Baby
In common terminology, a baby is the very young offspring of adult human beings, while infant is a formal or specialised synonym. The terms may also be used to refer to juveniles of other organisms. A newborn is, in mainstream use, a baby who is only hours, days, or weeks old; while in medical contexts, a newborn or neonate is an infant in the first 28 days after birth.
Meaning & Origin of Baby
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
In common terminology, a baby is the very young offspring of adult human beings, while infant is a formal or specialised synonym. The terms may also be used to refer to juveniles of other organisms. A newborn is, in mainstream use, a baby who is only hours, days, or weeks old; while in medical contexts, a newborn or neonate is an infant in the first 28 days after birth.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Baby
As a girl name
Baby first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1912, with 7 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1995, when 308 Babys were born — ranking #691 that year. As of 2026, Baby ranks #7,043 for girls with 15 births, falling sharply (-36%). In total, more than 6K Babys have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Baby first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1919, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1994, when 373 Babys were born — ranking #524 that year. As of 2026, Baby ranks #7,030 for boys with 10 births, falling sharply (-42%). In total, more than 6K Babys have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Baby
Phonetically similar names — useful when Baby is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Baby
What does the name Baby mean?
How popular is Baby in 2026?
When was Baby most popular?
In which U.S. states is Baby most popular?
Is Baby a unisex name?
What names go well with Baby?
About the name Baby
Baby is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1919 and has accumulated 6K births in the dataset. Baby's peak popularity came in 1994 when it ranked #524. Use the chart and map above to compare Baby's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1994 →
- Names of the 1990s →
- Names starting with "B" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
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.