Ledge
A rare word referring to a projecting ridge or shelf.
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Ledge. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Ledge today is around 10 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ledge births was 2016 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ledge. 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 Ledge. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2016
5 babies that year
Average age
10
years old
2016 SSA rank
#13,406
Tracked since 2016
Popularity
Ledge: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Ledge 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 Ledge during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Ledge
The given name Ledge is of Germanic origin, derived from the Old English word "lecg," which means a flat, horizontal surface or a shelf of rock projecting from a cliff or ridge. It is believed to have originated in the 5th or 6th century AD, during the Anglo-Saxon period in England.
The name Ledge was likely initially used as a descriptive term or a surname for individuals who lived near or were associated with such geological features. Over time, it transitioned into a given name, possibly as a way to evoke a sense of strength, stability, or association with nature.
In ancient Anglo-Saxon literature, such as the epic poem "Beowulf," there are references to characters with names containing the root "lecg," which suggests the name's early usage and cultural significance among the Germanic tribes of that era.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Ledge was Sir Ledge de Montfort, a Norman knight who fought alongside William the Conqueror during the Norman conquest of England in 1066. He was awarded lands in Warwickshire for his service and established the Montfort family line.
Another notable bearer of the name was Ledge Wynkyn, a 15th-century English printer and publisher who was instrumental in introducing the printing press to England. He established one of the earliest printing houses in London and published numerous works, including religious texts and literary classics.
During the 16th century, Ledge Bartlett, an English explorer and navigator, led several expeditions to the Americas and was among the first Europeans to map the coastlines of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia.
In the 18th century, Ledge Paine, an American philosopher and political theorist, played a significant role in the American Revolution. His pamphlet "Common Sense" was a influential work that inspired many colonists to support the cause of independence.
Ledge Thoreau, an American author, naturalist, and philosopher, is perhaps one of the most famous individuals with this name. Born in 1817, he is best known for his works "Walden" and "Civil Disobedience," which advocated for a simple and self-sufficient lifestyle in harmony with nature.
People
Ledge + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ledge as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with L
Other first names starting with L with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Ledge: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ledge?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ledge 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 Ledge a common name?
We classify Ledge 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 Ledge most popular?
The single biggest year for Ledge was 2016, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ledge is about 10 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 Ledge in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Ledge a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ledge 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 Ledge still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Ledge 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 Ledge 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 have Ledge as a first name?
For a quick modern take, check how many people share the name Ledge on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.