Duncan is a distinctive choice, ranked #1675 in 2024. Your child is likely to be the only Duncan in their class.
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UK Rank 2024
#1675
US Rank #930
About the Name Duncan
Duncan has seen a notable decline in recent years, dropping 183 places in five years. It was most popular in 1996 at #220 — parents choosing it today are making a deliberately counter-trend decision. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996.
Duncan is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
In the US it ranks even higher at #930, where it enjoys a particularly strong following.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Duncan
Unlikely. With around 15 UK babies named Duncan per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Duncan in his class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Duncan has been declining in UK popularity, dropping 183 places in the last five years. Its peak was #220 in 1996. Choosing it now means he is likely to be among the last of his generation with this name.
Duncan is more popular in the US (#930) than in the UK (#1675). Names with strong rankings in both countries tend to have broad cross-cultural appeal, working well for international families or those with ties to both nations.
Notable people named Duncan include: Martin Duncan — Martin David Anson Duncan is an English director, actor, composer, and choreographer.; Seymour W. Duncan — Seymour W.; Geoff Duncan — Geoffrey L..
Duncan does not appear in the US top 1,000 baby names, making it a distinctively British choice — your child is unlikely to encounter American Duncans in the wild.
15
UK babies named Duncan (2024)
< 1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.0
In a school of 600
↓ 183 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Duncan
Likely around 1 other Duncan in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2023)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Duncan
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Martin David Anson Duncan is an English director, actor, composer, and choreographer. Duncan was artistic director of Nottingham Playhouse from 1994 to 1999 and joint artistic director of Chichester Festival Theatre from 2003 to 2005 with Ruth Mackenzie and Steven Pimlott.
Angela Isadora Duncan was an American-born dancer and choreographer, who was a pioneer of modern contemporary dance and performed to great acclaim throughout Europe and the United States. Born and raised in California, she lived and danced in Western Europe, the U.S., and Soviet Russia from the age of 22.
Seymour W. Duncan is an American businessman and a co-founder of the Seymour Duncan Company, a manufacturer of guitar pickups, bass pickups, and effects pedals located in Santa Barbara, California.
Donnchad mac Crinain (Scottish Gaelic: Donnchadh mac Crìonain; anglicised as Duncan I, and nicknamed An t-Ilgarach, "the Diseased" or "the Sick"; c. 1001 – 14 August 1040) was king of Scotland (Alba) from 1034 to 1040.
Duncan James Corrowr Grant was a Scottish painter and designer of textiles, pottery, theatre sets, and costumes. He was a member of the Bloomsbury Group.