See
A feminine name of Greek origin meaning "princess".
Name Census estimates that about 375 living Americans carry the first name See. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named See today is around 38 years old, and the year with the single highest number of See births was 1982 (34 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for See. 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
375
~ 1 in 914,012 Americans
Peak year
1982
34 babies that year
Average age
38
years old
1997 SSA rank
#6,770
Tracked since 1979
Popularity
See: popularity over time
The SSA tracks See from the 1970s through to the 1990s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 232 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1980s peak, See remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
See 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 See during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Sees live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. California, Minnesota, Wisconsin recorded the most babies named See, while Wisconsin, Minnesota, California recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 87 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of See
The given name See originates from the Old English word "sēon," which means "to see" or "to perceive." This name can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon period in Britain, around the 5th to 11th centuries AD. It was commonly used as a descriptive name, likely referring to someone with exceptional eyesight or observational skills.
In ancient Anglo-Saxon texts and records, such as the Domesday Book from the 11th century, variations of the name See, like Seon and Seona, can be found. These early written sources provide evidence of the name's usage and historical roots in England.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name See was Seon of Essex, a landowner mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086. Another notable figure was Seona the Scribe, a monk who lived in the 9th century and was known for his calligraphic skills and illuminated manuscripts.
During the Middle Ages, the name See was occasionally used in Christian contexts, possibly referring to those with spiritual insight or keen perception. However, its usage remained relatively rare compared to other popular names of the time.
In the 16th century, See Bynge (1497-1552) was a prominent English lawyer and Member of Parliament during the reign of King Henry VIII. He played a significant role in the legal and political affairs of his time.
Another notable figure with the name See was See Naythons (1590-1660), a Welsh poet and writer who contributed to the preservation of Welsh literature and culture during the 17th century.
In more recent history, See Kin Wong (1892-1974) was a Chinese-American artist and calligrapher who gained recognition for his ink paintings and contributions to promoting Chinese art in the United States.
While the name See has remained relatively uncommon throughout history, it has been carried by individuals from various backgrounds, reflecting its roots in Old English and its association with perception and observation.
People
See + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with See 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
See: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named See?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 375 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for See 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 914,012 US residents.
Is See a common name?
We classify See as "Very Rare". It ranks above 81.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 395 babies have been registered with this name.
When was See most popular?
The single biggest year for See was 1982, when 34 babies received the name. The fact that the average living See is about 38 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is See a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as See 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.