Poet
A masculine name derived from the English word for a literary artist or writer of poems.
Name Census estimates that about 323 living Americans carry the first name Poet. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 65.2% of registrations being female. The average person named Poet today is around 9 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Poet births was 2024 (39 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Poet. 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.
People living today
323
~ 1 in 1,061,159 Americans
Peak year
2024
39 babies that year
Average age
9
years old
2024 SSA rank
#4,822
Tracked since 2005
Gender
Gender distribution for Poet
Poet is one of the more evenly split names in the SSA data. Of the 325 total registrations, 113 (34.8%) were male and 212 (65.2%) were female.
Poet as a male name
- Ranked #4,822 in 2024
- 21 male births in 2024
- Peak: 2024 (21 births)
Poet as a female name
- Ranked #6,557 in 2024
- 18 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2021 (21 births)
Popularity
Poet: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Poet from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 143 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
Poet 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 Poet during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Poets live
Origin
Meaning and history of Poet
The name Poet is a relatively modern name, originating from the English language in the late 18th century. It is derived from the word "poet," which comes from the ancient Greek word "poietes," meaning "maker" or "creator." The name reflects a connection to the art of poetry and creative expression.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Poet can be found in the works of the English Romantic poet William Wordsworth, who was born in 1770. In his poem "The Prelude," Wordsworth refers to himself as a "Poet" and celebrates the role of the poet in capturing the beauty and spirit of nature.
Another notable figure with the name Poet was Poet Laureate Robert Southey, who lived from 1774 to 1843. Southey was appointed as the official Poet Laureate of Great Britain in 1813 and held the position until his death. His works, such as "The Curse of Kehama" and "Thalaba the Destroyer," reflected his interest in mythology and legends.
The name Poet also made an appearance in the works of the American transcendentalist writer Ralph Waldo Emerson. In his essay "The Poet," published in 1844, Emerson explored the role and importance of the poet in society, stating that "the poet is the sayer, the namer, and represents beauty."
In the 20th century, the name Poet gained some popularity, particularly among individuals with a connection to the arts and literature. One notable figure was Poet Lee Young, an American poet and educator who lived from 1914 to 2005. Young was known for his poems that celebrated African American culture and history.
Another individual with the name Poet was Poet James Merrill, an American poet and novelist who lived from 1926 to 1995. Merrill's works, such as "The Changing Light at Sandover" and "Divine Comedies," explored themes of spirituality, mythology, and the human experience.
While the name Poet is not as common as some other names, it carries a unique and meaningful connection to the world of poetry and creative expression. Its usage throughout history reflects the enduring appreciation for the art of language and the power of the written word.
People
Poet + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Poet 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
Poet: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Poet?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 323 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Poet 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 1,061,159 US residents.
Is Poet a common name?
We classify Poet as "Very Rare". It ranks above 80% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 325 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Poet most popular?
The single biggest year for Poet was 2024, when 39 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Poet is about 9 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Poet a female name?
Yes, 65.2% of people registered as Poet 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.
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.