Trigger
A masculine name deriving from an English word referring to a lever or device that activates a mechanism.
Name Census estimates that about 259 living Americans carry the first name Trigger. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Trigger today is around 10 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Trigger births was 2014 (24 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Trigger. 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
259
~ 1 in 1,323,376 Americans
Peak year
2014
24 babies that year
Average age
10
years old
2024 SSA rank
#10,783
Tracked since 2009
Popularity
Trigger: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Trigger from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 183 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Trigger remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Trigger 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 Trigger during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Triggers live
Origin
Meaning and history of Trigger
The name Trigger is an unusual and intriguing one, with a fascinating history rooted in the English language. Its origins can be traced back to the early modern period, around the 16th or 17th century. The word "trigger" itself stems from the Middle English "tripgere," which means "one who trips" or "one who releases a trap."
In its earliest usage, the term "trigger" referred to a mechanism used to release a trap or set off a firing device, such as a crossbow or a gun. As such, the name Trigger may have initially been associated with professions or roles related to hunting, warfare, or weaponry. Over time, however, the name's connotations evolved to encompass a broader range of meanings.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Trigger was Trigger Hawkins, an English highwayman and robber active in the late 17th century. His exploits and daring escapades were widely chronicled in popular literature of the time, lending the name a certain air of adventure and notoriety.
Another notable figure bearing the name Trigger was Trigger Tom Roberts, a celebrated English jockey of the early 19th century. Born in 1794, Roberts earned his nickname due to his exceptional skill and precision in timing his horses' starts. His success on the racetrack brought the name Trigger into the realm of sports and athletic prowess.
In the realm of literature, one cannot overlook the character Trigger in the classic novel "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" by Mark Twain. Trigger was the name of one of the main character's mischievous and loyal friends, adding a touch of whimsy and playfulness to the name's associations.
In the 20th century, the name Trigger gained further recognition with the rise of country music icon Roy Rogers. His beloved horse, a golden palomino named Trigger, became an iconic figure in Western films and television shows, cementing the name's place in American popular culture.
Another figure of note was Trigger Alpert, an American jazz musician and composer born in 1916. His innovative approach to music and his collaborations with notable artists like Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie contributed to the name's association with creativity and artistic expression.
While the name Trigger may not be among the most common given names today, its rich history and multifaceted associations make it a fascinating and intriguing choice. From its origins in hunting and warfare to its connections with literature, sports, and popular culture, the name Trigger has woven itself into the tapestry of various cultural narratives, leaving an indelible mark on our collective consciousness.
People
Trigger + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Trigger as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with T
Other first names starting with T with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Trigger: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Trigger?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 259 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Trigger 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 1,323,376 US residents.
Is Trigger a common name?
We classify Trigger as "Very Rare". It ranks above 77.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 261 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Trigger most popular?
The single biggest year for Trigger was 2014, when 24 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Trigger is about 10 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Trigger a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Trigger 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.