Forbes
Boy name · Celtic · English · Gaelic · Irish · Scottish
Meaningfield · Scottish
- US rank
- #8,910
- Syllables
- 1
- Peak
- #2,242 in 1945
8 babies were named Forbes in the US in 2025. It has climbed 1,695 places in five years.
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US births per million boys, 1913–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Forbes you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 212,766 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Forbes, 8 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Forbes would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryForbes first shows up in US birth records in 1913, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 112 years since.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1945, when it ranked #2,242. Today it's #8,910, so it could be due a comeback.
- TrendForbes has climbed 1,695 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #8,910. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- MeaningIn Scottish, Forbes means “field”. Our records link it to Celtic, English and Gaelic roots.
About the name Forbes
Forbes is a boy name of Celtic, English and Gaelic origin meaning “field”. It has 6 letters and 1 syllable, starting with F and ending in “-bes”. US birth records list Forbes for boys from 1913 to 2025, in 36 of those 113 years. Its best year was 1945, when it ranked #2,242 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #8,910, with 8 babies.
Origin:Celtic namesEnglish namesGaelic namesIrish namesScottish names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 9.7 | 103,550 boys |
| 1920s | 4.1 | 241,546 boys |
| 1930s | 2.5 | 392,157 boys |
| 1940s | 1.3 | 751,880 boys |
| 1950s | 1.2 | 840,336 boys |
| 1970s | 0.3 | 3,225,806 boys |
| 1990s | 0.6 | 1,785,714 boys |
| 2000s | 0.3 | 2,941,176 boys |
| 2010s | 0.9 | 1,075,269 boys |
| 2020s | 3.1 | 320,856 boys |
More Celtic boy names
- Unisex name: Owen · well-born
- Unisex name: Logan · little hollow
- Unisex name: Rowan · little red-haired one
- Unisex name: Nolan · descendant of Nuallán
- Unisex name: Cameron · crooked nose
- Boy name: Ian · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Gael · a Gael
- Boy name: Arthur · possibly bear
Questions about the name Forbes
What does the name Forbes mean?
Forbes means “field” in Scottish.
What is the origin of the name Forbes?
Forbes has Celtic, English, Gaelic, Irish, Scottish roots in our records. Other Celtic names include Owen, Logan, Rowan.
Is Forbes a boy or girl name?
Forbes is a boy name.
How popular is the name Forbes?
Forbes ranked #8,910 for US boys in 2025, given to 8 babies. Its best year was 1945 (#2,242).