Hawthorn
A name derived from the hawthorn tree, symbolizing protection and hope.
Name Census estimates that about 101 living Americans carry the first name Hawthorn. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Hawthorn today is around 6 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Hawthorn births was 2021 (17 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Hawthorn. 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
101
~ 1 in 3,393,607 Americans
Peak year
2021
17 babies that year
Average age
6
years old
2024 SSA rank
#5,732
Tracked since 2012
Popularity
Hawthorn: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Hawthorn 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 61 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
Hawthorn 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 Hawthorn 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 Hawthorn
The name Hawthorn has its roots in the English language, originating from the Old English word "hægthorn," which refers to the thorny shrub or tree commonly known as the hawthorn. This name is derived from the combination of "hæg," meaning "hedge," and "thorn," denoting the sharp, woody spines found on the plant's branches.
During the Middle Ages, the hawthorn tree held significant symbolism in various European cultures. It was often associated with fertility rites and May Day celebrations, as well as being considered a symbol of hope and protection. The hawthorn's white or pink blossoms were also believed to possess magical properties, making it a revered plant in pagan traditions.
In English literature, the hawthorn tree has been mentioned in various works, including William Shakespeare's plays and the poetry of John Keats. One notable reference is found in Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," where the fairy queen Titania sleeps beneath a hawthorn bush.
The earliest recorded use of Hawthorn as a given name can be traced back to the 17th century in England. One of the earliest individuals known to bear this name was Hawthorn Roberts (1647-1723), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the name Hawthorn:
1. Hawthorn Hain (1785-1859), an English architect and surveyor known for his work on various public buildings in London.
2. Hawthorn Hill (1802-1870), an American politician who served as the 19th Governor of Illinois from 1857 to 1861.
3. Hawthorn Hewitt (1810-1891), a British barrister and judge who served as the Chief Justice of the Straits Settlements (now Singapore and Malaysia) from 1867 to 1873.
4. Hawthorn Smyth (1825-1897), an English cricketer who played for the Marylebone Cricket Club and represented the Gentlemen in the Gentlemen v Players matches.
5. Hawthorn Leslie (1884-1962), a Scottish engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the design of steam turbines and other industrial machinery.
While the name Hawthorn is not as common as it once was, it carries a rich history and symbolism, evoking images of nature, fertility, and protection, as well as literary and cultural references from various eras.
People
Hawthorn + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Hawthorn as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with H
Other first names starting with H with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Hawthorn: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Hawthorn?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 101 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Hawthorn 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 3,393,607 US residents.
Is Hawthorn a common name?
We classify Hawthorn as "Very Rare". It ranks above 64.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 102 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Hawthorn most popular?
The single biggest year for Hawthorn was 2021, when 17 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Hawthorn 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 Hawthorn in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Hawthorn a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Hawthorn 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 Hawthorn still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Hawthorn 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 Hawthorn 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 named Hawthorn?
See how many people share the name Hawthorn on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.