Power
A gender-neutral name derived from the English word meaning "ability to act or produce an effect".
Name Census estimates that about 153 living Americans carry the first name Power. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 85.7% of registrations being male. The average person named Power today is around 5 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Power births was 2022 (31 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Power. 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
153
~ 1 in 2,240,224 Americans
Peak year
2022
31 babies that year
Average age
5
years old
2024 SSA rank
#6,375
Tracked since 2013
Gender
Gender distribution for Power
Power leans heavily male at 85.7% of total registrations, but 22 girls have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Power as a male name
- Ranked #6,375 in 2024
- 14 male births in 2024
- Peak: 2022 (31 births)
Power as a female name
- Ranked #13,087 in 2024
- 7 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2024 (7 births)
Popularity
Power: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Power from the 2010s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 111 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
Power 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 Power during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Powers live
Origin
Meaning and history of Power
The given name Power has its origins rooted in the Old English language, derived from the word "Poure," which meant "ability" or "strength." It emerged in England during the medieval period, around the 11th to 13th centuries.
This name's etymology reflects a time when physical prowess and martial capabilities were highly valued in society. It was often bestowed upon individuals who displayed remarkable fortitude, resilience, or authority in their respective roles or endeavors.
One of the earliest known references to the name Power can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings and property commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This historical document mentions individuals bearing variations of the name, such as Pouere and Poure, indicating its existence in Anglo-Norman England.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Power gained recognition as it was borne by several notable figures. One such individual was Power le Poure, a prominent English landowner and knight who lived during the 13th century. His name appears in various medieval records, including the Curia Regis Rolls, which documented legal proceedings and transactions within the royal court.
Another significant bearer of the name was Sir Power Hartcourt, a distinguished English soldier and military commander who fought alongside King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War. Born in 1320, Hartcourt's exploits on the battlefield earned him a reputation for bravery and strategic prowess.
In the 15th century, Power Jenkin emerged as a renowned Welsh warrior and leader. He played a crucial role in the Wars of the Roses, supporting the House of Lancaster. His legacy as a formidable fighter and loyal commander has been documented in various historical accounts of the time.
During the Tudor period, Power Poyntz gained recognition as a influential courtier and diplomat. Born in 1520, Poyntz served under King Henry VIII and later held influential positions during the reigns of Edward VI and Queen Mary I, showcasing his political acumen and ability to navigate the complex power dynamics of the era.
As the name Power transitioned into the modern era, it continued to be associated with individuals who exhibited remarkable strength, determination, and influence in their respective fields. One notable example is Power Shaughnessy, an Irish-American writer and journalist who lived from 1879 to 1959. His works, which often explored themes of immigration and urban life, earned him critical acclaim and a lasting legacy in American literature.
People
Power + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Power 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
Power: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Power?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 153 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Power 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 2,240,224 US residents.
Is Power a common name?
We classify Power as "Very Rare". It ranks above 70.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 154 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Power most popular?
The single biggest year for Power was 2022, when 31 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Power is about 5 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Power a male name?
Yes, 85.7% of people registered as Power 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.