Hawke
A masculine name derived from the Old English word "hafoc", meaning hawk.
Name Census estimates that about 189 living Americans carry the first name Hawke. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Hawke today is around 11 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Hawke births was 2016 (18 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Hawke. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Hawke with official rankings and popularity over time.
People living today
189
~ 1 in 1,813,515 Americans
Peak year
2016
18 babies that year
Average age
11
years old
2024 SSA rank
#11,389
Tracked since 2004
Popularity
Hawke: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Hawke from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 112 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Hawke remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Hawke by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Hawke during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Hawke
The name Hawke has its roots in Old English, originating from the word "hafoc," which means "hawk" or "falcon." This etymology suggests a connection to the majestic birds of prey, indicating strength, sharpness, and keen eyesight.
The name Hawke was particularly prevalent in medieval England, where falconry was a popular sport among the nobility. It is believed that the name was initially bestowed upon those who excelled in the art of falconry or those who possessed hawk-like qualities.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hawke can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This historical record mentions individuals with the surname "Hawke," indicating the name's widespread use during the Norman period.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Hawke. One of the most famous was Sir Edward Hawke (1705-1781), a renowned British naval officer who played a crucial role in the Seven Years' War. His victory at the Battle of Quiberon Bay in 1759 was a turning point in the conflict, solidifying Britain's naval dominance.
Another prominent figure was Benjamin Hawke (1766-1842), a British politician and Member of Parliament. He served as the Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies during the early 19th century, contributing to the governance of the British Empire.
In the realm of literature, Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864), the renowned American novelist and short story writer, was born with the surname "Hawke." He later added the "w" to his name, possibly to distinguish himself from his ancestors. Hawthorne's works, such as "The Scarlet Letter" and "The House of the Seven Gables," are considered classics of American literature.
Another notable figure was John Hawke (1925-2018), an Australian cricketer who played for the national team in the 1950s. He was a talented all-rounder known for his aggressive batting style and accurate medium-pace bowling.
In the modern era, Ethan Hawke (born 1970) is a celebrated American actor, writer, and director. He has received numerous accolades for his performances in films such as "Dead Poets Society," "Training Day," and "Boyhood," the latter of which earned him widespread critical acclaim.
People
Hawke + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Hawke as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with H
Other first names starting with H with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Hawke: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Hawke?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 189 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Hawke going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,813,515 US residents.
Is Hawke a common name?
We classify Hawke as "Very Rare". It ranks above 73.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 191 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Hawke most popular?
The single biggest year for Hawke was 2016, when 18 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Hawke is about 11 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Hawke in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Hawke a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Hawke in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Hawke still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Hawke in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Hawke can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are called Hawke?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.