Meaning & origin
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1883. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Banks through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 6,970
- 6,459 boys · 511 girls
- Most popular year
- 2025
- 1,188 babies
- 2025
- 1,188
- #310 for boys · #2,105 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +357%
- Rising fast
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 91% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 1,099 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 310 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 350.0% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. It also appeared in 89 birth records for girls in 2025. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (99). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,663 as a first name in 2020; 103,658 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Banks’s family of names
In English usage, Banks as a surname has a related form in BANGS. In Greek usage, Banks as a surname is a transliteration of Μπανκς.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
Similar names
If you love Banks, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Baker
“one who bakes”
91% boys · 9% girls
Barrett
“having the strength of a bear” · “an argumentative person”
98% boys · 2% girls
Benson
“the son of Ben”
>99% boys
Hank
“the ruler of the house” · “home”
>99% boys
Brooks
“from the running stream”
98% boys · 2% girls
Beckett
“from the small brook”
95% boys · 5% girls
Wells
“from the springs”
98% boys · 2% girls
Knox
“from the rounded hill Kнохх, Knoks, Knocks”
99% boys · 1% girls