Meaning & origin
A reliable meaning for Unknown isn’t established in our sources yet. Rather than guess, we show what is recorded: how the name is used, how often, and the names it’s connected to.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Unknown through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 19,714
- 9,888 boys · 9,826 girls
- Most popular year
- 1954
- 1,192 babies
- 2025
- 95
- #3,293 for girls · #2,757 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −2%
- Steady
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 59% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 48 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 3,293 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 4.9% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 644 in 1954. It also appeared in 47 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, Oregon had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (25).
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Similar names
If you love Unknown, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Allyn
“one who is precious” · “resembling a little rock”
34% boys · 66% girls
Rickie
“a powerful ruler” · “a peaceful ruler”
65% boys · 35% girls
Roni
“displaying her true image” · “song of Joy”
39% boys · 61% girls
Yancy
“a sassy woman; a Yankee” · “an Englishman”
35% boys · 65% girls
Kerry
“having black hair”
71% boys · 29% girls
Graylin
“a gray-haired man”
45% boys · 55% girls
Jackie
“God is gracious” · “the supplanter”
44% boys · 56% girls
Perry
“one who travels; a wanderer” · “as solid and strong as a rock”
59% boys · 41% girls