NameCensus.
Very Rare

Union

A given name representing unity, alliance, or a joining together.

Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Union. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Union today is around 14 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Union births was 1923 (6 babies).

This page is the full Name Census profile for Union. 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.

Key insights

  • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Union. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.

People living today

5

~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans

Peak year

1923

6 babies that year

Average age

14

years old

2017 SSA rank

#14,110

Tracked since 1916

Popularity

Union: popularity over time

The SSA tracks Union from the 1910s through to the 2010s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 6 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.

Babies born per year

0235619201940196019802000

Decades

Union 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 Union during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.

DecadeMaleFemaleTotal
1910s505
1920s606
2010s505

Origin

Meaning and history of Union

The name Union finds its origins in the Latin word "unio", which means "unity" or "oneness". It was initially used as a word to describe the joining or coming together of two or more entities, particularly in a political or spiritual context.

In ancient times, the concept of union was deeply revered in various cultures and belief systems. The name Union may have been inspired by the philosophical and spiritual ideals of unity, harmony, and interconnectedness that were prevalent in ancient civilizations.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Union can be traced back to the Roman Empire, where it was used symbolically to represent the unification of different regions and peoples under Roman rule. The name was often associated with the idea of strength in unity and the consolidation of power.

In the Middle Ages, the name Union gained religious significance, particularly in Christian contexts. It was occasionally used to symbolize the mystical union between the human soul and the divine, or the unity of the Church under the guidance of the Holy See.

One notable historical figure who bore the name Union was Union Arsakuni (c. 600 AD), an Armenian prince and military leader who played a significant role in the defense of Armenia against the Byzantine Empire.

In the 16th century, during the Protestant Reformation, the name Union was sometimes used by religious reformers to represent the idea of unity within the Christian faith, often in opposition to the perceived divisions and corruption within the Catholic Church.

Another prominent figure with the name Union was Union Trench (1807-1886), an English clergyman and author who wrote extensively on religious and theological topics, advocating for unity and reconciliation among different Christian denominations.

In the 19th century, the name Union gained prominence in the context of the labor movement and the struggle for workers' rights. Union leaders and activists often used the name symbolically to represent the unity and collective power of organized labor.

One such figure was Union Calvert (1846-1912), an influential American labor leader and activist who played a pivotal role in the establishment of the American Federation of Labor (AFL).

In more recent times, the name Union has been associated with the ideals of social and political unity, particularly in the context of movements for independence, self-determination, and the pursuit of national or cultural identity.

One notable example is Union Patriótica (1924-1998), a Mexican politician and activist who advocated for the rights and empowerment of indigenous communities in Mexico.

People

Union + last name combinations

How many people share a full name with Union as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.

Related

Other names starting with U

Other first names starting with U with a similar number of bearers.

FAQ

Union: questions and answers

How many people in the U.S. are named Union?

Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Union 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 68,550,868 US residents.

Is Union a common name?

We classify Union as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 16 babies have been registered with this name.

When was Union most popular?

The single biggest year for Union was 1923, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Union is about 14 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.

Is Union a male name?

Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Union 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.

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