Boy · #667 in 2026

Trace

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

Current Rank

#667

Peak Rank

#437 (2008)

Total Babies

14K

5-Yr Trend

+27%

1959

First Year

2024

Last Year

1970

Peak Year

#2779

Peak Rank

348

Total Count

Years Active

The Story of Trace

Trace first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1956, with 17 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2008, when 534 Traces were born — ranking #509 that year. As of 2026, Trace ranks #667 for baby boys with 410 births, rising sharply (+27% over the past five years). In total, more than 14K Traces have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1950s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

Top 10

11-50

51-100

101-500

500+

No data

Names that sound like Trace

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

Truce
Tress
Truss
Trays
Trus
Trice
Tris
Tross
Triss
Trece
Treys
Trass

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Trace

What does the name Trace mean?

Trace is a boy's name that has been used in U.S. records since 1956. Behind the Name doesn't list a specific etymology, but the name has remained in use across multiple decades.

How popular is Trace in 2026?

In 2026, Trace ranks #667 among boys' names in the U.S., with 410 babies given the name that year.

When was Trace most popular?

Trace reached its peak popularity in 2008, ranking #437 that year with 534 babies given the name.

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

Trace has historically been most popular in Montana, West Virginia, Alaska. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Trace.

Is Trace a unisex name?

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

What names go well with Trace?

Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Trace include Valentino, Wylie, Evans. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Trace

Trace is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1956 and has accumulated 14K births in the dataset. Trace's peak popularity came in 2008 when it ranked #437. Use the chart and map above to compare Trace'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.