Orben
A masculine name of uncertain origin and meaning.
Name Census estimates that about 4 living Americans carry the first name Orben. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Orben today is around 81 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Orben births was 1921 (10 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Orben. 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 Orben is about 81 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Orbens were born before 1955.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Orben. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
4
~ 1 in 85,688,585 Americans
Peak year
1921
10 babies that year
Average age
81
years old
1951 SSA rank
#4,104
Tracked since 1917
Popularity
Orben: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Orben from the 1910s through to the 1950s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 21 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Orben 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 Orben 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 Orben
The name Orben has its roots in the Old German language and is believed to have originated in the medieval period around the 11th or 12th century. It is derived from the Germanic words "orb" and "bern," which together translate to "bear-warrior" or "bear-hero." This suggests that the name may have been given to individuals who were renowned for their strength and bravery in battle.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Orben can be found in the Nibelungenlied, an epic poem from the Middle High German period (around the 13th century). In this poem, Orben is listed as one of the warriors who fought alongside the legendary hero Siegfried. While the poem itself is a work of fiction, it provides insights into the cultural significance of the name during that era.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Orben. One of the earliest was Orben of Trier (980-1032), a German monk and writer who authored several religious texts and served as the abbot of the Benedictine monastery in Trier, Germany. Another notable figure was Orben of Xanten (1165-1228), a Flemish priest and philosopher who made significant contributions to the field of scholastic theology.
In the realm of literature, Orben Smit (1875-1941) was a Dutch poet and writer known for his works that explored themes of nature and rural life. His poetry collections, such as "Buitenleven" (Outdoor Life) and "Landleven" (Country Life), were widely acclaimed during his lifetime.
Moving into the 20th century, Orben Davis (1909-1998) was an American actor and comedian who appeared in numerous films and television shows. He was particularly known for his roles in comedies and his talent for physical humor.
It is worth noting that while the name Orben has historical roots, it is not a common name in modern times. However, its unique origins and associations with strength, bravery, and literary accomplishments make it a fascinating example of how names can reflect the cultural and linguistic heritage of different eras.
People
Orben + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Orben 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
Orben: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Orben?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 4 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Orben 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 85,688,585 US residents.
Is Orben a common name?
We classify Orben as "Very Rare". It ranks above 6.2% 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 Orben most popular?
The single biggest year for Orben was 1921, when 10 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Orben 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 Orben in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Orben a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Orben 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 Orben still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Orben 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 Orben 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 common is the name Orben?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.