Elder
Elder was the 2725th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 47 babies. Its best year was 1899, when it ranked 556th; the most babies were born in 2024 (58). Over the last ten years it has moved up 732 places. More babies were named Elder in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Meaning Not yet researched how we research meanings
- Rank in 2025
- #2,725 boys, up 789 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 47boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 202458 babies
- Total since 1880
- 2,320babies recorded
Elder popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 52 since 1915.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,725 | 47 |
| 2020 | #3,514 | 31 |
| 2010 | #2,887 | 41 |
| 2000 | #2,825 | 32 |
| 1990 | #2,723 | 24 |
| 1980 | #5,096 | 7 |
| 1970 | #4,390 | 6 |
| 1960 | #3,437 | 7 |
| 1950 | #2,354 | 11 |
| 1940 | #1,927 | 14 |
| 1930 | #3,102 | 8 |
| 1920 | #1,517 | 25 |
| 1910 | #998 | 11 |
| 1900 | #801 | 11 |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | #699 | 8 |
How popular is Elder, counting every spelling?
Elder has no other common spelling that sounds the same.
How many kids will share the name Elder?
47 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Elder (0.01 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Elder born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 179 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Elder.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Elder?
About 1,500 people born in the US named Elder are alive today, with a median age of 19; half are between 9 and 29. That makes Elder mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Elder by state
How common Elder was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. In 47 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Elder: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Elder, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Elder
How popular is the name Elder?
Elder was the 2725th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 47 babies. Its best year was 1899, when it ranked 556th; the most babies were born in 2024 (58). Over the last ten years it has moved up 732 places. More babies were named Elder in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Is Elder a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Elder in the US.
Where is Elder most popular?
In 2021–2025, Elder was most common in Texas (0.04 per 1,000 boys), followed by Georgia and California.