Modest
Modest is a name derived from the Latin word "modestus", meaning humble, moderate, or restrained.
Name Census estimates that about 1 living Americans carry the first name Modest. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Modest today is around 81 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Modest births was 1921 (11 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Modest. 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
- • The typical person named Modest is about 81 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Modests were born before 1955.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Modest. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
1
~ 1 in 342,754,338 Americans
Peak year
1921
11 babies that year
Average age
81
years old
1927 SSA rank
#4,653
Tracked since 1911
Popularity
Modest: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Modest from the 1910s through to the 1920s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1910s, with 38 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1910s peak, Modest remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Modest 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 Modest 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 Modest
The name Modest has its origins in the Latin language, derived from the word "modestus," which means humble, moderate, or restrained. It was a prominent name used in ancient Rome, reflecting the Roman virtue of modesty and self-control.
In the early Christian era, the name Modest gained significance as it was associated with several early Christian saints and martyrs. One of the most notable figures was Saint Modestus, a 4th-century bishop of Trier, who was revered for his piety and humility.
Historically, the name Modest has been used across various cultures and regions influenced by the Latin language and Christian traditions. In medieval Europe, it was particularly popular among the clergy and religious orders, where modesty was highly valued.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Modest can be found in the writings of the ancient Roman historian Tacitus, who mentioned a man named Modestus in his work "Annals." Another notable figure was Modestus, a 6th-century Byzantine monk and theologian, known for his contributions to the development of Eastern Christian thought.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Modest. Among them are Modest Mussorgsky (1839-1881), a renowned Russian composer best known for his orchestral work "Pictures at an Exhibition." Another prominent figure was Modest Petrovich Bogdanov (1805-1882), a Russian general and statesman who played a significant role in the Crimean War.
In the literary world, Modest Ilyich Chaikovsky (1850-1916), the brother of the famous composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, was a notable writer and playwright. Modest Isidorovich Altschuler (1873-1963), a Russian-born cellist and composer, made significant contributions to the development of modern cello technique.
Another notable figure was Modest Dmitrievich Chernov (1891-1986), a Russian revolutionary and politician who served as the Minister of Agriculture in the first Soviet government after the Bolshevik Revolution.
While these historical examples showcase the diverse backgrounds and achievements of individuals named Modest, the name continues to be used across various cultures, carrying the connotation of humility and moderation.
People
Modest + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Modest as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Modest: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Modest?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Modest 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 Modest a common name?
We classify Modest 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, 65 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Modest most popular?
The single biggest year for Modest was 1921, when 11 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Modest is about 81 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 Modest in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Modest a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Modest 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.
Is Modest still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Modest 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 Modest 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 Americans are named Modest?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.