Poe
Edgar Allan Poe was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic who is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales involving mystery and the macabre. He is widely regarded as one of the central figures of Romanticism and Gothic fiction in the United States and of early American literature.
Meaning & Origin of Poe
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Edgar Allan Poe was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic who is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales involving mystery and the macabre. He is widely regarded as one of the central figures of Romanticism and Gothic fiction in the United States and of early American literature.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Poe
As a girl name
Poe first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 2014, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2019, when 6 Poes were born — ranking #13,792 that year. As of 2026, Poe ranks #13,455 for girls with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 23 Poes have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2010s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Poe first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 2010, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2017, when 11 Poes were born — ranking #7,093 that year. As of 2026, Poe ranks #12,301 for boys with 5 births, falling sharply (-22%). In total, more than 81 Poes 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 Poe
Phonetically similar names — useful when Poe 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 Poe
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About the name Poe
Poe is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2010 and has accumulated 81 births in the dataset. Poe's peak popularity came in 2017 when it ranked #7,093. Use the chart and map above to compare Poe's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2017 →
- Names of the 2010s →
- Names starting with "P" →
- 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.