Behr
A German masculine name derived from the word "bear".
Name Census estimates that about 301 living Americans carry the first name Behr. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Behr today is around 9 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Behr births was 2021 (26 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Behr. 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
301
~ 1 in 1,138,719 Americans
Peak year
2021
26 babies that year
Average age
9
years old
2024 SSA rank
#5,920
Tracked since 2007
Popularity
Behr: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Behr from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 169 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Behr remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Behr 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 Behr during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Behrs live
Origin
Meaning and history of Behr
The name Behr is a German name with origins dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old High German word "bero," which means "bear." This connection to the powerful and strong bear likely influenced the name's use and symbolism.
Behr was a relatively common name among German speakers during the medieval period, particularly in regions like Bavaria and surrounding areas. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in historical documents and records from the 12th and 13th centuries.
One of the most notable historical figures with the name Behr was Behr von Bültzingslöwen, a German nobleman and crusader who lived in the late 12th century. He fought in the Third Crusade alongside King Richard the Lionheart and was known for his bravery and skill in battle.
In the 15th century, Behr Stechlin was a renowned German artist and painter who was best known for his religious works and altar pieces. His works can still be found in various churches and museums across Germany.
During the 16th century, Behr Regius was a prominent German theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation. He was a close associate of Martin Luther and helped spread the ideas of the Reformation throughout Germany.
In the 19th century, Behr Raphael Birnbaum was a German-Jewish scholar and author who made significant contributions to the study of Jewish history and literature. He was also a prominent advocate for Jewish emancipation and civil rights.
Another notable figure with the name Behr was Behr Herman Bulow, a German-American pianist and composer who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was renowned for his virtuosic performances and compositions, which helped to popularize German Romantic music in the United States.
While the name Behr has its roots in German culture, it has also been adopted and used in other parts of the world, particularly in areas with significant German immigration and influence. However, its origins and historical significance remain firmly tied to its German heritage.
People
Behr + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Behr as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with B
Other first names starting with B with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Behr: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Behr?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 301 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Behr 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 1,138,719 US residents.
Is Behr a common name?
We classify Behr as "Very Rare". It ranks above 79.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 303 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Behr most popular?
The single biggest year for Behr was 2021, when 26 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Behr is about 9 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Behr a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Behr 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.
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.