Bowie
Bowie is a name with multiple cultural origins: English, Dutch.
- English
- Dutch
Meaning & Origin of Bowie
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Bowie is a name with multiple cultural origins: English, Dutch.
Origin data from Behind the Name .
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
- Dutch
The Story of Bowie
As a girl name
The earliest SSA record of Bowie as a girl name dates back to 2006, when 5 babies received it. 2021 was its biggest year on record, with 138 newborns named Bowie — #1,521 in the national rankings. The 2020s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 58% of all recorded Bowies. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #1,961 among girl names with 101 births, holding steady (-3%). In total, more than 1K Bowies have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
American parents first put Bowie on the record books as a boy name in 1920, with 5 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 2021, when 237 Bowies were born — ranking #950 that year. The 2020s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 55% of all recorded Bowies. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #1,190 among boy names with 172 births, holding steady (-4%). In total, more than 2K Bowies have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1920s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Bowie
Phonetically similar names — useful when Bowie is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
- Boei
- Boa
- Buoy
- Bhai
- Bouie
- Bowa
- Buie
- Baie
- Bii
- Boaa
- Baai
- Poee
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bowie
What does the name Bowie mean?
What is the origin of the name Bowie?
How popular is Bowie in 2026?
When was Bowie most popular?
In which U.S. states is Bowie most popular?
Is Bowie a unisex name?
What names go well with Bowie?
About the name Bowie
Bowie is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1920 and has accumulated 2K births in the dataset. Bowie's peak popularity came in 2021 when it ranked #950. Use the chart and map above to compare Bowie's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2021 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- 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.