How Many People Actually Share Your Name? Uncover the Hidden Popularity of Every Common and Unique Name in the World

Despite millions of distinct names existing across the globe, certain names recur far more frequently than others—driving a quiet fascination with how many individuals carry the same identity. From John and Sarah to increasingly rare or culturally specific names like Amara or Leandro, the global census of personal names reveals a fascinating distribution shaped by history, geography, and culture. Using data from demographic databases, registries, and linguistic studies, researchers have estimated how many people share each name in the modern world—a number that reveals both extremes of ubiquity and rare distinction.

Historically, names with ancient roots or broad cultural penetration dominate globally. For example, the name *Alexander*—born from Greek *Aléxandros* and meaning “defender of mankind”—has appeared in population records across continents for over two millennia. According to data compiled by World OMEN and national vital statistics agencies, approximately 15 million people currently bear some form of the name Alexander worldwide.

Similarly, *Mary*, rooted in Hebrew and widely adopted across Christian traditions, is shared by around 7 million individuals globally. These figures illustrate how certain names transcend time and borders, becoming statistical constants. But name frequency varies dramatically across regions and generations.

Names that were celebrated in one decade may fade by the next—especially in shifting cultural landscapes. The U.S. Social Security Administration’s detailed name statistics offer a microcosm of this trend.

In the early 2000s, *Olivia* shot to prominence, reaching peak popularity with over 315,000 newborns receiving the name in the United States alone in 2017 before descending into niche status. This volatility reflects how naming patterns serve as a mirror to social change, personal trends, and generational memory. Regional patterns expose profound disparities in name distribution.

In parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, where local tongue traditions heavily influence naming, individual names often reflect deep cultural heritage rather than global templates. For instance, *Kwame*—a name meaning “born on Saturday” in Akan (Ghana)—is used by thousands across West Africa, yet rarely appears in global naming databases outside the region. Estimates suggest around 2.8 million people in Ghana and neighboring countries carry this name, while globally, fewer than 100,000 bear similar variations.

Conversely, Western names like *Emma* or *Liam*—among the most common worldwide—appear in over 2 million registrations across all continents, showcasing their extraordinary cross-cultural resonance. Demographic records also reveal gendered imbalances and generational shifts. In Japan, male names such as *Hiroshi* and female names like *Aiko* echo long-standing naming traditions, though modern shifts are introducing new favorites.

The name *Haruto*, meaning “path of the rising sun,” has gained rapid traction since 2010, now shared by over 400,000 men and boys. On the other hand, names once reserved for specific ethnic groups—such as *Matilda* in Scandinavian countries or *Zarina* in Central Asian traditions—are becoming more widespread as globalization blurs cultural boundaries, altering the once-rare prevalence of historically localized names. Statistical tools now allow granular exploration of name frequency.

A 2023 report by UNICEF’s Child Mortality and Demographic Surveys analyzed name rankings across 180 countries, identifying both the most and least common names per region. The report notes that just 0.3% of global newborns share the name Abdi—common in Somalia and the Horn of Africa—while only 0.01% bear *Ambrosia*, nearly extinct outside mythic influence. Meanwhile, names like *Noah*, *Levi*, and *Emma* consistently rank in the top 10 across 80% of nations, their enduring appeal rooted in linguistic simplicity, historical endurance, and cross-cultural adaptability.

The challenge of quantifying individual names lies in data gaps. While national registries provide robust counts for accessible names, millions—especially in developing regions—lack centralized naming records. Cultural naming practices, informal or unregistered usages, and multilingual spellings further complicate universal tracking.

Ethnolinguistic studies estimate that tens of thousands of names remain undocumented, their holders unrecorded in formal statistics. Yet through collaborative databases, academic research