Fun Facts About the Name Unique
- More than 8 thousand babies named Unique: U.S. records list 8,565 babies given the name Unique from 1880 through 2025. Even 953 boys received the name Unique - about 1 boy for every 8 girls.
What Does the Name Unique Mean?
Unique means "one of a kind" or "sole, single." It comes from the English adjective unique, which English borrowed from French unique, ultimately from Latin ūnicus, meaning "only, sole, singular." Latin ūnicus is formed from ūnus, "one," plus the adjectival suffix -icus. The literal sense is "belonging to one" or "only one," and that is the sense the name carries.
As a personal name, Unique is a word name: the adjective is used directly as a given name rather than coming from an older personal name with its own separate etymology. Its use can also suggest individuality or distinctiveness, but that is a modern association, not a separate historical meaning.
Unique Name History & Origins
Unique entered English as an adjective by way of French unique, which descends from Latin ūnicus. In Latin the word described something that was sole or singular; the same sense passed into French and then into English. The English adjective has been used for something that is the only one of its kind, or for something unusual within its class.
As a given name, Unique belongs to the modern English word-name tradition, in which ordinary vocabulary words are given directly to children. It is used in English-speaking countries, including the United States, and is not inherited from medieval European naming customs in the way that names such as John or Mary are. Because it is a vocabulary word rather than a traditional personal name, its history as a name is tied to modern naming habits rather than to an ancient saint, biblical figure, or royal line.
How Popular is the Name Unique?
Unique recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2009. Its best rank was #790 in 1996.
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 | #2,456 | 73 | 0.0045% |
| 2024 | #2,207 | 86 | 0.0053% |
| 2023 | #1,917 | 104 | 0.0065% |
| 2022 | #1,960 | 101 | 0.0062% |
| 2021 | #1,675 | 125 | 0.0076% |
| 2020 | #1,696 | 121 | 0.0075% |
| 2019 | #1,798 | 114 | 0.0068% |
| 2018 | #1,812 | 113 | 0.0066% |
| 2017 | #1,696 | 127 | 0.0074% |
| 2016 | #1,755 | 119 | 0.0067% |
| 2015 | #1,563 | 141 | 0.0079% |
| 2014 | #1,484 | 151 | 0.0085% |
| 2013 | #1,507 | 147 | 0.0084% |
| 2012 | #1,156 | 213 | 0.0121% |
| 2011 | #1,119 | 221 | 0.0126% |
| 2010 | #1,090 | 230 | 0.0129% |
| 2009 | #922 | 292 | 0.0159% |
| 2008 | #1,112 | 233 | 0.0123% |
| 2007 | #1,140 | 226 | 0.0118% |
| 2006 | #1,067 | 239 | 0.0126% |
| 2005 | #930 | 268 | 0.0145% |
| 2004 | #1,013 | 234 | 0.0127% |
| 2003 | #1,037 | 221 | 0.0121% |
| 2002 | #921 | 243 | 0.0135% |
| 2001 | #842 | 272 | 0.0151% |
| 2000 | #890 | 248 | 0.0137% |
| 1999 | #836 | 259 | 0.0146% |
| 1998 | #865 | 245 | 0.0139% |
| 1997 | #819 | 253 | 0.0145% |
| 1996 | #790 | 264 | 0.0151% |
| 1995 | #885 | 215 | 0.0122% |
| 1994 | #1,060 | 172 | 0.0096% |
| 1993 | #1,003 | 185 | 0.0102% |
| 1992 | #1,041 | 179 | 0.0097% |
| 1991 | #1,204 | 144 | 0.0077% |
| 1990 | #1,324 | 123 | 0.0065% |
| 1989 | #1,195 | 137 | 0.0074% |
| 1988 | #1,384 | 103 | 0.0058% |
| 1987 | #1,423 | 93 | 0.0053% |
| 1986 | #1,538 | 80 | 0.0047% |
| 1985 | #1,602 | 75 | 0.0044% |
| 1984 | #1,812 | 60 | 0.0036% |
| 1983 | #1,883 | 56 | 0.0034% |
| 1982 | #2,530 | 38 | 0.0022% |
| 1981 | #2,026 | 52 | 0.0031% |
| 1980 | #2,066 | 51 | 0.0031% |
| 1979 | #1,813 | 60 | 0.0037% |
| 1978 | #2,855 | 29 | 0.0019% |
| 1977 | #2,422 | 37 | 0.0024% |
| 1976 | #4,352 | 15 | 0.0010% |
| 1975 | #4,589 | 14 | 0.0010% |
| 1974 | #10,186 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1972 | #8,238 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,792 | 46 | 0.0027% |
| 2024 | #2,662 | 50 | 0.0029% |
| 2023 | #3,551 | 33 | 0.0019% |
| 2022 | #4,424 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 2021 | #6,315 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2020 | #7,460 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2019 | #6,381 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2018 | #8,108 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2017 | #7,499 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2016 | #8,103 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2015 | #7,460 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2014 | #5,708 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2013 | #5,382 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2012 | #8,098 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2011 | #5,923 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2010 | #5,460 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2009 | #5,307 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 2008 | #4,698 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 2007 | #4,237 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 2006 | #3,521 | 30 | 0.0015% |
| 2005 | #4,319 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 2004 | #3,152 | 32 | 0.0016% |
| 2003 | #3,040 | 32 | 0.0016% |
| 2002 | #2,602 | 38 | 0.0020% |
| 2001 | #2,615 | 37 | 0.0019% |
| 2000 | #2,574 | 37 | 0.0019% |
| 1999 | #2,557 | 35 | 0.0018% |
| 1998 | #2,647 | 32 | 0.0017% |
| 1997 | #2,394 | 35 | 0.0019% |
| 1996 | #2,533 | 31 | 0.0016% |
| 1995 | #3,098 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1994 | #3,027 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 1993 | #3,655 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1992 | #2,462 | 30 | 0.0015% |
| 1991 | #3,805 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1990 | #6,376 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1989 | #2,465 | 27 | 0.0013% |
| 1988 | #3,696 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1987 | #3,943 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1986 | #7,766 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1984 | #4,947 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1983 | #4,878 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1982 | #4,570 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1980 | #5,499 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1978 | #5,032 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1976 | #6,467 | 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.
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How the Name Unique Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have talent, charm and luck. You can succeed in art and in any educational occupation. You attract peculiar experiences. Your power and protection lies in spiritual side of life. You are an enthusiastic collector and you will be tenacious in holding onto the things you accumulate. You have a good memory and should make an effort to have a positive attitude. Emergencies may raise your intuitive abilities in order to resolve conflict or situation. You become very creative under the pressure, and have quite original ideas to make the best out of it.
You find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.
✦ Unique's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Unique's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.