Find out how popular the first name Smokey has been for the last 50 years (from 1975 to 2024) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Smokey by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Smokey is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2024, there were 7 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Smokey.

The history of the first name Smokey

The given name Smokey has its origins in English, derived from the word "smoke". It initially emerged as a nickname referring to someone who lived or worked in a smoky environment, such as a blacksmith or a chimney sweep.

In the early 19th century, the name gained popularity as a moniker for firefighters, who were often covered in soot and smoke from battling blazes. It was also used as a nickname for individuals with a deep, husky voice that sounded "smoky".

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Smokey dates back to the late 18th century, when a character named Smokey Joe appeared in a British play titled "The Smokey Chimney Sweeper" in 1792.

Historically, a few notable individuals have borne the name Smokey. One of the most famous was Smokey Joe Williams (1889-1946), an American blues singer and songwriter who was a pioneer of the Chicago blues style. Another was Smokey Robinson (born 1940), an American singer-songwriter and record producer who was the founder and frontman of the Motown vocal group The Miracles.

In the realm of literature, Smokey Mosbey was a character in the novel "The Human Comedy" by William Saroyan, published in 1943. The fictional Smokey was a young telegraph messenger during World War II.

In the world of sports, Smokey Burgess (1927-2023) was an American professional baseball catcher who played in the Major Leagues from 1949 to 1967, primarily for the Cincinnati Reds.

Smokey Yunick (1923-2001) was an influential American racing mechanic and car designer, known for his innovative and unconventional approaches to building and tuning race cars.

While the name Smokey may have originated as a nickname, it has become an accepted given name in its own right, with a rich history and associations with various professions and personalities over the centuries.

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 Smokey was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!