Baby Name Popularity Profile

Bruce

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for Bruce.

✦ From the brushwood thicket 🌍 French traditional royal
National Rank (2025) #536
All-Time Peak Rank #25 Achieved 1952
Total U.S. Births 386,880 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 100.0% Boy / 0.0% Girl Male Archetype
First Recorded 1880 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 1950s 14,660 births in 1956
💡 The Bruce Vibe: Considered a Declining Classic. A previously dominant name currently experiencing a prolonged generational cooling period.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning From the brushwood thicket
Language Origin French
Origin Type single
Derived from a Norman French surname, likely from the place name Brix in Manche, France, meaning 'from the brushwood thicket'.
Common Nicknames
Brucie
Pronunciation: BROOS
Themes & Categories
traditional royal
Etymology confidence: High

📖 The Story Behind Bruce

According to SSA data, Bruce achieved its highest historical rank of #25 in 1952. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 1956 with 14,660 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have decreased by 27.2%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 146 consecutive years.

📊 Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Bruce across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Stable
10-Year Shift -27.2% Decline
18801920196020002025

📈 Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 14,660 births in 1956
Years in Top 100 39 yrs
Years in Top 500 139 yrs
Registry Streak 146 yrs
Historical Volatility Highly Volatile
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 499
1890s: 618
1900s: 836
1910s: 5,577
1920s: 13,179
1930s: 24,119
1940s: 72,097
1950s: 136,457
1960s: 74,642
1970s: 21,127
1980s: 14,333
1990s: 7,900
2000s: 5,536
2010s: 6,638
2020s: 3,322

📐 Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables Bruce
Letter Count 5 letters
Spelling Complexity Moderate
Length Percentile Longer than 7.7% of names
Linguistic Profile: It is an isogram, meaning no two letters are repeated. Longer than 7.7% of SSA names. Starts with B, a letter used by only 3.6% of SSA names.

🛠️ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

Enter a surname or sibling name to test how it pairs with Bruce.

📍 Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State Vermont
Top States Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, Minnesota, North Dakota
States with Data 51
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
Vermont Unranked 1,530 1949 Insufficient historical volume
Maine Unranked 3,843 1955 Insufficient historical volume
New Hampshire Unranked 2,577 1950 Insufficient historical volume
Minnesota #553 14,456 1952 Insufficient historical volume
North Dakota Unranked 2,654 1955 Insufficient historical volume
Montana Unranked 1,908 1956 Insufficient historical volume
Delaware Unranked 1,205 1956 Insufficient historical volume
Connecticut Unranked 6,457 1954 Insufficient historical volume
Massachusetts #415 14,171 1952 Insufficient historical volume
South Dakota Unranked 1,946 1954 Insufficient historical volume
Rhode Island Unranked 2,097 1950 Insufficient historical volume
District of Columbia Unranked 2,566 1951 Insufficient historical volume
Wisconsin #799 11,388 1951 Insufficient historical volume
Michigan #448 20,992 1956 Insufficient historical volume
Iowa #588 7,338 1951 Insufficient historical volume
New Jersey #430 14,118 1952 Insufficient historical volume
Idaho #304 1,981 1950 Insufficient historical volume
Wyoming Unranked 673 1956 Insufficient historical volume
New York #547 37,517 1949 3.3% Decline
Oregon Unranked 4,405 1952 Insufficient historical volume
Nebraska Unranked 3,546 1956 Insufficient historical volume
Washington #451 7,732 1952 Insufficient historical volume
Pennsylvania #508 24,480 1954 Insufficient historical volume
Ohio #544 21,117 1954 Insufficient historical volume
Illinois #577 21,448 1956 Insufficient historical volume
Indiana #514 10,246 1956 Insufficient historical volume
Utah #382 3,493 1948 Insufficient historical volume
Kansas #534 4,284 1956 Insufficient historical volume
Alaska Unranked 553 1954 Insufficient historical volume
Maryland Unranked 5,900 1951 Insufficient historical volume
Hawaii Unranked 1,148 1952 Insufficient historical volume
Missouri #525 7,422 1956 Insufficient historical volume
West Virginia Unranked 3,097 1957 Insufficient historical volume
Kentucky #575 5,520 1956 Insufficient historical volume
Virginia #454 7,016 1956 Insufficient historical volume
California #444 30,783 1952 15.3% Decline
Colorado #332 3,661 1955 Insufficient historical volume
Louisiana Unranked 5,492 1957 Insufficient historical volume
Oklahoma #399 3,917 1956 Insufficient historical volume
Arkansas Unranked 2,917 1956 Insufficient historical volume
Florida #509 9,179 1957 2.8% Decline
North Carolina #684 7,536 1955 Insufficient historical volume
Alabama #402 4,387 1957 Insufficient historical volume
South Carolina #508 3,464 1957 Insufficient historical volume
New Mexico Unranked 1,243 1954 Insufficient historical volume
Tennessee #557 4,566 1956 Insufficient historical volume
Nevada #454 688 1949 Insufficient historical volume
Georgia #759 5,707 1963 Insufficient historical volume
Mississippi Unranked 2,515 1962 Insufficient historical volume
Arizona #467 2,369 1957 Insufficient historical volume
Texas #555 13,530 1957 +16.3% Growth

👨‍👩‍👧 Sibling Name Suggestions

👦 Brother Suggestions
Rocky Allen Danny Philip Lawrence Keith Steve Flint Duane Wayde
👧 Sister Suggestions
Anne Margo Jayne Gwynn Gayle Laure Wayne Gwenn Chere Deane

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