Birch
A topographic name denoting someone who lived near birch trees.
Name Census estimates that about 275 living Americans carry the first name Birch. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Birch today is around 21 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Birch births was 2017 (20 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Birch. 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
275
~ 1 in 1,246,379 Americans
Peak year
2017
20 babies that year
Average age
21
years old
2023 SSA rank
#9,873
Tracked since 1913
Popularity
Birch: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Birch from the 1910s through to the 2020s, spanning 11 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 108 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Birch remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Birch 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 Birch 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 Birch
The name Birch originates from the Old English word "birce," which means the birch tree. This name has its roots in the Anglo-Saxon culture and is believed to have been used as early as the 7th century AD. It is a nature-inspired name, celebrating the graceful and resilient birch tree found in many parts of Europe.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Birch can be found in the Domesday Book, a manuscript record of landholdings and their owners in England, compiled in 1086 under the orders of William the Conqueror. The name appears as a surname in this historical document, suggesting its use as a given name may predate this record.
In the literary world, the name Birch has been immortalized in the works of renowned authors. One notable example is the character Betsy Trotwood, whose maiden name was Birch, in Charles Dickens' novel "David Copperfield," published in 1850. This character's strong-willed and independent nature may have been inspired by the resilience associated with the birch tree.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Birch. One such figure was Birch Browne (1605-1685), an English writer and translator who was best known for his translations of classical works from Latin and Greek into English. Another notable individual was Birch Coulie (1851-1936), a Canadian-born American soldier and rancher who fought in the American Civil War.
In the realm of science, Birch Tamworth (1891-1967) was a British botanist and plant breeder who made significant contributions to the study of plant genetics and the development of new crop varieties. His work had a profound impact on agricultural practices and food production.
Additionally, Birch Bayh (1928-2019) was an American politician and lawyer who served as a United States Senator from Indiana from 1963 to 1981. He was instrumental in drafting and passing significant legislation, including the 25th Amendment to the US Constitution, which established procedures for presidential succession and disability.
While the name Birch has its roots in nature and ancient cultures, it has transcended time and geography, leaving its mark on various fields throughout history. Its connection to resilience, strength, and independence has made it a distinctive and enduring choice for parents seeking a meaningful name for their child.
People
Birch + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Birch 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
Birch: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Birch?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 275 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Birch 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 1,246,379 US residents.
Is Birch a common name?
We classify Birch as "Very Rare". It ranks above 78.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 335 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Birch most popular?
The single biggest year for Birch was 2017, when 20 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Birch is about 21 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Birch a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Birch 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.