Find out how popular the first name Smith has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Smith by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Smith is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 94% of people named Smith being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 113 male babies and 6 female babies born with the name Smith.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 6 baby girls were named Smith in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Smith

The given name Smith has its origins in the Anglo-Saxon language, specifically from the Old English word "smitan," which means "to strike." This name was likely given to individuals who worked as blacksmiths or metalworkers during the Middle Ages in England.

Smith is one of the most common occupational surnames that later became a given name. The earliest recorded use of the name Smith dates back to the 11th century in England. Some notable individuals with the given name Smith throughout history include Smith Wigglesworth (1859-1947), a famous British evangelist and faith healer.

Another notable figure was Smith W. Brookhart (1869-1944), an American politician who served as a U.S. Senator from Iowa. Smith Wildman Brookhart was a Republican and a prominent isolationist during the interwar period. Smith Burnett (1714-1785) was an American Revolutionary War soldier and landowner from Virginia.

Smith Thompson (1768-1843) was an American jurist who served as the sixth Secretary of the Navy and as a Supreme Court Justice. Additionally, Smith Ely Jelliffe (1866-1945) was an American neurologist and psychiatrist known for his contributions to the field of psychoanalysis.

While the name Smith is primarily associated with its occupational origins in metalworking, it has since become a widely used given name across various cultures and regions, transcending its initial occupational connotations.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Smith was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Smith, please contact us.

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