Boy · #12,135 in 2026

Boulder

In geology, a boulder is a rock fragment with size greater than 25.6 cm (10.1 in) in diameter. Smaller pieces are called cobbles and pebbles. While a boulder may be small enough to move or roll manually, others are extremely massive. In common usage, a boulder is too large for a person to move. Smaller boulders are usually just called rocks or stones.

Current Rank
#12,135
Peak Rank
#11,354 (2004)
Total Babies
10
5-Yr Trend
Stable
2004
First Year
2013
Last Year
2004
Peak Year
#11354
Peak Rank
10
Total Count
2
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Boulder

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

In geology, a boulder is a rock fragment with size greater than 25.6 cm (10.1 in) in diameter. Smaller pieces are called cobbles and pebbles. While a boulder may be small enough to move or roll manually, others are extremely massive. In common usage, a boulder is too large for a person to move. Smaller boulders are usually just called rocks or stones.

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

Etymology
The word boulder derives from boulder stone , from Middle English bulderston or Swedish bullersten . It was previously sometimes spelled bowlder , which survives as a less common variant spelling.

The Story of Boulder

Boulder first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 2004, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2004, when 5 Boulders were born — ranking #11,354 that year. As of 2026, Boulder ranks #12,135 for baby boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 10 Boulders have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s 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 Boulder

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

  • Bolder
  • Bowlder
  • Builder
  • Balder
  • Bolter
  • Bilder
  • Boulter
  • Baldr
  • Baldor
  • Boelter
  • Polder
  • Bold

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Boulder

What does the name Boulder mean?
In geology, a boulder is a rock fragment with size greater than 25.6 cm (10.1 in) in diameter. Smaller pieces are called cobbles and pebbles. While a boulder may be small enough to move or roll manually, others are extremely massive. In common usage, a boulder is too large for a person to move. Smaller boulders are usually just called rocks or stones.
How popular is Boulder in 2026?
In 2026, Boulder ranks #12,135 among boys' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.
When was Boulder most popular?
Boulder reached its peak popularity in 2004, ranking #11,354 that year with 5 babies given the name.
Is Boulder a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Boulder is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Boulder?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Boulder include Aaronjosh, Abbigail, Abdisalam. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👦
Aaronjosh
Peak #11354
👦
Abbigail
Peak #11354
👦
Abdisalam
Peak #11354
👦
Abhirup
Peak #11354
👦
Abigael
Peak #11354
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Abigayle
Peak #11354
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Abubakary
Peak #11354
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Adari
Peak #11354

About the name Boulder

Boulder is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2004 and has accumulated 10 births in the dataset. Boulder's peak popularity came in 2004 when it ranked #11,354. Use the chart and map above to compare Boulder'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.