Princeton
A given name derived from the English place name meaning "prince's town."
Name Census estimates that about 9,721 living Americans carry the first name Princeton. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Princeton today is around 11 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Princeton births was 2017 (793 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Princeton. 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
- • Princeton is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 11 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.
People living today
9.7K
~ 1 in 35,259 Americans
Peak year
2017
793 babies that year
Average age
11
years old
2024 SSA rank
#614
Tracked since 1950
Popularity
Princeton: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Princeton from the 1950s through to the 2020s, spanning 8 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 5,461 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Princeton remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Princeton 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 Princeton during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Princetons live
The SSA's state-level files cover 37 states and territories. Texas, Georgia, California recorded the most babies named Princeton, while Nebraska, Utah, Connecticut recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 224 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Princeton
The given name Princeton has its origins in the English language and can be traced back to the late 17th century. It is believed to have derived from the combination of two Old English words, "prince" and "ton," which together translate to "prince's town" or "chief's settlement." This connection suggests that the name was initially associated with a place of importance or a settlement governed by a prince or ruler.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Princeton dates back to 1756 when it was given to a town in New Jersey, United States. The town was named after Prince William III of Orange, who was a prominent figure in the late 17th century and played a significant role in the history of the Netherlands and England. This association with royalty further reinforces the name's ties to nobility and leadership.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Princeton. One of the most famous was Princeton Tener (1865-1935), an American baseball player who played for the Chicago White Stockings (now the Chicago Cubs) in the late 19th century. He was a talented pitcher and later became a successful coach and manager.
Another prominent figure was Princeton Hightower (1900-1981), an American civil rights activist and educator. He dedicated his life to fighting for racial equality and improving educational opportunities for African Americans in the segregated South during the mid-20th century.
In the field of literature, Princeton Williamson (1920-2003) was an American author and poet known for his works exploring themes of African American culture and identity. His most notable work, "The Homecoming," published in 1968, received critical acclaim and is considered a significant contribution to the Harlem Renaissance literary movement.
The name Princeton also holds historical significance in the realm of academia. Princeton University, one of the most prestigious institutions of higher education in the United States, was founded in 1746 and named after the aforementioned town of Princeton, New Jersey. The university has produced numerous notable alumni, including several presidents, Nobel laureates, and influential scholars.
Finally, Princeton Lyman (born 1944) is a former United States diplomat and ambassador who served in various roles during the latter half of the 20th century. He played a crucial role in shaping American foreign policy, particularly in regards to Africa and the Middle East.
While the name Princeton may not be as common as other given names, its rich history and connections to notable individuals, places, and institutions have solidified its place in the annals of cultural and historical significance.
People
Princeton + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Princeton 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
Princeton: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Princeton?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 9,721 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Princeton 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 35,259 US residents.
Is Princeton a common name?
We classify Princeton as "Rare". It ranks above 97.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 9,828 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Princeton most popular?
The single biggest year for Princeton was 2017, when 793 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Princeton is about 11 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Princeton a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Princeton 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.