Schon
An English respelling of the German word "schön" meaning beautiful, lovely.
Name Census estimates that about 110 living Americans carry the first name Schon. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Schon today is around 42 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Schon births was 1969 (11 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Schon. 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
110
~ 1 in 3,115,949 Americans
Peak year
1969
11 babies that year
Average age
42
years old
2004 SSA rank
#11,117
Tracked since 1965
Popularity
Schon: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Schon from the 1960s through to the 2000s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 45 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1970s peak, Schon remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Schon 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 Schon during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Schon
The name Schon has its roots in the German language and culture, originating in the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Middle High German word "schœne," which means "beautiful" or "fair." This word, in turn, can be traced back to the Old High German "scōni," which has the same meaning.
In its earliest forms, Schon was likely used as a descriptive nickname or byname for someone who was considered particularly attractive or fair-featured. It later evolved into a given name in its own right, becoming a popular choice among German-speaking communities throughout Europe.
One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name Schon was a German noble named Schon von Geisenheim, who lived in the 13th century. He was a prominent figure in the Rhineland region and was known for his involvement in various political and military affairs of the time.
In the realm of literature, the name Schon appears in several medieval German manuscripts and chronicles. For instance, the 14th-century work "Der Ackermann aus Böhmen" (The Ploughman from Bohemia) features a character named Schon, who serves as a symbolic representation of beauty and virtue.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Schon. One such figure was Schon von Strassburg, a German poet and minnesinger who lived in the 13th century. His works, which include love songs and courtly poetry, are considered important examples of Middle High German literature.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Schon von Braunschweig (c. 1300-1354), a German nobleman and military leader who played a significant role in the political affairs of the Holy Roman Empire during the 14th century.
In the field of art, Schon Füssli (1706-1787) was a Swiss-born painter and writer who is known for his contributions to the Enlightenment and his works depicting scenes from classical mythology.
Moving forward in time, Schon Heine (1797-1856) was a German poet, writer, and literary critic who is regarded as one of the most significant figures in German Romanticism. His works, including the famous "Buch der Lieder" (Book of Songs), have had a lasting impact on German literature and culture.
These are just a few examples of the rich history and cultural significance associated with the name Schon. While its origins can be traced back to the Middle Ages, the name has endured and been carried by individuals from various walks of life, each leaving their mark on the tapestry of human history.
People
Schon + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Schon as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with S
Other first names starting with S with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Schon: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Schon?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 110 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Schon 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 3,115,949 US residents.
Is Schon a common name?
We classify Schon as "Very Rare". It ranks above 65.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 117 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Schon most popular?
The single biggest year for Schon was 1969, when 11 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Schon is about 42 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Schon a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Schon 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.