Branch
A nature-inspired masculine name referring to the woody extension of a tree.
Name Census estimates that about 883 living Americans carry the first name Branch. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Branch today is around 15 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Branch births was 2018 (92 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Branch. 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
883
~ 1 in 388,170 Americans
Peak year
2018
92 babies that year
Average age
15
years old
2024 SSA rank
#3,216
Tracked since 1889
Popularity
Branch: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Branch from the 1880s through to the 2020s, spanning 12 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 420 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Branch remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Branch 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 Branch during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Branchs live
The SSA's state-level files cover 10 states and territories. Texas, Georgia, Missouri recorded the most babies named Branch, while Virginia, Utah, Oregon recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 13 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Branch
The given name Branch is of English origin, derived from the word "branch," referring to the woody part of a tree extending from the trunk or main stem. The earliest recorded use of Branch as a given name dates back to the late 16th century in England, where it was likely given to children born on estates or in rural areas with a connection to nature or forestry.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the name Branch appeared sporadically in historical records and parish registers across various regions of England. It was particularly prevalent in areas with a strong agricultural or woodland heritage, such as the counties of Sussex, Kent, and Gloucestershire.
One of the earliest notable individuals bearing the name Branch was Branch Tanner, an English Puritan minister born in 1599. He served as a chaplain during the English Civil War and was a signatory to the Solemn League and Covenant, a significant document in the history of Presbyterianism.
In the 19th century, the name Branch gained some popularity among families in the United States, particularly in the Southern states. This may have been influenced by the admiration for nature and the idyllic rural lifestyle prevalent in the region during that era.
A notable figure with the name Branch from this period was Branch Wright Tanner, an American politician and jurist born in 1825 in North Carolina. He served as a judge on the Supreme Court of Alabama and was a prominent figure in the state's political landscape.
Moving into the 20th century, Branch Rickey, born in 1881 in Ohio, was a celebrated baseball executive and the man credited with breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball by signing Jackie Robinson to the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1945. Rickey's legacy as a pioneer in sports integration and civil rights is widely recognized.
Another notable individual with the name Branch was Branch McCracken, an American basketball coach born in 1900. He led the Indiana Hoosiers to two NCAA Championship titles in 1940 and 1953, cementing his place as one of the most successful coaches in the history of college basketball.
Branch Shelton, born in 1923 in Texas, was a distinguished American poet and playwright. His works often explored themes of identity, spirituality, and the human experience, earning him critical acclaim and numerous literary awards throughout his career.
While the name Branch may have originated from a humble connection to the natural world, it has been borne by individuals who have left their mark in various fields, including religion, law, sports, and literature, reflecting the diverse paths that those bearing this unique name have taken throughout history.
People
Branch + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Branch 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
Branch: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Branch?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 883 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Branch 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 388,170 US residents.
Is Branch a common name?
We classify Branch as "Very Rare". It ranks above 89.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,030 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Branch most popular?
The single biggest year for Branch was 2018, when 92 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Branch is about 15 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Branch a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Branch 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.