Trace
Trace was the 758th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 340 babies. Its best year was 1998, when it ranked 439th; the most babies were born in 2008 (534). Over the last ten years it has moved up 43 places. More babies were named Trace in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Meaning short for Tracy · French, Latin
Say it TRAYS /treɪs/
- Rank in 2025
- #758 boys, up 5 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 340boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2008534 babies
- Total since 1880
- 14,112babies recorded
What does the name Trace mean?
Trace is a short form of Tracy, according to Wiktionary. Tracy is a Norman baronial surname from places in France, derived from the Gallo-Roman name Thracius, referring to Thrace, plus a Celtic suffix meaning place or property; Wiktionary adds that as a girls' name Tracy is also a pet form of Theresa. Trace also coincides with the English word trace. It has been used in the US since the 1950s for boys and girls.
Thracius (Latin, “of Thrace”)*-āko (Celtic, “place, property”)
How sure is this? Probable. Wiktionary only.
Related names: Tracy, Tracey, Trey.
See also: French names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Trace' (English section), Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- Wiktionary, entry 'Tracy' (English section), Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- US Social Security Administration, national baby-name data 1880-2025 (yob*.txt), team3 computation of first year recorded, US Social Security Administration (public domain)
Trace popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 348 since 1959.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #758 | 340 |
| 2020 | #763 | 316 |
| 2010 | #524 | 494 |
| 2000 | #551 | 384 |
| 1990 | #979 | 116 |
| 1980 | #2,610 | 19 |
| 1970 | #1,334 | 40 |
| 1960 | #1,550 | 28 |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Trace, counting every spelling?
Trace has no other common spelling that sounds the same. Counting every name's spellings together, it ranks #740 for boys in 2025, against #758 on the official list.
How many kids will share the name Trace?
340 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Trace (0.09 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Trace 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 25 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Trace.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Trace?
About 13,400 people born in the US named Trace are alive today, with a median age of 19; half are between 11 and 27. That makes Trace 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.
Trace by state
How common Trace was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Louisiana (3.2×), Mississippi (3.1×), Iowa (2.6×), Oklahoma (2.2×), Tennessee (1.9×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in New York, Minnesota, New Jersey.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Trace: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Trace, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Trace · Sibling names for Trace
Questions about the name Trace
What does Trace mean?
Trace means “short for Tracy” (French, Latin origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Trace?
Trace was the 758th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 340 babies. Its best year was 1998, when it ranked 439th; the most babies were born in 2008 (534). Over the last ten years it has moved up 43 places. More babies were named Trace in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Is Trace a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Trace in the US.
Where is Trace most popular?
In 2021–2025, Trace was most common in Louisiana (0.68 per 1,000 boys), followed by Mississippi and Iowa.