Boy · #9,864 in 2026

Smokey

Name: Popularity of the name Smokey in U.S. births, 1880–2026
Creator: U.S. Social Security Administration
License: https://www.ssa.gov/foia/
Keywords: Smokey, baby name, popularity, U.S., SSA, rankings

Current Rank

#9,864

Peak Rank

#3,385 (1977)

Total Babies

131

5-Yr Trend

Stable

1918

First Year

2024

Last Year

1977

Peak Year

#3385

Peak Rank

131

Total Count

Years Active

The Story of Smokey

The earliest SSA record of Smokey as a baby boy name dates back to 1918, when 6 babies received it. 1977 was its biggest year on record, with 11 newborns named Smokey — #3,385 in the national rankings. The 1970s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 39% of all recorded Smokeys. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2024 (7 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 131 Smokeys have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

Top 10

11-50

51-100

101-500

500+

No data

Names that sound like Smokey

Phonetically similar names — useful when Smokey is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Smoky
Smokie
Smoko
Smoke
Sneaky
Smoker
Smoked
Smokes
Snakey
Snaky
Smoggy
Smokies

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Smokey

What does the name Smokey mean?

Smokey is a boy's name that has been used in U.S. records since 1918. Behind the Name doesn't list a specific etymology, but the name has remained in use across multiple decades.

How popular is Smokey in 2026?

In 2026, Smokey ranks #9,864 among boys' names in the U.S., with 7 babies given the name that year.

When was Smokey most popular?

Smokey reached its peak popularity in 1977, ranking #3,385 that year with 11 babies given the name.

Is Smokey a unisex name?

In U.S. Social Security records, Smokey is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.

What names go well with Smokey?

Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Smokey include Holsey, Bunnie, Thelton. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Smokey

Smokey is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1918 and has accumulated 131 births in the dataset. Smokey's peak popularity came in 1977 when it ranked #3,385. Use the chart and map above to compare Smokey's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

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.