Fun Facts About the Name Story
- More than 2 thousand babies named Story: U.S. records list 2,047 babies given the name Story from 1880 through 2025. Even 159 boys received the name Story - about 1 boy for every 12 girls.
What Does the Name Story Mean?
Story is an English word name, taken from the common noun story, which means "a narrative or account." The noun entered English through Anglo-Norman French estorie, from Latin historia, and ultimately from Greek historia, "inquiry, knowledge gained by investigation," a derivative of histōr, "witness, one who knows." The modern sense of a told tale is a narrowing of that older idea of inquiry and record, so the literal etymology ("inquiry") differs from the customary meaning of the word today.
English history comes from the same Latin source, making the two words doublets: story passed through French into everyday speech, while history was later borrowed back from Latin in its more scholarly form. The given name also overlaps with the English surname Story, which is usually explained either as a nickname for a teller of stories or as a variant of Storey, a northern English name from Old Norse stórr, "big," and ey, "island."
Story Name History & Origins
As a vocabulary word, story is found in Middle English from the twelfth century, borrowed from Anglo-Norman French estorie. Its use as a personal name is considerably more recent and belongs to the wide English-language practice of using ordinary words and surnames as first names.
The name is given in the United States and appears on both boys and girls, though in recent decades it has been more common for girls. Franklin Story Musgrave, the American astronaut born in 1935, is a documented bearer in whom the name came from his mother's family surname, showing the surname-to-first-name route by which the name has also passed into use.
How Popular is the Name Story?
Story 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 2024. Its best rank was #1,590 in 2024.
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 | #1,831 | 110 | 0.0068% |
| 2024 | #1,590 | 132 | 0.0082% |
| 2023 | #2,087 | 93 | 0.0058% |
| 2022 | #1,917 | 105 | 0.0064% |
| 2021 | #2,182 | 86 | 0.0052% |
| 2020 | #1,957 | 98 | 0.0061% |
| 2019 | #1,797 | 114 | 0.0068% |
| 2018 | #2,435 | 74 | 0.0044% |
| 2017 | #2,398 | 76 | 0.0044% |
| 2016 | #2,589 | 69 | 0.0039% |
| 2015 | #2,643 | 68 | 0.0038% |
| 2014 | #2,152 | 89 | 0.0050% |
| 2013 | #2,233 | 84 | 0.0048% |
| 2012 | #1,937 | 102 | 0.0058% |
| 2011 | #2,364 | 79 | 0.0045% |
| 2010 | #2,381 | 80 | 0.0045% |
| 2009 | #2,506 | 76 | 0.0041% |
| 2008 | #2,608 | 72 | 0.0038% |
| 2007 | #2,990 | 60 | 0.0031% |
| 2006 | #6,570 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2005 | #7,853 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2004 | #12,617 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2003 | #18,067 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2002 | #8,228 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2001 | #8,676 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2000 | #9,795 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1999 | #7,184 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1998 | #6,335 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1997 | #6,451 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1996 | #6,028 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1995 | #15,447 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1994 | #11,631 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1993 | #8,641 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1991 | #15,134 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1987 | #9,701 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1982 | #8,128 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1981 | #11,946 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1980 | #8,959 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1979 | #10,042 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1976 | #10,679 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1974 | #7,564 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1971 | #9,435 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #8,163 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2024 | #7,652 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2023 | #5,426 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 2022 | #6,429 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2021 | #8,738 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2020 | #6,570 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2019 | #9,624 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2018 | #8,078 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2017 | #12,034 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2015 | #13,786 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2014 | #13,799 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2013 | #10,582 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2010 | #8,702 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2006 | #13,750 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 2002 | #12,246 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2001 | #9,103 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1999 | #11,382 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1998 | #8,334 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1996 | #10,345 | 5 | 0.0003% |
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.
Explore More Lists with Name Story
Most Popular Girl Names That Start with S
Short Girl Names That Start with S
How the Name Story Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are spiritually intense and can sting or charm. Your name brings love and new starts into life and attracts money. In business, you are the creator and promoter of original ideas and usually enjoy considerable financial success. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.
You are very intuitive. You have a reservoir of inspired wisdom combined with inherited analytical ability, which could reward you through expressions of spiritual leadership, business analysis, marketing, artistic visions, and scientific research. Operating on spiritual side of your individuality can bring you to the great heights, and drop you off if you neglect your spiritual identity. You are always looking for an opportunity to investigate the unknown, to use and show your mental abilities, to find the purpose and meaning of life. You want to grow wise and to understand people and things. You need privacy to replenish your energy. You have a unique way of thinking, intuitive, reflective, absorbing.
✦ Story's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Story's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.