Bohannon
An anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Banáin meaning "descendant of Banán".
Name Census estimates that about 147 living Americans carry the first name Bohannon. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Bohannon today is around 6 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Bohannon births was 2018 (21 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Bohannon. 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
147
~ 1 in 2,331,662 Americans
Peak year
2018
21 babies that year
Average age
6
years old
2024 SSA rank
#6,201
Tracked since 2014
Popularity
Bohannon: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Bohannon from the 2010s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 80 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Bohannon 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 Bohannon 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 Bohannon
The name Bohannon is believed to have originated from the Gaelic language, with roots tracing back to ancient Ireland and Scotland. The earliest known spelling of the name was "O'Bohannan," which translates to "descendant of Bohannan." Bohannan itself is derived from the Gaelic words "bó" meaning "cow" and "anann" meaning "protector" or "guardian," suggesting the name may have been given to those who were tasked with protecting cattle.
In the 9th century, the name Bohannon appeared in ancient Irish manuscripts and chronicles, indicating its widespread use among Celtic communities during that time period. These early records often referred to individuals with the name as clan leaders, warriors, or individuals of notable status within their respective communities.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bohannon can be found in the Annals of Ulster, an ancient Irish chronicle dating back to the 15th century. The chronicle mentions a Bohannon mac Áedáin, who was a prominent chieftain in the Kingdom of Dál Riata in the 7th century.
Throughout history, several individuals bearing the name Bohannon have left their mark. One notable figure was Bohannon Ó Maolmhuaidh, a 12th-century Irish poet and bard renowned for his intricate verse and storytelling abilities. His works were widely celebrated and preserved in ancient Irish literature.
In the 16th century, Bohannon Ó Néill was a influential figure in Irish history, serving as the Earl of Tyrone and leading the Irish forces against English rule during the Nine Years' War (1593-1603). His military prowess and leadership played a significant role in the conflict.
Another historical figure was Bohannon Mór Ó Conchobhair, a 13th-century King of Connacht, a region in western Ireland. He was known for his diplomatic skills and successful negotiations with neighboring kingdoms, contributing to a period of relative peace and stability in the region.
In the realm of religion, Bohannon Mac Dara was a revered 17th-century Irish Franciscan friar and scholar. He was renowned for his extensive knowledge of theology and his contributions to the preservation of Irish language and culture during a time of significant upheaval.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who bore the name Bohannon throughout history, each leaving their mark in their respective fields and eras.
People
Bohannon + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Bohannon 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
Bohannon: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Bohannon?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 147 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Bohannon 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 2,331,662 US residents.
Is Bohannon a common name?
We classify Bohannon as "Very Rare". It ranks above 70% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 148 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Bohannon most popular?
The single biggest year for Bohannon was 2018, when 21 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Bohannon is about 6 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 Bohannon in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Bohannon a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Bohannon 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 Bohannon still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Bohannon 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 Bohannon 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 are called Bohannon?
See how many Americans are named Bohannon on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.