Boulder
A word denoting a large, detached rock or stone.
Name Census estimates that about 10 living Americans carry the first name Boulder. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Boulder today is around 17 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Boulder births was 2004 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Boulder. 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 Boulder. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
10
~ 1 in 34,275,434 Americans
Peak year
2004
5 babies that year
Average age
17
years old
2013 SSA rank
#12,386
Tracked since 2004
Popularity
Boulder: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Boulder from the 2000s through to the 2010s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 5 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
Boulder 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 Boulder 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 Boulder
Boulder is an intriguing name that has its origins in the Old English language. The word "boulder" itself is derived from the Middle English "bulder," which means a large, rounded rock or stone. This term can be traced back to the Old English "bulderen," meaning "to thunder or make a loud noise."
In ancient times, the name Boulder was likely given to individuals who possessed a strong, commanding presence or a booming voice reminiscent of rolling thunder. It may have also been bestowed upon those born during thunderstorms or near prominent rock formations, as these natural phenomena held great significance in various cultures.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Boulder can be found in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, a historical record of events in Anglo-Saxon England dating back to the 9th century. The chronicle mentions a man named Boulder, who was a renowned warrior and member of King Alfred the Great's court in the late 9th century.
Throughout history, there have been several noteworthy individuals who bore the name Boulder. One such figure was Boulder the Brave, a 12th-century English knight who fought valiantly in the Crusades and was known for his unwavering courage on the battlefield. Another notable Boulder was a 14th-century monk from the abbey of Bury St. Edmunds, who was renowned for his scholarly works on theology and philosophy.
In the 16th century, Boulder Fitzwilliam (1516-1590) was a prominent English nobleman and diplomat who served under Queen Elizabeth I. He played a crucial role in negotiating peace treaties with neighboring countries and was highly regarded for his diplomatic skills.
During the American Revolutionary War, Boulder Jameson (1745-1819) was a skilled marksman and scout who fought alongside the Continental Army. His keen eye and knowledge of the wilderness proved invaluable in numerous battles against the British forces.
In more recent times, Boulder Hawkins (1890-1976) was a renowned American explorer and archaeologist who made significant discoveries in the jungles of South America, uncovering ancient ruins and artifacts from long-lost civilizations.
While the name Boulder may seem unconventional by modern standards, its rich history and connection to the natural world and human resilience make it a fascinating and evocative choice for those seeking a unique and meaningful moniker.
People
Boulder + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Boulder 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
Boulder: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Boulder?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 10 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Boulder 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 34,275,434 US residents.
Is Boulder a common name?
We classify Boulder as "Very Rare". It ranks above 28.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 10 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Boulder most popular?
The single biggest year for Boulder was 2004, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Boulder is about 17 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 Boulder in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Boulder a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Boulder 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 Boulder still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Boulder 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 Boulder 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 Boulder?
For a quick modern take, check how many people share the name Boulder on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.