London
London is a surname of English origin, derived from the city of London. It is also a unisex given name.
- English
Meaning & Origin of London
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
London is a surname of English origin, derived from the city of London. It is also a unisex given name.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
The Story of London
As a girl name
American parents first put London on the record books as a girl name in 1963, with 6 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 2013, when 3,462 Londons were born — ranking #85 that year. The 2010s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 59% of all recorded Londons. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #433 among girl names with 712 births, falling sharply (-46%). In total, more than 45K Londons have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1960s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of London as a boy name dates back to 1886, when 5 babies received it. 2009 was its biggest year on record, with 520 newborns named London — #519 in the national rankings. The 2010s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 37% of all recorded Londons. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #1,263 among boy names with 157 births, falling sharply (-29%). In total, more than 11K Londons have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of London
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with London. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Names that sound like London
Phonetically similar names — useful when London 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 London
What does the name London mean?
What is the origin of the name London?
How popular is London in 2026?
When was London most popular?
In which U.S. states is London most popular?
Is London a unisex name?
What names go well with London?
What are nicknames or variants of London?
About the name London
London is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1963 and has accumulated 45K births in the dataset. London's peak popularity came in 2013 when it ranked #85. Use the chart and map above to compare London's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2013 →
- Names of the 2010s →
- Names starting with "L" →
- Browse all girl 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.