Omen
A foretelling of events to come, especially an ominous or prophetic sign.
Name Census estimates that about 30 living Americans carry the first name Omen. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Omen today is around 4 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Omen births was 2022 (9 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Omen. 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 Omen. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
30
~ 1 in 11,425,145 Americans
Peak year
2022
9 babies that year
Average age
4
years old
2024 SSA rank
#9,601
Tracked since 1921
Popularity
Omen: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Omen from the 1920s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 30 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Omen 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 Omen 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 Omen
The name Omen has its origins in the English language, and it is believed to have emerged in the early modern period, around the 16th or 17th century. The word "omen" itself is derived from the Latin word "omen," which means a sign, portent, or warning.
In ancient Roman culture, omens were considered signs from the gods, interpreted by augurs or soothsayers, and were used to foretell future events or guide important decisions. The concept of omens was deeply ingrained in Roman mythology and religion, and it played a significant role in shaping the beliefs and practices of the time.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Omen can be found in the works of the English playwright William Shakespeare. In his famous tragedy "Julius Caesar," written around 1599, one of the characters is named Omen, possibly reflecting the play's themes of prophecy, fate, and the interpretation of signs.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Omen. One such person was Omen Culpepper (1612-1689), an English herbalist and botanist who authored the influential book "The English Physitian." Another was Omen Philpott (1797-1863), a British architect known for his work on notable buildings such as the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich.
In the realm of literature, Omen Fielding (1707-1754), an English novelist and playwright, is remembered for his satirical works like "The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling." Additionally, Omen Weston (1828-1876), an American poet and essayist, gained recognition for his nature-inspired writings and contributions to the Transcendentalist movement.
More recently, Omen Galloway (1923-2009), an American actor and singer, made a name for himself in the world of entertainment, appearing in numerous films and television shows throughout his career.
While the name Omen may have been influenced by its association with omens and portents, it is important to note that names often evolve and take on new meanings over time, reflecting the cultural and social contexts in which they are used.
People
Omen + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Omen as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with O
Other first names starting with O with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Omen: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Omen?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 30 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Omen 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 11,425,145 US residents.
Is Omen a common name?
We classify Omen as "Very Rare". It ranks above 46.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 36 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Omen most popular?
The single biggest year for Omen was 2022, when 9 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Omen is about 4 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Omen a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Omen 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.