How Many People Are Named Robert?

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

⚡ Quick AnswerSSA 1880–2024 · Census 2020

An estimated 2,038,234 living people in the United States currently have the first name Robert. In total, official Social Security Administration records document 4,369,024 U.S. birth applications with this name between 1880 and 2024, ranking it #3 in all-time national frequency.

Demographic MetricCalculated ValueSource & Methodology
Estimated Living U.S. Bearers~2,038,234CDC Actuarial Life Table Model
All-Time SSA Births (1880–2024)4,369,024Social Security Administration
National Popularity Standing#3U.S. First-Name Historical Index
Peak Registration Year1947 (96,805 births)SSA Historical Records
Estimated Living (U.S.)
~2,038,234
Historical Births (SSA)
4,369,024
All-Time Rank
#3
Historical Peak
1947

Key Insights for Robert

Estimated Living Bearers
~2,038,234 in U.S.
Actuarial cohort survival model (CDC life tables)
All-Time National Rank
#3
Top 100 All-Time Classic
Historical Peak Year
1947
Single-year highest registration volume
Historical Gender Usage
Predominantly Male
98% Male · 2% Female
Recent 10-Year Trajectory
Softening (-33%)
2015–2024 SSA birth registration trend
Largest Estimated Population
California
~254,779 living bearers (12.5% of U.S. total)

Key Demographic Statistics for Robert

Living Population Model
~2,038,234

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

Total Recorded Births
4,369,024

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

2020 Decennial Census
3,484,800

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

Estimated Average Age
64.8 Years

Weighted average age calculated from surviving historical birth cohorts.

Peak Historical Year
1947

Highest annual total: 96,805 registrations in 1947.

Recent 10-Year Trend
declining (-33%)

Registration change over the recent 2015–2024 window.

Historical Popularity & Annual Trends

Between 2015 and 2024, Robert has experienced a 33% softening in annual newborn registrations from preceding decades.

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

Peak Era: 1947 (~96,805 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
20102662615
20112232230
20121931930
20131681680
20141461460
20151281280
20161141140
20171021020
201892920
201984840
202078780
202174740
202269690
202366660
202463630

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

Relative Popularity by Decade

1940s
98/100
1950s
91/100
1960s
62/100
1970s
32/100
1980s
12/100
1990s
3/100
2000s
1/100
2010s
1/100
2020s
1/100

Sex & Gender Distribution in Historical Records

Historical U.S. registration data shows Robert is overwhelmingly recorded as a masculine first name (98% male births).

Male: 98% (~4,281,699 births)Female: 2% (~87,325 births)

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

Origin & Meaning of the Name Robert

Cultural / Linguistic Origin
Traditional

Linguistic root and etymological background.

Traditional Meaning
"Noble, cherished"

Historical interpretation recorded in onomastic sources.

🏛️ Official Census

Robert in the 2020 Decennial Census

In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Robert appeared 3,484,800 times, ranking #457 among all first names recorded in 2020 returns.

Census 2020 Count
3,484,800 Bearers
Census 2020 Rank
#457
Census Sex Breakdown
98.5% M · 1.5% F

Where Is the Name Robert Most Common?

The largest estimated concentration of living bearers is located in California (~254,779 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)~254,77912.5%
Texas (TX)~187,5189.2%
Florida (FL)~138,6006.8%
New York (NY)~124,3326.1%
Pennsylvania (PA)~81,5294%
Illinois (IL)~79,4913.9%
Ohio (OH)~73,3763.6%
Georgia (GA)~67,2623.3%

Actuarial Living Population & Average Age Model

Based on cohort survival models applied to 1880–2024 SSA birth registrations, an estimated 2,038,234 people named Robert are living today in the U.S., with an estimated average age of 64.8 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 Robert: 64.8 years.

Data Sources, Provenance & Methodology

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

Head-to-Head Comparisons for Robert

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Popular Full-Name Combinations for Robert

Estimated frequency of common first-name + surname combinations:

Frequently Asked Questions About Robert

How many people in the U.S. are named Robert?

Approximately 2,038,234 living people in the United States currently bear the first name Robert. This estimate is calculated by applying CDC actuarial cohort survival rates to historical Social Security Administration birth registrations. In total, SSA records document 4,369,024 birth applications for Robert between 1880 and 2024.

What is the all-time popularity rank of Robert?

Robert ranks #3 in all-time national frequency among U.S. first names. This puts Robert among the 100 most common first names in American history.

When was the name Robert most popular in America?

The name Robert reached its peak historical popularity in 1947, when 96,805 newborn birth applications were recorded in that single year.

What is the origin and meaning of the name Robert?

Robert has Traditional origins, historically carrying the meaning "Noble, cherished".

What is the gender breakdown for the name Robert?

According to cumulative U.S. Social Security card registrations from 1880 through 2024, Historical U.S. registration data shows Robert is overwhelmingly recorded as a masculine first name (98% male births).

Where is the name Robert most common in the United States?

The largest estimated number of living individuals named Robert resides in California, with approximately 254,779 bearers (about 12.5% of the U.S. total).

How many people had the name Robert in the 2020 Census?

In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Robert appeared 3,484,800 times in census returns, ranking #457 in official 2020 returns.

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