Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Ace
BoyEnglish, Latin· “one who excels; the top card”
- Meaning
- one who excels; the top card
- Origin
- English, Latin
- Pronunciation
- AYS
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #164
- US babies 2025
- 2,239
- Best rank
- #152 (2022)
- Peak year
- 2022
Meaning and origin of Ace
Ace is an English and Latin name that is usually said to mean “one who excels; the top card”.
Ace comes from the English word for the single-pip playing card, which traces back through Old French to the Latin as, a small Roman coin and unit. Because the ace is often the highest card, the word came to mean an expert, someone who excels, and in the First World War a fighter pilot with many victories. As a first name Ace began mostly as a nickname and still carries a playful, confident swagger. It is short and striking, in the same spirit as Jett and Knox. Some parents use it as a nickname for longer names beginning with A.
Popularity over time
Ace first appears in US Social Security records in 1882. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 32 different years, starting in 1882. Its best national rank was #152 in 2022, the same year it reached its highest count of 2,492 babies. In 2025, 2,239 babies were named Ace, and it ranked #164 nationally. That is 201% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #1,416 in 1920, #2,019 in 1950, #1,852 in 1980, #1,924 in 2000, #616 in 2010, and #164 in 2025. Of the 26,319 US boys named Ace since records began, 52% were born in the 2020s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 8,857 babies.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Elliot, Rhett, Messiah, Judah, and Adonis.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Ace ranked highest in Hawaii, Georgia, and Nevada.
Gender, sound and spelling
About 99% of US babies named Ace over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
Ace is usually pronounced AYS, with one syllable. It has three letters, starts with A and ends in “-ce”.
Middle names for Ace
A few middle names that flow with Ace: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Ace
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Lists that include Ace
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ace mean?
Ace is an English and Latin name that is usually said to mean “one who excels; the top card”.
What is the origin of the name Ace?
Ace has English and Latin roots. Ace comes from the English word for the single-pip playing card, which traces back through Old French to the Latin as, a small Roman coin and unit.
Is Ace a popular name?
Yes. Ace ranked #164 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Ace a boy or girl name?
Ace is mainly a boy's name. About 99% of US babies named Ace over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
How do you pronounce Ace?
Ace is usually pronounced AYS. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings