Prestige
A name suggesting distinction, status, and commanding respect or admiration.
Name Census estimates that about 8 living Americans carry the first name Prestige. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Prestige today is around 7 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Prestige births was 2019 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Prestige. 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 Prestige. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
8
~ 1 in 42,844,292 Americans
Peak year
2019
8 babies that year
Average age
7
years old
2019 SSA rank
#9,528
Tracked since 2019
Popularity
Prestige: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Prestige 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 Prestige during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 8 | 0 | 8 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Prestige
The name Prestige originates from the French language, derived from the Latin word "praestigium," meaning illusion, trick, or deception. It emerged in the 16th century and was initially used to describe a person's reputation, influence, or esteem in society.
During the Middle Ages, the word "prestige" was associated with sorcery and magic, as it referred to the illusions and tricks performed by magicians and sorcerers. This association stemmed from the belief that these performers possessed supernatural powers or were skilled in deception.
The earliest recorded use of the name Prestige can be traced back to the 17th century. One notable figure was Prestige Dumont, a French illusionist and magician who lived from 1640 to 1708. He gained fame for his remarkable sleight-of-hand tricks and captivating performances across Europe.
In the 18th century, the name Prestige became more closely associated with social status and esteem. Prestige Montclair (1725-1798), a French aristocrat and influential political figure, was known for his prestigious reputation and influential connections within the French court.
As the concept of prestige evolved, it took on a more positive connotation, representing respect, admiration, and high regard. Prestige Latimer (1810-1888), an English philosopher and writer, explored the idea of prestige in his works, analyzing its role in shaping perceptions and societal hierarchies.
The 19th century saw the name Prestige gain further recognition with Prestige Beaumont (1845-1919), a renowned French artist whose paintings were highly esteemed and sought after by collectors and galleries alike. His works were considered prestigious and exemplary of the Impressionist movement.
In the 20th century, Prestige Delacroix (1912-1988) was a influential French fashion designer. Her clothing lines and haute couture collections were synonymous with prestige and luxury, catering to the elite and influential members of society.
These examples illustrate the historical journey of the name Prestige, from its origins as a word associated with illusion and deception to its modern connotation of respect, admiration, and high social standing.
People
Prestige + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Prestige 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
Prestige: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Prestige?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 8 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Prestige 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 42,844,292 US residents.
Is Prestige a common name?
We classify Prestige as "Very Rare". It ranks above 24.6% 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 Prestige most popular?
The single biggest year for Prestige was 2019, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Prestige is about 7 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 Prestige in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Prestige a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Prestige 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 Prestige still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Prestige 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 Prestige 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 Prestige?
For a quick modern take, check how many people share the name Prestige on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.