West
How to say it: WEST · /ˈwɛst/
From Old English 'west', direction name - minimalist word name evoking frontier and openness.
West was the 1,099th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 159 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1880s, its births are up 2.0-fold in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #872 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #1,099 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 159 |
| Share of births | 1 in 20,851 |
| Peak decade | 1880s |
| Change over 10 years | ×2.0 |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #872 |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Missing for stretches after the 1880s, West went quiet around the 1950s. It remains well below that early high though a rise looks likely.
What goes with it
A single crisp syllable with a breathy edge gives West a strong and open character. Knox and Wilder share its spirit.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called West is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English.
Keep exploring
About as popular as West
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