Noble
Derived from Latin, meaning exalted, renowned, or having high moral principles.
Name Census estimates that about 5,233 living Americans carry the first name Noble. It is a predominantly male name (95.3% of registrations). The average person named Noble today is around 34 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Noble births was 1919 (203 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Noble. 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 Noble is used almost entirely for boys, the SSA data does show 480 girls registered with the name since 1880.
People living today
5.2K
~ 1 in 65,499 Americans
Peak year
1919
203 babies that year
Average age
34
years old
2024 SSA rank
#1,233
Tracked since 1880
Gender
Gender distribution for Noble
Noble leans heavily male at 95.3% of total registrations, but 480 girls have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Noble as a male name
- Ranked #1,233 in 2024
- 162 male births in 2024
- Peak: 1920 (196 births)
Noble as a female name
- Ranked #8,273 in 2024
- 13 female births in 2024
- Peak: 1921 (20 births)
Popularity
Noble: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Noble from the 1880s through to the 2020s, spanning 15 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 1,583 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1920s peak, Noble remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Noble 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 Noble during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Nobles live
The SSA's state-level files cover 31 states and territories. Texas, Indiana, Kentucky recorded the most babies named Noble, while Utah, South Carolina, New Jersey recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 144 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Noble
The name Noble originated from the Old French word "noble" which meant someone with an exalted status, noble character, or notable courage. It stems from the Latin word "nobilis" meaning well-known or distinguished. The name first emerged in medieval Europe during the feudal era, when titles of nobility were highly prized.
Noble was initially used as a descriptive title for aristocrats, knights, and members of the ruling class. It signified their elevated social rank, prestigious bloodline, and ownership of lands or property. Over time, it transitioned into a given name bestowed upon male children, carrying the connotation of high birth, valor, and moral virtue.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Noble appears in the 13th-century French epic poem "The Song of Roland." The main protagonist, Roland, a noble knight and military leader, embodied the chivalric ideals of courage, loyalty, and honor. His noble deeds and sacrifice during the Battle of Roncevaux Pass in 778 AD inspired generations of warriors and poets.
In England, the name gained prominence during the Renaissance period. Sir Thomas Noble (c. 1515-1590) was a notable English soldier and politician who served under King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I. He played a crucial role in suppressing the Northern Rebellion of 1569 and was knighted for his military accomplishments.
Another prominent figure was Noble Wimberly Jones (1723-1805), a British-American planter and politician from Georgia. He served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and signed the Articles of Confederation in 1778, contributing to the establishment of the United States.
In the realm of literature, Noble Wilford Butler (1872-1923) was an American author and journalist best known for his novel "The Way of the Dog," which portrayed the life of sled dogs in the Yukon Territory. His vivid depictions of the harsh Northern wilderness and the endurance of the canine spirit earned him critical acclaim.
During the American Civil War, Union Army General Noble D. Preston (1836-1922) distinguished himself in numerous battles, including the Battle of Chickamauga and the Atlanta Campaign. His bravery and leadership earned him the rank of Brevet Major General by the end of the war.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have borne the name Noble throughout history, exemplifying the qualities of honor, distinction, and moral fortitude that the name embodies.
People
Noble + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Noble as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with N
Other first names starting with N with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Noble: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Noble?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5,233 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Noble 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 65,499 US residents.
Is Noble a common name?
We classify Noble as "Rare". It ranks above 96.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 10,107 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Noble most popular?
The single biggest year for Noble was 1919, when 203 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Noble is about 34 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Noble a male name?
Yes, 95.3% of people registered as Noble 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.