Fun Facts About the Name Cedar
- More than 4 thousand babies named Cedar: U.S. records list 4,086 babies given the name Cedar from 1880 through 2025. Of these, 1,462 girls received the name Cedar - about 1 girl for every 2 boys.
What Does the Name Cedar Mean?
Cedar is an English word name meaning "cedar tree," taken directly from the name of the evergreen conifer. The English word comes from Old French cedre, which descends from Latin cedrus, and Latin borrowed it from Greek kedros, a word used for cedar and for related aromatic evergreens such as juniper. The deeper origin of Greek kedros is not securely known, so any link to an older non-Greek root remains uncertain.
The tree name and the given name should not be confused with the Hebrew word erez, which also means cedar and appears in the Bible for the cedars of Lebanon. Hebrew erez is a separate word and is not the source of English cedar. When Cedar is used as a personal name, its literal sense is simply the tree; ideas of strength, permanence, or protection that people sometimes attach to it are later symbolic readings rather than part of the etymology.
Cedar Name History & Origins
Cedar entered English through medieval French as the word for the tree: Old French cedre became Middle English cedre, later respelled cedar. In that form it named the tree itself, and it also appears in English place names, such as Cedar Rapids and the many American towns and counties called Cedar, usually because cedars grew nearby. The biblical phrase "cedars of Lebanon" kept the tree associated with grandeur and building, but that association belongs to the tree word, not to a personal name.
Use of Cedar as a given name is a modern development in English-speaking countries, part of the broad fashion for nature words as names alongside names such as River, Sage, and Willow. It is found mainly in the United States and other English-speaking countries, and it is used for both boys and girls. Because it comes from an ordinary English noun rather than from an older personal name, it has no long chain of inherited forms from Old English, Norse, or biblical naming traditions; its history is the history of the tree word plus its recent adoption as a personal name.
How Popular is the Name Cedar?
Cedar has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2022. Its best rank was #1,124 in 2022.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,827 | 60 | 0.0037% |
| 2024 | #2,383 | 76 | 0.0047% |
| 2023 | #2,273 | 81 | 0.0051% |
| 2022 | #2,255 | 83 | 0.0051% |
| 2021 | #2,512 | 70 | 0.0043% |
| 2020 | #2,347 | 75 | 0.0046% |
| 2019 | #2,863 | 58 | 0.0035% |
| 2018 | #3,256 | 49 | 0.0029% |
| 2017 | #2,970 | 55 | 0.0032% |
| 2016 | #3,722 | 41 | 0.0023% |
| 2015 | #2,857 | 61 | 0.0034% |
| 2014 | #3,193 | 51 | 0.0029% |
| 2013 | #3,721 | 41 | 0.0023% |
| 2012 | #4,142 | 36 | 0.0020% |
| 2011 | #4,949 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 2010 | #4,764 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 2009 | #5,421 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 2008 | #4,674 | 32 | 0.0017% |
| 2007 | #4,318 | 35 | 0.0018% |
| 2006 | #4,984 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 2005 | #6,062 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2004 | #4,515 | 30 | 0.0016% |
| 2003 | #6,117 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2002 | #4,933 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 2001 | #4,866 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 2000 | #4,679 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1999 | #6,897 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1998 | #6,120 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1997 | #4,861 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1996 | #5,098 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1995 | #5,053 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1994 | #8,235 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1993 | #6,684 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1992 | #10,663 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1991 | #8,069 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1990 | #10,387 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1989 | #9,843 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1988 | #12,105 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1987 | #11,572 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1986 | #7,214 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1985 | #6,535 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1984 | #4,993 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1983 | #5,505 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1982 | #5,981 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1981 | #5,299 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1980 | #5,012 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1979 | #7,411 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1978 | #4,708 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1977 | #4,459 | 15 | 0.0010% |
| 1976 | #4,387 | 14 | 0.0010% |
| 1975 | #6,033 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1974 | #6,332 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,244 | 160 | 0.0094% |
| 2024 | #1,197 | 170 | 0.0099% |
| 2023 | #1,252 | 154 | 0.0090% |
| 2022 | #1,124 | 188 | 0.0108% |
| 2021 | #1,245 | 153 | 0.0088% |
| 2020 | #1,201 | 158 | 0.0092% |
| 2019 | #1,190 | 161 | 0.0090% |
| 2018 | #1,263 | 145 | 0.0080% |
| 2017 | #1,330 | 135 | 0.0073% |
| 2016 | #1,331 | 134 | 0.0071% |
| 2015 | #1,503 | 110 | 0.0057% |
| 2014 | #1,923 | 75 | 0.0039% |
| 2013 | #1,994 | 69 | 0.0036% |
| 2012 | #2,157 | 62 | 0.0033% |
| 2011 | #2,237 | 58 | 0.0031% |
| 2010 | #2,474 | 50 | 0.0026% |
| 2009 | #2,905 | 41 | 0.0021% |
| 2008 | #2,887 | 41 | 0.0020% |
| 2007 | #2,613 | 47 | 0.0023% |
| 2006 | #2,517 | 48 | 0.0023% |
| 2005 | #3,631 | 26 | 0.0013% |
| 2004 | #3,466 | 27 | 0.0014% |
| 2003 | #3,372 | 27 | 0.0014% |
| 2002 | #3,575 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 2001 | #2,495 | 39 | 0.0020% |
| 2000 | #4,081 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1999 | #3,390 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1998 | #3,030 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 1997 | #3,617 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1996 | #3,566 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1995 | #5,557 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1994 | #4,837 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1993 | #5,830 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1992 | #5,289 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1991 | #5,576 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1990 | #7,310 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1989 | #4,057 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1988 | #5,852 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1987 | #3,758 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1986 | #6,882 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1985 | #6,681 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1984 | #3,962 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1983 | #6,380 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1982 | #4,656 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1981 | #4,199 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1980 | #3,650 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1979 | #3,845 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1978 | #4,210 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1977 | #2,378 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 1976 | #2,966 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1975 | #4,881 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1974 | #4,248 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1973 | #4,582 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1972 | #4,512 | 6 | 0.0004% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Cedar Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are cheerful and friendly, but are apt to have an emotional life. You like to have several lines of effort going at once. You are a good talker and promoter and seldom worry over anything. At times, you can be impatient, and impulsive. You have the ability to bring an idea to completion. You can express yourself joyously and constructively. You might be psychic, but not know it. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
Dependable, very down-to-earth and well grounded, you are always looking for meaningful work, a career where you can take pride in your work and do the best job you are capable of. Your prime desire is to build protected and secure environment at home and at work. You can be very persuasive in achieving goals and gaining objectives. You can be very detailed and well-organized and possess great organizational skills. At times you may appear too stubborn and overly critical to others, but your practical approach to life and productivity makes you one of the most beneficent members of community.
✦ Cedar's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Cedar's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.