Anchor
A name derived from the nautical term for a heavy object used to secure a vessel.
Name Census estimates that about 140 living Americans carry the first name Anchor. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Anchor today is around 8 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Anchor births was 2016 (17 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Anchor. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
140
~ 1 in 2,448,245 Americans
Peak year
2016
17 babies that year
Average age
8
years old
2024 SSA rank
#7,763
Tracked since 2012
Popularity
Anchor: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Anchor from the 2010s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 95 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Anchor remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Anchor by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Anchor during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Anchor
The name Anchor has its origins in the Old English word "ancor," which itself was derived from the Latin word "ancora," meaning a curved metallic object used to secure a ship or boat. The name was likely first used to refer to someone who made or worked with anchors, or perhaps a sailor who had a particular association with anchors.
The earliest recorded use of the name Anchor dates back to the 12th century in England, where it was sometimes spelled as "Ancor" or "Anker." In medieval times, it was not uncommon for people to be given names related to their occupation or trade, and the name Anchor may have been given to those involved in maritime activities.
One of the earliest known individuals with the name Anchor was Anchor Smyth, a blacksmith from Yorkshire, England, who lived in the late 15th century. He was renowned for his skill in forging high-quality anchors for ships, and his name became associated with his craft.
In the 16th century, Anchor Saunders, a sea captain from Cornwall, England, gained fame for his daring exploits and successful voyages across the Atlantic Ocean. His name, Anchor, was a testament to his close connection with the sea and the anchors that kept his ships secure.
During the 17th century, Anchor Jones, a Welsh philosopher and writer, made significant contributions to the field of metaphysics. His works explored the concept of anchoring one's thoughts and beliefs in reason and logic, which may have influenced the symbolic meaning of his name.
In the 18th century, Anchor Brown, an American Revolutionary War soldier, fought bravely for the Continental Army. His name became synonymous with steadfastness and unwavering commitment to the cause of independence.
Anchor Williamson, a Scottish engineer in the 19th century, revolutionized anchor design and manufacturing techniques. His innovative anchors were widely adopted by navies and merchant fleets around the world, cementing his legacy as a pioneer in his field.
While the name Anchor was more prevalent in earlier centuries, it has been used sparingly in modern times, perhaps due to its unique and unconventional nature. However, the name remains a testament to the rich history and symbolism associated with anchors and maritime traditions.
People
Anchor + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Anchor as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with A
Other first names starting with A with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Anchor: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Anchor?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 140 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Anchor going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 2,448,245 US residents.
Is Anchor a common name?
We classify Anchor as "Very Rare". It ranks above 69.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 141 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Anchor most popular?
The single biggest year for Anchor was 2016, when 17 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Anchor is about 8 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Anchor in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Anchor a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Anchor in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Anchor still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Anchor in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Anchor can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Anchor?
For a quick modern take, check how many people share the name Anchor on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.