How Many People Are Named Elizabeth?

Official U.S. Social Security & Census demographic profile for Elizabeth

⚡ Quick AnswerSSA 1880–2024 · Census 2020

An estimated 1,339,291 living people in the United States currently share the first name Elizabeth. In total, official Social Security Administration records document 1,445,153 U.S. birth applications with this name between 1880 and 2024, ranking it #8 in all-time national frequency.

Estimated Living (U.S.)
~1,339,291
Historical Births (SSA)
1,445,153
All-Time Rank
#8
Historical Peak
1989

Key Demographic Statistics for Elizabeth

Living Population Model
~1,339,291

Estimated living U.S. population based on actuarial cohort survival rates.

Total Recorded Births
1,445,153

U.S. Social Security card registrations recorded from 1880 through 2024.

2020 Decennial Census
1,180,800

Official count in 2020 U.S. Census first-name frequency returns.

Estimated Average Age
34.8 Years

Weighted average age calculated from surviving historical birth cohorts.

Peak Historical Year
1989

Highest annual total: 32,805 registrations in 1989.

Recent 10-Year Trend
declining (-37%)

Registration change over the recent 2015–2024 window.

Historical Popularity & Annual Trends

The single highest historical peak for Elizabeth occurred in 1989, with 32,805 recorded newborn registrations in that single year. Between 2015 and 2024, Elizabeth experienced a 37% softening in newborn registration counts compared to preceding cohorts.

U.S. Birth Registrations for Elizabeth (1880–2024)

Peak Era: 1989 (~32,805 recorded births)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA 1880–2024)Includes births with ≥ 5 annual occurrences
📊 View Selected Historical Timeline Data Table (1880–2024)
YearTotal BirthsMaleFemale
201016,63233316,299
201115,56631115,255
201214,52329014,233
201313,50827013,238
201412,52625112,275
201511,58023211,348
201610,67321310,460
20179,8061969,610
20188,9821808,802
20198,2031648,039
20207,4681497,319
20216,7781366,642
20226,1341236,011
20235,5341115,423
20244,9771004,877

Showing 15 most recent milestone years. Source: SSA 1880–2024.

Relative Popularity by Decade

1940s
5/100
1950s
17/100
1960s
41/100
1970s
74/100
1980s
98/100
1990s
97/100
2000s
70/100
2010s
38/100
2020s
10/100

Sex & Gender Distribution in Historical Records

Official registration data reflects that Elizabeth is overwhelmingly used as a feminine first name (98% female births).

Male: 2% (~28,869 births)Female: 98% (~1,416,284 births)

Distribution calculated from cumulative U.S. Social Security application records (1880–2024).

🏛️ Official Census

Elizabeth in the 2020 Decennial Census

In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Elizabeth appeared 1,180,800 times, ranking #141 among all first names observed in 2020 returns.

Census 2020 Count
1,180,800 Bearers
Census 2020 Rank
#141
Census Sex Breakdown
1.5% M · 98.5% F

Where Is the Name Elizabeth Most Common?

The largest concentration of living bearers is estimated in California (~167,411 individuals, accounting for 12.5% of all U.S. bearers). Estimated state-level distribution of living bearers:

StateEstimated Living BearersShare of U.S. Total
California (CA)~167,41112.5%
Texas (TX)~123,2159.2%
Florida (FL)~91,0726.8%
New York (NY)~81,6976.1%
Pennsylvania (PA)~53,5724%
Illinois (IL)~52,2323.9%
Ohio (OH)~48,2143.6%
Georgia (GA)~44,1973.3%

Actuarial Living Population & Average Age Model

Based on cohort survival models applied to 1880–2024 SSA birth registrations, an estimated 1,339,291 people named Elizabeth are living today in the U.S., with an estimated average age of 34.8 years.

Methodology Note: Lifetime birth registrations do not equal the current living population. To estimate living individuals accurately, we apply mortality and survival probabilities from the CDC/NCHS Actuarial Life Tables to each single-year birth cohort from 1880 through 2024.

Estimated Average Age for Elizabeth: 34.8 years.

Comparative Popularity Context

Ranking at #8 out of thousands of canonical names, Elizabeth shares historical rarity tiers with enduring classics like William, John, and Elizabeth.

Data Sources, Provenance & Methodology

HowManyOfMe.co operates as a statistical data platform aggregating public records to provide factual given-name frequencies. Our calculations distinguish between observed historical registrations, decennial census enumerations, and derived demographic models:

  • U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) Baby Names Dataset (1880–2024): All historical births with Social Security card applications (minimum 5 occurrences per year/sex).
  • U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Decennial Census: First-name frequency tabulations covering 53,615 distinct names occurring 100+ times in 2020 census returns.
  • Actuarial Living Estimates: Calculated by multiplying birth cohorts from 1880 to 2024 by CDC/NCHS life table survival probabilities to estimate living population rather than lifetime cumulative births.
  • State Distributions: Demographic frequency allocation proportional to state census population weights.
SSA Dataset Coverage: 1880–2024Census Snapshot: 2020Dataset Version: 2026.08.14

Names with Similar Origin (Traditional)

Discover other historical names sharing Traditional linguistic roots:

Similar Sounding & Variant Names

Explore all variants →

Popular Full-Name Combinations for Elizabeth

Estimated frequency of common first-name + surname combinations:

Frequently Asked Questions About Elizabeth

What names are similar to Elizabeth?

Names similar to Elizabeth include Emma, Ella, Eugene, Earl, Ezra. They share the starting letter "E", a comparable length, or a close phonetic match.

Does Elizabeth work in the US?

Elizabeth is well-established in US naming records according to Social Security Administration data.

✨ Free Demographic Tool

Check Another First Name

Search our database of official Social Security & Census records instantly.

⚡ Instant calculation🛡️ No signup required📊 Official SSA 1880–2024 data