Boy · #9,752 in 2026

Armstrong

Armstrong is a surname of English and Scottish borders origin.

Current Rank
#9,752
Peak Rank
#3,214 (1921)
Total Babies
74
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1917
First Year
2019
Last Year
1921
Peak Year
#3214
Peak Rank
74
Total Count
12
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Armstrong

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Armstrong is a surname of English and Scottish borders origin.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Origin & history
The name Armstrong derives from a Middle English nickname which meant someone with strong arms. The Scottish Armstrong is reputed to have been originally bestowed by "an antient (sic) king of Scotland" upon "Fairbairn, his armour-bearer" following an act of strength in battle. Clan Armstrong is a famous Border Reiver clan from the border area between England and Scotland, although the Armstrongs were predominately based on the English side of the border. Many members of the clan were granted lands in County Fermanagh and neighbouring Irish counties during the Ulster Plantations . In Ireland th

The Story of Armstrong

Armstrong first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1917, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1921, when 8 Armstrongs were born — ranking #3,214 that year. As of 2026, Armstrong ranks #9,752 for baby boys with 7 births, with steady use. In total, more than 74 Armstrongs have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Armstrong

Phonetically similar names — useful when Armstrong is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

  • Armstrongs
  • Armoring
  • Armouring
  • Arnstein
  • Hamstring
  • Airstream
  • Unstrung
  • Hamstrung
  • Unstring
  • Heartstring
  • Ornstein
  • Armstead

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Armstrong

What does the name Armstrong mean?
Armstrong is a surname of English and Scottish borders origin.
How popular is Armstrong in 2026?
In 2026, Armstrong ranks #9,752 among boys' names in the U.S., with 7 babies given the name that year.
When was Armstrong most popular?
Armstrong reached its peak popularity in 1921, ranking #3,214 that year with 8 babies given the name.
Is Armstrong a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Armstrong is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Armstrong?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Armstrong include Erasmus, Lizzie, Sears. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Armstrong

Armstrong is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1917 and has accumulated 74 births in the dataset. Armstrong's peak popularity came in 1921 when it ranked #3,214. Use the chart and map above to compare Armstrong's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.