Laken
Laken was the 990th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 256 babies. Its best year was 1991, when it ranked 862nd; the most babies were born in 2025 (256). Over the last ten years it has moved up 626 places. More babies were named Laken in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning Origin not documented
Say it LAY-kun /ˈleɪkən/
- Rank in 2025
- #990 girls, up 195 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 256girls
- Girls and boys
- 59% girls, 41% boys2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2025256 babies
- Total since 1880
- 8,499babies recorded
What does the name Laken mean?
Laken is a modern American name, given mostly to girls and also to boys since the 1980s, with no documented origin; Wiktionary lists it as a girls' name without an etymology. It may be a respelling of the English surname Lakin or a form built on the word lake, but neither is confirmed. Laken (Laeken) is also a district of Brussels, whose name comes from a Germanic word for a stream or pool; it is not known to be the source of the given name.
How sure is this? Not documented. No documented origin; links with Lakin or 'lake' are guesses.
Related names: Lakin.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Laken', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Wiktionary, entry 'Laken' (Dutch section), Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Wikipedia, 'Laken', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation)
- US Social Security Administration, national baby-name data 1880-2025 (usage history only), US Social Security Administration
Laken popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Rank (boys) | Babies (girls) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #990 | #1,482 | 256 | 120 |
| 2020 | #1,185 | #1,318 | 196 | 137 |
| 2010 | #1,854 | #1,733 | 110 | 88 |
| 2000 | #1,441 | #4,311 | 128 | 18 |
| 1990 | #955 | #5,627 | 197 | 9 |
| 1980 | — | — | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
How popular is Laken, counting every spelling?
Laken is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #683 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #990 for Laken on its own. Together these spellings went to 417 girls in 2025.
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Laken?
256 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Laken (0.07 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Laken 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 33 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Laken.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Laken?
About 6,200 people born in the US named Laken are alive today, with a median age of 22; half are between 9 and 32. That makes Laken 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.
Laken by state
How common Laken was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Arkansas (5.5×), Kentucky (3.8×), Alabama (3.5×), Tennessee (3.0×), Wisconsin (2.9×). In 27 states fewer than five girls 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 Laken: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Laken, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Laken · Sibling names for Laken
Questions about the name Laken
How popular is the name Laken?
Laken was the 990th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 256 babies. Its best year was 1991, when it ranked 862nd; the most babies were born in 2025 (256). Over the last ten years it has moved up 626 places. More babies were named Laken in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Laken a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, 59% girls, 41% boys given the name Laken in the US.
Where is Laken most popular?
In 2021–2025, Laken was most common in Arkansas (0.62 per 1,000 girls), followed by Kentucky and Alabama.