Promise
A promise is a commitment by someone to do or not do something. As a noun promise means a declaration assuring that one will or will not do something. As a verb it means to commit oneself by a promise to do or give. It can also mean a capacity for good, similar to a value that is to be realized in the near future.
- English
Meaning & Origin of Promise
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
A promise is a commitment by someone to do or not do something. As a noun promise means a declaration assuring that one will or will not do something. As a verb it means to commit oneself by a promise to do or give. It can also mean a capacity for good, similar to a value that is to be realized in the near future.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
The Story of Promise
As a girl name
American parents first put Promise on the record books as a girl name in 1975, with 5 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 2023, when 393 Promises were born — ranking #716 that year. About 37% of every Promise on record arrived during the 2020s, its defining decade. As of 2026, Promise ranks #784 for girls with 361 births, rising sharply (+16% over the past five years). All told, over 7K Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1970s to the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Promise as a boy name dates back to 1992, when 5 babies received it. 2022 was its biggest year on record, with 38 newborns named Promise — #3,147 in the national rankings. About 40% of every Promise on record arrived during the 2020s, its defining decade. As of 2026, Promise ranks #4,283 for boys with 25 births, rising sharply (+26% over the past five years). All told, over 444 Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1990s to the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Promise
Phonetically similar names — useful when Promise 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 Promise
What does the name Promise mean?
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In which U.S. states is Promise most popular?
Is Promise a unisex name?
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About the name Promise
Promise is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1975 and has accumulated 7K births in the dataset. Promise's peak popularity came in 2023 when it ranked #716. Use the chart and map above to compare Promise's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2023 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "P" →
- 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.