Langston - A very unique male name
Langston at a glance
Langston is ranked #970 among boy baby names in 2025, with 191 births in 2025. It peaked in 2016 at #647 and first appeared on the charts in 1918.
- Rank in 2025
- #970
- Births in 2025
- 191
- Peak year
- 2016 (#647)
- First appeared
- 1918
- Trend
- #680 in 2020 → #970 in 2025 (Falling)
- Popularity
- 1 in 7,677 boys
- Visitor rating
- 4.9/5 (13 recent votes)
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration · Data through 2025 · Updated 2026
With that position 1 in 7,677 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Langston peaked in popularity 10 years ago in 2016 on position 647.
Famous with this name
Langston Fishburne
Langston Kerman
Langston Uibel
How would you rate Langston, 1-5?
Langston is currently topping the charts in...
Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Langston is currently topping the baby name charts in Oklahoma at position #411 - and is the least popular in California at position #1,548.Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Langston is where you live.
Comment and discuss
Langston origin and meaning
Transferred surname (English)
A transferred surname and place name in Old English — lang 'long' + tun 'settlement,' or stan 'stone'; both elements are attested, the exact compound varies by place
Langston is an English surname and place name — 'long settlement' — that became a first name in the 20th century, overwhelmingly in honour of the poet Langston Hughes, whose middle name it was by birth and surname by fame. It has been in the data since 1918, peaked in 2016, and has fallen since. It remains a strongly literary, African-American heritage choice.
Attested etymology
Langston is a 8 letter name with 2 syllables.
To see famous people named Langston, pop culture references for the name Langston and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.Similar to Langston
We've found the following names that sound similar to Langston, sorted by popularity.
Langdon /Name statistics
Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better
understanding of how popular or unique this name is.
With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually
differ a lot from state to state.
Chart position per year (visualized)
Chart position per state (visualized)
Chart position per year (table view)
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 970 |
| 2024 | 897 |
| 2023 | 863 |
| 2022 | 767 |
| 2021 | 717 |
| 2020 | 680 |
| 2019 | 679 |
| 2018 | 668 |
| 2017 | 670 |
| 2016 | 647 |
| 2015 | 682 |
| 2014 | 727 |
| 2013 | 968 |
| 2012 | 1141 |
| 2011 | 1141 |
| 2010 | 1033 |
| 2009 | 1085 |
| 2008 | 1024 |
| 2007 | 1440 |
| 2006 | 1779 |
| 2005 | 1456 |
| 2004 | 1819 |
| 2003 | 1433 |
| 2002 | 1623 |
| 2001 | 1611 |
| 2000 | 1789 |
| 1999 | 1739 |
| 1998 | 2201 |
| 1997 | 1395 |
| 1996 | 2949 |
| 1995 | 2282 |
| 1994 | 1760 |
| 1993 | 3436 |
| 1992 | 2117 |
| 1990 | 3295 |
| 1977 | 2138 |
| 1974 | 1977 |
| 1971 | 1930 |
| 1948 | 1401 |
| 1942 | 1606 |
| 1935 | 1616 |
| 1934 | 1621 |
| 1918 | 1754 |
Chart position per state (table view)
| State | Rank |
|---|---|
| Oklahoma | 411 |
| Missouri | 543 |
| Alabama | 550 |
| Kentucky | 553 |
| Georgia | 554 |
| Arkansas | 604 |
| Virginia | 610 |
| South Carolina | 641 |
| Tennessee | 655 |
| Kansas | 658 |
| Ohio | 695 |
| North Carolina | 807 |
| Wisconsin | 848 |
| Pennsylvania | 886 |
| Indiana | 1034 |
| Florida | 1169 |
| Michigan | 1205 |
| Texas | 1330 |
| New York | 1365 |
| California | 1548 |
Even more about Langston
These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.
Is Langston a common or unique name?
By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.What is the number of syllables for the name Langston?
2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.Pronunciation
LANG-stun · /ˈlæŋstən/
Around the world
No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.
Spellings and nicknames
- Langstone — A place-name spelling variant, rarely a given name
Famous bearers
- Langston Hughes — American poet and central figure of the Harlem Renaissance — Hughes is his surname, Langston his given middle name, and he is the documented inspiration for Langston as a first name (1901–1967) Historical
- Langston Fishburne — American actor, son of Laurence Fishburne (b. 1988) Contemporary
Style
SurnameLiterary
Why parents choose it
Parents choose Langston to honour Langston Hughes and the Harlem Renaissance — a name with real literary and cultural weight. It feels dignified and distinctive.
Worth knowing
- Most people know it as Hughes's first name and a surname — expect 'like the poet?' every time
- Falling since 2016, though it was never common
