Hotchner
A given name possibly derived from the English surname Hotchkiss.
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Hotchner. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Hotchner today is around 5 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Hotchner births was 2021 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Hotchner. 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 Hotchner. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2021
5 babies that year
Average age
5
years old
2021 SSA rank
#12,831
Tracked since 2021
Popularity
Hotchner: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Hotchner 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 Hotchner during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Hotchner
The name Hotchner is an English given name with origins that can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have evolved from the Old English word "hoccinor," which referred to a person who was skilled in making or repairing hooks or hooks-and-eyes.
In the 12th century, the name first appeared in historical records as "Hockenore" or "Hockenhore," typically referring to individuals who worked as metalworkers or blacksmiths. Over time, the spelling gradually changed to its modern form, Hotchner.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Hotchner was Sir William Hotchner, a renowned English knight who fought alongside King Edward III in the Hundred Years' War during the 14th century. He was praised for his bravery and military prowess in several battles against the French.
In the 16th century, a notable figure named Thomas Hotchner (1519-1591) emerged as a prominent Protestant reformer and theologian. He played a crucial role in the English Reformation and was an influential writer, publishing several works that criticized the Catholic Church's practices and doctrines.
During the 17th century, John Hotchner (1633-1701) made a name for himself as a skilled architect and builder. He designed and constructed several notable buildings in London, including the Church of St. Mary-le-Bow, which is famous for its iconic bell tower.
In the 19th century, Samuel Hotchner (1812-1879) was a renowned author and playwright. He gained recognition for his satirical works that often explored societal issues and moral dilemmas. His most famous play, "The Cynic's Comedy," was widely acclaimed for its witty dialogue and insightful commentary on human nature.
Another notable individual with the name Hotchner was Emily Hotchner (1892-1968), a pioneering feminist and social activist. She fought tirelessly for women's rights and was a prominent figure in the suffrage movement, advocating for equal voting rights and gender equality.
While the name Hotchner is not as common today as it once was, it has a rich history and has been carried by individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields throughout the centuries.
People
Hotchner + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Hotchner 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
Hotchner: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Hotchner?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Hotchner 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Hotchner a common name?
We classify Hotchner as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% 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 Hotchner most popular?
The single biggest year for Hotchner was 2021, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Hotchner is about 5 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 Hotchner in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Hotchner a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Hotchner 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 Hotchner still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Hotchner 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 Hotchner 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 called Hotchner?
Want to know how many people share the name Hotchner? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.