Liberty
A feminine given name meaning "freedom from control or obligation".
Name Census estimates that about 14,547 living Americans carry the first name Liberty. It is a predominantly female name (99.0% of registrations). The average person named Liberty today is around 19 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Liberty births was 2004 (754 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Liberty. 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
- • Although Liberty is used almost entirely for girls, the SSA data does show 154 boys registered with the name since 1880.
People living today
15K
~ 1 in 23,562 Americans
Peak year
2004
754 babies that year
Average age
19
years old
2017 SSA rank
#982
Tracked since 1912
Gender
Gender distribution for Liberty
Liberty leans heavily female at 99.0% of total registrations, but 154 boys have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Liberty as a male name
- Ranked #11,611 in 2017
- 6 male births in 2017
- Peak: 1976 (16 births)
Liberty as a female name
- Ranked #982 in 2024
- 263 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2004 (749 births)
Popularity
Liberty: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Liberty from the 1910s through to the 2020s, spanning 12 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 5,369 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Liberty remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Liberty 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 Liberty during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Libertys live
The SSA's state-level files cover 45 states and territories. California, Texas, Ohio recorded the most babies named Liberty, while Wyoming, New Hampshire, Connecticut recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 278 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Liberty
The given name Liberty is derived from the Latin word "libertas," which means "freedom" or "liberty." The name has its origins in ancient Roman culture, where the concept of liberty was deeply revered and celebrated.
Liberty as a personal name gained popularity during the era of the American and French Revolutions in the late 18th century. It became a symbol of the ideals of freedom, democracy, and independence that these revolutionary movements represented. The name was often given to children born during or shortly after these pivotal historical events.
In ancient Roman times, the personification of Liberty was depicted as a goddess, Libertas. She was portrayed as a graceful female figure, often holding a cap or staff, representing the freedom of the Roman people. Her image was frequently featured on Roman coins and seals, symbolizing the importance of liberty in Roman society.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Liberty is found in the writings of the Roman historian Livy, who lived from 59 BC to 17 AD. He mentioned a woman named Libertas who was honored for her courage and devotion to the cause of freedom.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Liberty. One such individual was Liberty Wertmüller (1726-1817), a Swiss-born American Revolutionary War soldier who fought for the Continental Army and became a respected military leader.
Another prominent figure was Liberty Hyde Bailey (1858-1954), an American horticulturist, botanist, and co-founder of the American Society for Horticultural Science. His work significantly contributed to the advancement of agricultural sciences and the preservation of natural resources.
In the realm of literature, Liberty Broderick (1888-1962) was an American writer and poet known for her works that celebrated the beauty of nature and the human spirit. Her poems often explored themes of freedom, independence, and the pursuit of happiness.
Liberty Valance, a fictional character from the 1962 Western film of the same name, became a cultural icon representing the ideals of justice, honor, and the transition from the era of the Wild West to a more civilized society.
Liberty Ross (born 1978) is a contemporary British model, actress, and entrepreneur who has graced the covers of numerous fashion magazines and has been a prominent figure in the fashion industry for over two decades.
The name Liberty has been a powerful symbol throughout history, representing the human desire for freedom, self-determination, and the pursuit of ideals that uplift the human spirit. Its enduring legacy continues to inspire generations, serving as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for liberty and the unwavering commitment to preserving fundamental human rights.
People
Liberty + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Liberty 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
Liberty: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Liberty?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 14,547 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Liberty 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 23,562 US residents.
Is Liberty a common name?
We classify Liberty as "Uncommon". It ranks above 98.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 15,204 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Liberty most popular?
The single biggest year for Liberty was 2004, when 754 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Liberty is about 19 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Liberty a female name?
Yes, 99.0% of people registered as Liberty in the SSA data are female. 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.