boy's name
Duncan
- Origin Dutch
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 2
- Letters 6
- Popularity Uncommon
- Births on record 30,239
Northern Ireland
#233
1998 births
Duncan is a boy's name with 2 syllables. In 2025 it was given to 190 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
- Duncan is a name of Dutch origin.
- Peaked in 1997, when 644 babies were given the name.
- Its usage has held steady over the past decade.
- Today about 1 in 17,449 babies in the United States is given this name.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Duncan over time
Births per decade in the United States, 1880s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, still in progress — it covers 2020 to 2025, not a full ten years.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 139 |
| 1890s | 117 |
| 1900s | 116 |
| 1910s | 542 |
| 1920s | 767 |
| 1930s | 653 |
| 1940s | 1,178 |
| 1950s | 1,783 |
| 1960s | 1,389 |
| 1970s | 933 |
| 1980s | 1,414 |
| 1990s | 4,227 |
| 2000s | 3,965 |
| 2010s | 2,692 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 1,315 |
How popular is Duncan?
In 2025, Duncan was given to 190 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Where Duncan is used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names that peaked alongside Duncan
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents who like Duncan also like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Duncan over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
Sibling names for Duncan
Names from the same era that won't rhyme or share an initial with Duncan — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common questions about Duncan
How popular is the name Duncan?
In 2025, Duncan was given to 190 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Is Duncan a girl's or a boy's name?
Duncan is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
How many syllables are in Duncan?
Duncan has 2 syllables.
When was Duncan most popular?
Duncan peaked in 1997, when 644 babies were given the name. Its usage has held steady over the past decade.
Is Duncan a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Duncan currently ranks #263 in the United States. Its usage has held steady over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.