Argonne
Derived from the French word for "oak forest", a nature name.
Name Census estimates that about 0 living Americans carry the first name Argonne. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Argonne today is around 0 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Argonne births was 1920 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Argonne. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Argonne. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
0
~ - Americans
Peak year
1920
5 babies that year
Average age
-
1920 SSA rank
#4,321
Tracked since 1920
Popularity
Argonne: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Argonne 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 Argonne during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Argonne
The given name Argonne has its origins in the French language and is derived from the region of Argonne, a forested plateau situated in northeastern France. The name is believed to have its roots in the Gaulish word "argos," meaning "wooded heights" or "high ground."
The Argonne region played a significant role in several historical events, most notably during World War I, when it was the site of intense fighting between the Allied and German forces in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive of 1918. This battle, which lasted for several weeks, was one of the largest offensives in American military history and ultimately led to the defeat of the German forces, paving the way for the end of the war.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Argonne can be traced back to the 12th century, when it was used to refer to the geographic region. Over time, it transitioned into a personal name, although its usage remained relatively uncommon. One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Argonne was a French nobleman named Argonne de Valois, who lived in the 13th century.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Argonne, though its usage has remained relatively rare. One such individual was Argonne de Lausanne, a Swiss painter and engraver who lived in the 16th century and was known for his intricate woodcut illustrations. Another was Argonne de Montfort, a French military commander who participated in the Crusades during the 13th century.
In more recent times, Argonne has been used as a given name, though it remains relatively uncommon. One notable bearer of the name was Argonne Forest, an American environmentalist and conservationist who campaigned for the preservation of the Argonne Forest in Indiana during the early 20th century.
Another individual with the name Argonne was Argonne Dubois, a French philosopher and writer who lived in the 19th century and was known for his works on existentialism and the human condition.
While the name Argonne may not be widely used today, its historical and cultural significance, particularly in relation to the Argonne region and the events of World War I, have ensured that it maintains a place in the annals of history and continues to be bestowed upon individuals as a unique and meaningful given name.
People
Argonne + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Argonne 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
Argonne: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Argonne?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 0 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Argonne 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 - US residents.
Is Argonne a common name?
We classify Argonne as "Very Rare". It ranks above 2.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Argonne most popular?
The single biggest year for Argonne was 1920, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Argonne is about 0 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 Argonne in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Argonne a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Argonne 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 Argonne still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Argonne 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 Argonne 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 common is the name Argonne?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.