Heflin
An English given name meaning "peaceful meadow".
Name Census estimates that about 1 living Americans carry the first name Heflin. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Heflin today is around 57 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Heflin births was 1930 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Heflin. 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 Heflin. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
1
~ 1 in 342,754,338 Americans
Peak year
1930
6 babies that year
Average age
57
years old
1930 SSA rank
#3,772
Tracked since 1920
Popularity
Heflin: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Heflin from the 1920s through to the 1930s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1930s, with 6 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
Heflin 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 Heflin during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Heflins live
Origin
Meaning and history of Heflin
The name Heflin is believed to have originated from the Old English word "hæfeling," which means "young nobleman" or "youth of noble birth." This name was commonly used in England during the Anglo-Saxon period, which spanned from the 5th to the 11th centuries.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Heflin can be found in the Domesday Book, a manuscript record of the Great Survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. In this document, the name appears as "Hæfeling," referring to individuals who held land or property in various parts of the country.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Heflin was primarily associated with the aristocracy and noble families in England. Its usage was widespread among the upper classes, as it conveyed a sense of prestige and lineage. However, over time, the name gradually became more common among the general population.
During the Renaissance period, the name Heflin gained popularity among literary circles. One notable individual bearing this name was Heflin Digby (1580-1654), an English writer and philosopher who authored several treatises on theology and natural philosophy.
In the 18th century, Heflin Gwinnett (1735-1777) was a prominent figure in the American Revolution. He was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and served as the second President of the Continental Congress.
Another historical figure with the name Heflin was Heflin Booth (1806-1865), an English actor and theater manager who achieved fame for his performances in Shakespearean plays. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest actors of the Victorian era.
In the 20th century, Heflin Beery (1892-1949) was an American actor who won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the film "The Champ" in 1932. He was known for his versatility and ability to portray a wide range of characters.
Heflin Faulkner (1897-1962), an American novelist and short story writer, is also a notable figure associated with the name. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential writers of the 20th century and won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1949.
While the name Heflin may have originated from Old English roots, it has been adapted and used in various cultures and languages over the centuries. Its enduring presence in history and literature serves as a testament to its unique and enduring appeal.
People
Heflin + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Heflin 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
Heflin: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Heflin?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Heflin 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 Heflin a common name?
We classify Heflin 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, 11 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Heflin most popular?
The single biggest year for Heflin was 1930, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Heflin is about 57 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 Heflin in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Heflin a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Heflin 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 Heflin still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Heflin 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 Heflin 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 share the name Heflin?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.