October
October is the 10th month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. Its length is 31 days. The eighth month in the old calendar of Romulus c. 750 BC, October retained its name after January and February were inserted into the calendar that had originally been created by the Romans.
- English
Meaning & Origin of October
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
October is the 10th month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. Its length is 31 days. The eighth month in the old calendar of Romulus c. 750 BC, October retained its name after January and February were inserted into the calendar that had originally been created by the Romans.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
The Story of October
As a girl name
American parents first put October on the record books as a girl name in 1969, with 5 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 2008, when 72 Octobers were born — ranking #2,584 that year. The 2010s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 41% of all recorded Octobers. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #3,472 among girl names with 45 births, gradually falling (-8%). In total, more than 1K Octobers 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 October as a boy name dates back to 2016, when 6 babies received it. 2023 was its biggest year on record, with 21 newborns named October — #4,740 in the national rankings. The 2020s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 76% of all recorded Octobers. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #5,537 among boy names with 17 births, rising sharply (+108% over the past five years). In total, more than 120 Octobers 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 October
Phonetically similar names — useful when October 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 October
What does the name October mean?
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How popular is October in 2026?
When was October most popular?
In which U.S. states is October most popular?
Is October a unisex name?
What names go well with October?
About the name October
October is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1969 and has accumulated 1K births in the dataset. October's peak popularity came in 2008 when it ranked #2,584. Use the chart and map above to compare October's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2008 →
- Names of the 2000s →
- Names starting with "O" →
- 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.