban II, which helped its spread in Christian Europe. It saw modest use in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Sibling names for Urban
Names that share Urban's style, for a brother or sister.
