Unisex · #2,811 in 2026

Child

A child is a human being between the stages of birth and puberty, or between the developmental period of infancy and puberty. The term may also refer to an unborn human being.

Current Rank
#2,811
Peak Rank
#2,811 (2012)
Total Babies
78
5-Yr Trend
Stable
👧 Girl peak #5,542 (53 total)
👦 Boy peak #2,811 (78 total)
👦As Boy Name
2010
First Year
2012
Last Year
2012
Peak Year
#2811
Peak Rank
78
Total Count
3
Years Active
👧As Girl Name
2010
First Year
2012
Last Year
2011
Peak Year
#5542
Peak Rank
53
Total Count
3
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Child

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

A child is a human being between the stages of birth and puberty, or between the developmental period of infancy and puberty. The term may also refer to an unborn human being.

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

Origin & history
Main article: History of childhood Playing Children , by Song dynasty Chinese artist Su Hanchen, c. 1150 AD. During the European Renaissance , artistic depictions of children increased dramatically, which did not have much effect on the social attitude toward children, however. The French historian Philippe Ariès argued that during the 1600s, the concept of childhood began to emerge in Europe, however other historians like Nicholas Orme have challenged this view and argued that childhood has been seen as a separate stage since at least the medieval period. Adults saw children as separate being

The Story of Child

As a girl name

Child first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 2010, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2011, when 24 Childs were born — ranking #5,542 that year. As of 2026, Child ranks #5,556 for girls with 24 births, with steady use. In total, more than 53 Childs have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2010s through the 2020s.

As a boy name

Child first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 2010, with 8 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2012, when 42 Childs were born — ranking #2,811 that year. As of 2026, Child ranks #2,811 for boys with 42 births, with steady use. In total, more than 78 Childs have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2010s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Girls Boys

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 Child

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

  • Chilled
  • Childe
  • Chald
  • Sheild
  • Schild
  • Chide
  • Childs
  • Chyle
  • Cheil
  • Wild
  • Shield
  • Jailed

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Child

What does the name Child mean?
A child is a human being between the stages of birth and puberty, or between the developmental period of infancy and puberty. The term may also refer to an unborn human being.
How popular is Child in 2026?
In 2026, Child ranks #2,811 among boys' names in the U.S., with 42 babies given the name that year.
When was Child most popular?
Child reached its peak popularity in 2012, ranking #2,811 that year with 42 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Child most popular?
Child has historically been most popular in Maryland. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Child.
Is Child a unisex name?
Yes — Child is used for both girls and boys in U.S. records, with about 40% of Childs assigned female and 60% assigned male historically.
What names go well with Child?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Child include Aldin, Kaimana, Camerin. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Child

Child is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2010 and has accumulated 78 births in the dataset. Child's peak popularity came in 2012 when it ranked #2,811. Use the chart and map above to compare Child'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.