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.
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
The Story of Child
As a girl name
The earliest SSA record of Child as a girl name dates back to 2010, when 5 babies received it. 2011 was its biggest year on record, with 24 newborns named Child — #5,542 in the national rankings. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2012 (24 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. 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
The earliest SSA record of Child as a boy name dates back to 2010, when 8 babies received it. 2012 was its biggest year on record, with 42 newborns named Child — #2,811 in the national rankings. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2012 (42 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. 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
Popularity by State
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?
How popular is Child in 2026?
When was Child most popular?
In which U.S. states is Child most popular?
Is Child a unisex name?
What names go well with Child?
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
- Top names of 2012 →
- Names of the 2010s →
- Names starting with "C" →
- 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.