Peat
A name derived from the Scottish Gaelic term for a naturally occurring fuel.
Name Census estimates that about 0 living Americans carry the first name Peat. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Peat today is around 0 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Peat births was 1920 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Peat. 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 Peat. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
0
~ - Americans
Peak year
1920
8 babies that year
Average age
-
1920 SSA rank
#3,421
Tracked since 1920
Popularity
Peat: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Peat 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 Peat during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 8 | 0 | 8 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Peat
The given name Peat has its origins rooted in the English language, stemming from a word that refers to a type of soil formed from partially decayed plant matter. This name likely emerged during the medieval period, when agriculture and the study of soil types held significant importance.
Historical records suggest that the name Peat first appeared in written form during the 13th century, when it was documented as a surname in various English parish registers. The earliest known individual bearing this name was Peat of Bury, a landholder mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were census-like surveys conducted in England during the reign of King Edward I.
In the 15th century, the name Peat gained prominence through the Scottish philosopher and logician, John Peat, who lived from 1415 to 1482. He was a renowned scholar at the University of Paris and authored several influential works on logic and metaphysics, contributing to the intellectual discourse of his time.
Another notable figure bearing the name Peat was Sir Robert Peat, an English politician and landowner who lived from 1588 to 1672. He served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Wigan during the English Civil War and was a staunch supporter of the Parliamentarian cause.
In the 18th century, the name Peat was associated with the Scottish botanist and writer, Thomas Peat, who lived from 1712 to 1787. He authored several books on the flora of Scotland and played a significant role in the early study of Scottish plant life.
Moving into the 19th century, we find the English artist and engraver, Charles Peat, who lived from 1814 to 1886. He was renowned for his intricate engravings and illustrations, many of which appeared in popular publications of the time.
While the name Peat has its roots in the English language, it has transcended geographical boundaries and found use across various cultures and regions throughout history. Its connection to the natural world and the study of soil types has imbued it with a sense of earthiness and a reverence for the land.
People
Peat + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Peat as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with P
Other first names starting with P with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Peat: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Peat?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 0 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Peat 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 - US residents.
Is Peat a common name?
We classify Peat as "Very Rare". It ranks above 2.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 8 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Peat most popular?
The single biggest year for Peat was 1920, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Peat is about 0 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 Peat in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Peat a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Peat 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 Peat still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Peat 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 Peat 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 Peat?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.