Hoss
A masculine name of uncertain origin, possibly a diminutive form of "horse".
Name Census estimates that about 89 living Americans carry the first name Hoss. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Hoss today is around 12 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Hoss births was 2023 (11 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Hoss. 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 Hoss. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
89
~ 1 in 3,851,172 Americans
Peak year
2023
11 babies that year
Average age
12
years old
2024 SSA rank
#8,550
Tracked since 1973
Popularity
Hoss: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Hoss from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 43 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
Hoss 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 Hoss 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 Hoss
The name Hoss is believed to have its origins in the English language, specifically as a shortened form of the word "horse." It is thought to have emerged as a nickname or pet name in the late 18th or early 19th century, during a time when horses played a crucial role in transportation and daily life.
The earliest recorded use of the name Hoss can be traced back to the 19th century in various literary works and historical records. One notable example is found in Mark Twain's novel "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," published in 1884, where the character Hoss Williams is mentioned.
Throughout history, the name Hoss has been associated with individuals known for their strength, resilience, and hardworking nature, much like the animal it is derived from. One of the most famous bearers of this name was Hoss Cartwright, a fictional character from the popular television series "Bonanza," which aired from 1959 to 1973. Portrayed by actor Dan Blocker (1928-1972), Hoss Cartwright was the gentle giant of the Cartwright family and became an iconic figure in American pop culture.
Another notable individual with the name Hoss was Hoss Prather (1886-1972), a professional baseball player who played for the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Giants in the early 20th century. He was known for his powerful hitting and earned the nickname "Hoss" due to his large stature and physical strength.
In the world of motorsports, Hoss Ellington (1913-1995) was a legendary race car driver who competed in the Indianapolis 500 and other major racing events during the mid-20th century. His fearless driving style and numerous victories on the track earned him a place in the Motorsports Hall of Fame.
Another historical figure who bore the name Hoss was Hoss Brock (1917-2003), a World War II veteran and recipient of the Purple Heart. After serving in the military, he became a respected farmer and community leader in his hometown of Brock, Texas.
While the name Hoss may not be as common today as it once was, its unique history and association with strength, resilience, and hard work have made it a memorable and enduring part of the English language and cultural heritage.
People
Hoss + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Hoss 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
Hoss: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Hoss?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 89 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Hoss 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 3,851,172 US residents.
Is Hoss a common name?
We classify Hoss as "Very Rare". It ranks above 62.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 90 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Hoss most popular?
The single biggest year for Hoss was 2023, when 11 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Hoss is about 12 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Hoss a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Hoss 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.