How Many People Are Named Early?
An estimated 1,346 people in the United States have the first name Early. It is predominantly male (91.4%). The average bearer is 67 years old, and Early peaked in popularity in 1921 with 99 births that year.
Below you will find a full statistical profile of Early as a first name in the United States, including gender data, a year-by-year popularity timeline going back to 1880, a decade breakdown, state-by-state birth registrations, and, when available, a 2020 Census snapshot showing who had the name at that point in time. You can also check how many people share the full name Early paired with any surname.
Key Insights
- With an average bearer age of 67, Early is a vintage name most associated with earlier generations. Most living bearers were born before 1969.
Estimated Living Americans
1,346
About 1 in 254,647 people in the U.S.
Rarity
Rare
Predicted Gender
Male
91.4% confidence
Average Age
67
years old
Peak Year
1921
99 births
Total Registered
4,352
since 1880
Gender Distribution for Early
Early is predominantly male (91.4%), though 373 female births have been registered. It functions as a unisex name for a small percentage of bearers.
Early as a male name
Ranked #7,917 in 2022
10 male births in 2022
Peak: 1927 (88 births)
Early as a female name
Ranked #15,155 in 2013
6 female births in 2013
Peak: 1926 (15 births)
Early in the 2020 Census
The 2020 Census recorded 1,159 people with the first name Early, which placed it at #11,199 in the published first-name tables. This is a snapshot of people who already had the name in 2020. The estimated living count elsewhere on this page is different: it is a current estimate built from SSA birth records and age-based survival rates, so the two figures are not expected to match exactly.
Read this section as a snapshot of people who already had the name in 2020. The SSA charts elsewhere on this page are still the better way to see how the name rose, fell, or shifted across generations.
Gender in the 2020 Census
In the 2020 Census, Early was recorded as predominantly male. Out of 1,159 people with this name in that snapshot, 82.5% were male and 17.5% were female. That is less heavily male than the long-run SSA birth pattern on this page, which sits at 91.4% male.
Census Count
1,159
people with this name
Census Rank
#11,199
among Census first names
Frequency Rate
0.38
per 100,000 people
Recorded Race and Hispanic Origin in the 2020 Census
In the 2020 Census, the first name Early was most commonly recorded among people who identified as Black (58.82%). The next largest recorded groups were White (30.28%) and Hispanic (4.33%).
These percentages describe the people who had the first name Early in the 2020 Census. They do not tell you the deeper meaning or origin of the name itself.
2020 Census demographic breakdown
Each row shows a recorded Census category for people with the first name Early.
| Group | Share | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Black | 58.82% | 680 |
| White | 30.28% | 350 |
| Hispanic | 4.33% | 50 |
| Two or More Races | 3.72% | 43 |
| Asian and Pacific Islander | 1.82% | 21 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1.04% | 12 |
The Census published separate sex and race/origin tables for first names, so their total counts can differ slightly for the same name. That is why the race section focuses on the demographic mix rather than repeating a second headline count.
Early: Popularity Over Time
SSA records for Early span from the 1880s to the 2020s, covering 15 decades of naming data. The most popular decade for this name was the 1920s, when 876 babies were registered. Early has declined significantly from its peak in the 1920s. Recent registrations are a fraction of what they were at the name's height.
Early by Decade
How has Early tracked across different eras? The table below groups all SSA birth registrations into 10-year periods, with separate male and female counts. The colored bar shows each decade's share relative to the peak.
Early by State
Birth registrations for Early span all 11 states and territories in the SSA database. The highest counts are in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina. The lowest are in Tennessee, Florida, Arkansas. On average, about 168 Earlys were registered per state.
Early + Last Name Combinations
How many people share a full name with Early as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Names Similar to Early
Other first names starting with E with a similar number of bearers.
Early: Questions and Answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Early?
We estimate approximately 1,346 people named Early are alive in the United States today. This is based on SSA birth records from 1880 to 2024, adjusted for mortality using CDC life tables. About 1 in 254,647 Americans share this first name.
Is Early a common name?
Early is classified as "Rare" and is more popular than 91.8% of all first names in the SSA database. A total of 4,352 births have been registered with this name since 1880.
When was Early most popular?
Early reached peak popularity in 1921, when 99 babies were given this name. The average age of a living person named Early is approximately 67 years old, reflecting when the name was most commonly given.
How common was Early in the 2020 Census?
The 2020 Census recorded 1,159 people with the first name Early. That placed it at #11,199 in the published Census first-name tables, or 0.38 people per 100,000.
Why is the Census count different from the living estimate?
Because they measure different things. The Census number is a count of people with the name in 2020. The living estimate is a current model based on SSA birth records and survival rates, so it aims to estimate how many people with the name are alive now.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The popularity chart tracks birth registrations, not people currently alive. It shows how often Early was given to babies from 1880 through 2024, which is why it is the best tool on the page for seeing long-run naming trends.
What does the Census say about the gender split for Early?
In the 2020 Census snapshot, Early was recorded as predominantly male. The published split was 82.5% male and 17.5% female.
What does the Census say about the background of people named Early?
In the 2020 Census, the first name Early was most commonly recorded among people who identified as Black (58.82%). The next largest recorded groups were White (30.28%) and Hispanic (4.33%). These percentages describe the people who had the name in the 2020 Census, not the deeper meaning or origin of the name itself.
Why can the Census sex total and race total differ slightly?
The Census published separate first-name tables for sex and for race and Hispanic origin. Those totals can differ slightly for the same name, so the page uses them as two related snapshots rather than treating them as perfectly interchangeable counts.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name tables only include names that met the Bureau's publication rules. That means some names on this site will have SSA history but no published Census demographic snapshot.
Is Early a male name?
Early is predominantly male. 91.4% of people with this name are male. See the gender breakdown above for full details.
Why can Early have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because a name can build up a large population over many decades. Early peaked in 1921, and the average living bearer is about 67 years old, so a name can still have millions of living bearers even after it stops feeling current for newborns.
How many Early Smiths are there?
To find how many people share a specific full name, we combine first name and surname frequencies. Try: Early Smith, Early Johnson, Early Williams. You can also search any combination on our homepage.
Where does this data come from?
Our estimates use Social Security Administration birth records (1880 to 2024), adjusted for survival using CDC 2023 life tables broken down by sex. The U.S. population figure (342,754,338) is from the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimate. Full methodology.
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