Princeton Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Princeton is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Princeton?
Princeton is spelled P-R-I-N-C-E-T-O-N. The name has 9 letters.
Princeton at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Princeton means “prince”s town“ or ”prince“s settlement”, referring to a town associated with a prince.
- Origin
- Princeton is derived from English place names meaning “prince”s town“ or ”prince“s settlement.”
- Pronunciation
- PRINS-tuhn · 2 syllables
Princeton Popularity in 2025
Rank#652
Recorded Births422
- Boys usage fell 39 places to #652 and recorded 43 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Princeton Mean?
Princeton means “prince”s town“ or ”prince“s settlement”, referring to a town associated with a prince.
Origin: Princeton is derived from English place names meaning “prince”s town“ or ”prince“s settlement.”
How Do You Pronounce Princeton?
PronunciationPRINS-tuhn
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Princeton?
- History
- The name Princeton has been historically used as a place name in England and later in America, notably associated with Princeton University, founded in the 18th century.
Princeton Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2002 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | 422 | #652 |
| 2024 | Boys | 465 | #613 |
| 2023 | Boys | 533 | #549 |
| 2022 | Boys | 611 | #499 |
| 2021 | Boys | 626 | #477 |
| 2020 | Boys | 722 | #412 |
| 2019 | Boys | 768 | #405 |
| 2018 | Boys | 788 | #406 |
| 2017 | Boys | 793 | #402 |
| 2016 | Boys | 775 | #413 |
| 2015 | Boys | 714 | #430 |
| 2014 | Boys | 541 | #517 |
| 2013 | Boys | 389 | #634 |
| 2012 | Boys | 318 | #731 |
| 2011 | Boys | 202 | #974 |
| 2010 | Boys | 173 | #1,105 |
| 2009 | Boys | 136 | #1,290 |
| 2008 | Boys | 106 | #1,523 |
| 2007 | Boys | 85 | #1,741 |
| 2006 | Boys | 54 | #2,310 |
| 2005 | Boys | 31 | #3,241 |
| 2004 | Boys | 48 | #2,344 |
| 2003 | Boys | 36 | #2,729 |
| 2002 | Boys | 32 | #2,882 |
When Was Princeton Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2017 · Boys
793 recorded births
National rank #402
2018 · Boys
788 recorded births
National rank #406
2016 · Boys
775 recorded births
National rank #413
2019 · Boys
768 recorded births
National rank #405
Where Princeton Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| MS | #259 | 12 |
| GA | #286 | 43 |
| AR | #332 | 10 |
| LA | #376 | 13 |
| SC | #385 | 13 |
| TN | #398 | 20 |
| AL | #400 | 13 |
| OH | #427 | 25 |