Unknown
Unknown is a boy's name of Unknown origin.
Meaning
Not identified or not known; a placeholder term used when a legal name has not been supplied.
Origin and history
Unknown is recorded in U.S. birth records primarily as a placeholder name or temporary registration entry. Over 9,000 births have been recorded under this string since 1880, usually representing unnamed infants at the time of official record filing. It is not traditionally used as an intentional given name.
Popularity in the United States
9,888 babies in the United States have been named Unknown since 1880. It ranks #1206 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1527.
States where it is most popular
- GA (16 %)
- AL (10.4 %)
- OR (10.2 %)
- TN (7.8 %)
- SC (7.7 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 51 |
| 1890-1900 | 97 |
| 1900-1910 | 98 |
| 1910-1920 | 211 |
| 1920-1930 | 149 |
| 1930-1940 | 64 |
| 1940-1950 | 711 |
| 1950-1960 | 4,206 |
| 1960-1970 | 762 |
| 1970-1980 | 196 |
| 1980-1990 | 443 |
| 1990-2000 | 1,296 |
| 2000-2010 | 413 |
| 2010-2019 | 790 |
| 2020-2029 | 401 |
Fun facts
- The presence of this name in official records typically results from hospital administrative filings for unnamed newborns.