How popular is the baby name Tolkien in the United States right now? How popular was it historically? Use the popularity graph and data table below to find out! Plus, see all the blog posts that mention the name Tolkien.

The graph will take a few moments to load. (Don't worry, it shouldn't take 9 months!) If it's taking too long, try reloading the page.


Popularity of the baby name Tolkien


Posts that mention the name Tolkien

Interesting one-hit wonder names in the U.S. baby name data

single flower

They came, they went, and they never came back!

These baby names are one-hit wonders in the U.S. baby name data. That is, they’ve only popped up once, ever, in the entire dataset of U.S. baby names (which accounts for all names given to at least 5 U.S. babies per year since 1880).

There are thousands of one-hit wonders in the dataset, but the names below have interesting stories behind their single appearance, so these are the one-hits I’m writing specific posts about. Just click on a name to read more.

2020s

  • (none yet)

2010s

2000s

1990s

1980s

1970s

1960s

1950s

1940s

1930s

1920s

1910s

1900s

  • (none yet)

1890s

As I discover (and write about) more one-hit wonders in the data, I’ll add the names/links to this page. In the meanwhile, do you have any favorite one-hit wonder baby names?

Image: Adapted from Solitary Poppy by Andy Beecroft under CC BY-SA 2.0.

[Latest update: Dec. 2023]

The top boy-name debuts of 2017

lotus bud

Asahd was the top debut name on the boys’ side of the list in 2017.

The boy names that debuted most impressively last year were…

1. Asahd, 58 baby boys
2. Kashdon, 30
3. Kassian, 22
4. Draxler / Ikeni / Noctis, 17 each (3-way tie)
5. Dakston, 13

In order for a rare baby name to make the cut and appear in the SSA’s baby name data for the first time, it has to be given to at least 5 babies (of either one gender or the other) within a given year.

The other names that debuted with ten-or-more baby boys in 2017 were Amunra, Arjunreddy, Irtaza, Ledgen, Gurbaaz, Caspen, Meliodas, Sreyan, Tewodros, and Yeziel.

Debuts lower down on the list include: Aarushreddy, Imronbek, Benjen, Kadafi, Killiam, Agambir, Almighty, Bamlak, Kuiper, Munther, Owsley, Slayer, Tolkien, Tuguldur, Vandawt, Zage, Zealous, Aoto, Bender, Bodhisattva, Cerulean, Go.

If you know what the explanations are for any of them, please leave a comment!

Here are the top boy name debuts of 2016.

[Note: I’ll be updating this post throughout the day.]

Source: SSA

Image: Adapted from LotusBud0048a (public domain) by Frank “Fg2” Gualtieri