ESC 

Name Rank Total 

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No names found 

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👧As Girl Name

1969

First Year

2026

Last Year

2008

Peak Year

#2584

Peak Rank

1K

Total Count

44

Years Active

👦As Boy Name

2016

First Year

2026

Last Year

2023

Peak Year

#4740

Peak Rank

120

Total Count

11

Years Active

🌍

## 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 ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October) (CC BY-SA 3.0). [Read more → ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October)

### Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)

* English

[![Wikipedia thumbnail for October](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Maple_leaf_in_fall.jpg/330px-Maple_leaf_in_fall.jpg)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October)

📖

## 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

Girls Boys 

## Popularity by State

👧 Girls 👦 Boys 

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 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. 

* Octubre
* [Oktober](/oktober)
* Octobre
* Octo
* Octopi
* Stober
* Acteur
* Ator
* [Octa](/octa)
* Ocar
* Octi
* Lochaber

Source: [Datamuse ](https://www.datamuse.com/api/). Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated. 

❓

## Frequently Asked Questions about October

What does the name October mean?

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.

What is the origin of the name October?

October has roots in the following cultural and linguistic traditions: English.

How popular is October in 2026?

In 2026, October ranks #3,472 among girls' names in the U.S., with 45 babies given the name that year.

When was October most popular?

October reached its peak popularity in 2008, ranking #2,584 that year with 72 babies given the name.

In which U.S. states is October most popular?

October has historically been most popular in Oklahoma, Missouri, Ohio. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named October.

Is October a unisex name?

Yes — October is used for both girls and boys in U.S. records, with about 92% of Octobers assigned female and 8% assigned male historically.

What names go well with October?

Names that share a similar style or popularity range with October include Calie, Laniah, Roshawn. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

## Similar Names

### 👧 Similar Girl Names 

[👧CaliePeak #2584](/calie)[👧LaniahPeak #2584](/laniah)[👧RoshawnPeak #2585](/roshawn)[👧HananPeak #2583](/hanan)

### 👦 Similar Boy Names 

[👦ZhenPeak #4740](/zhen)[👦TobennaPeak #4740](/tobenna)[👦EzequiasPeak #4740](/ezequias)[👦OshenPeak #4740](/oshen)

## 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 → ](/year/2008)
* [ Names of the 2000s → ](/decade/2000s)
* [ Names starting with "O" → ](/letter/o)
* [ Browse all girl names → ](/names/girls)
* [ Top names of 2026 → ](/year/2026)
* [ Browse unisex names → ](/names/unisex)

Data sources

* Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. [Social Security Administration ](https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/). 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 ](https://www.behindthename.com/) (used under their public API terms).
* Meaning prose and editorial summary — [Wikipedia ](https://en.wikipedia.org/) article extracts, licensed under [CC BY-SA 3.0 ](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/).
* Predicted nationality distribution — [Nationalize.io ](https://nationalize.io/).
* Phonetically similar names — [Datamuse ](https://www.datamuse.com/api/).

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.
