Duncan
How to say it: DUNK-un · /ˈdʌŋkən/
From Scottish Gaelic 'Donnchadh': 'donn' (brown/dark) + 'cath' (battle); 'dark warrior.'
Duncan was the 1,003rd most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 190 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1990s, its births are down about 35% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #1,034 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #1,003 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 190 |
| Share of births | 1 in 17,449 |
| Peak decade | 1990s |
| Change over 10 years | −35% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #1,034 |
| In France, 2025 | #1,664 among boys’ names, 10 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Long in steady use, Duncan rose highest in the 1990s. It now sits well below that height, with more slipping likely.
What goes with it
Bold and crisp, Duncan feels strong. Angus shares its style.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Duncan is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French.
In France: #1,664 for boys in 2025.
Famous people named Duncan
- Duncan Haldane (born 1951)Professor of physics at Princeton University
- Duncan Laurence (born 1994)Dutch singer
- Duncan James (born 1979)English singer
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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