Early
Early is both a surname and a given name which may refer to:
Meaning & Origin of Early
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Early is both a surname and a given name which may refer to:
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Early
As a girl name
Early first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1891, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1926, when 15 Earlys were born — ranking #2,351 that year. As of 2026, Early ranks #14,580 for girls with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 373 Earlys have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1890s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Early first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1880, with 11 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1927, when 88 Earlys were born — ranking #690 that year. As of 2026, Early ranks #7,764 for boys with 10 births, with steady use. In total, more than 4K Earlys have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Early
Phonetically similar names — useful when Early 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 Early
What does the name Early mean?
How popular is Early in 2026?
When was Early most popular?
In which U.S. states is Early most popular?
Is Early a unisex name?
What names go well with Early?
About the name Early
Early is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 4K births in the dataset. Early's peak popularity came in 1927 when it ranked #690. Use the chart and map above to compare Early's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1927 →
- Names of the 1920s →
- Names starting with "E" →
- 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.