Central
Referring to a place that is near the center.
Name Census estimates that about 1 living Americans carry the first name Central. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Central today is around 87 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Central births was 1934 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Central. 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
- • The typical person named Central is about 87 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Centrals were born before 1949.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Central. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
1
~ 1 in 342,754,338 Americans
Peak year
1934
5 babies that year
Average age
87
years old
1934 SSA rank
#3,754
Tracked since 1934
Popularity
Central: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Central 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 Central during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Central
The given name Central is a unique and intriguing one, with its origins rooted in the English language. Derived from the word "central," which itself comes from the Late Latin "centralis," meaning "pertaining to the center," this name carries a sense of importance and centrality.
The earliest recorded instances of Central as a first name can be traced back to the late 19th century, though its usage remained relatively rare. One of the first notable individuals to bear this name was Central Parke Shrubb, an American businessman born in 1871. Shrubb made his mark in the banking industry and was instrumental in establishing several financial institutions in the Midwestern United States.
Another prominent figure with the name Central was Central Lunacek, an Austrian politician born in 1956. Lunacek served as a Member of the European Parliament and was a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, playing a significant role in advancing equality and social justice initiatives within the European Union.
In the realm of literature, Central has also left its mark. Central Park, the acclaimed novel by Guillaume Musso, published in 2014, features a protagonist named Central Park. While the name itself is not a given name in this context, it highlights the symbolic value and significance of the word "central" in literary works.
Moving into the 20th century, Central Ballard was an American football player born in 1901. Ballard played as a halfback for the Chicago Bears in the 1920s and was a member of the team's inaugural roster in 1920, making him a pioneer in the early days of professional football.
Lastly, Central Rodrigues, a South African cricketer born in 1991, has earned recognition as a talented all-rounder. Representing South Africa in various international tournaments, Rodrigues has showcased his skills both as a bowler and a batsman, cementing his place in the country's cricketing history.
While Central may be an unconventional choice for a given name, its unique character and connection to the concept of centrality have allowed it to leave an indelible mark across various fields and disciplines throughout history.
People
Central + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Central as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with C
Other first names starting with C with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Central: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Central?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Central 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 342,754,338 US residents.
Is Central a common name?
We classify Central as "Very Rare". It ranks above 3.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Central most popular?
The single biggest year for Central was 1934, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Central is about 87 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 Central in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Central a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Central 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 Central still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Central 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 Central 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 Americans are named Central?
Want to know how many people share the name Central? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.