Fact check: How many people are named Natalie in the US?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the available analyses, there are approximately 146,000 people named Natalie in the United States. Two sources provide nearly identical estimates: one reports exactly 146,000 people according to NationalDay.com ^[1], while another estimates 145,976 people named Natalie ^[2]. However, one source also mentions an alternative estimate of 304,080 based on Social Security Administration (SSA) data ^[2], which is more than double the other estimates.

The name Natalie represents 45.78 people per 100,000 Americans and is ranked as the 420th most popular given name in the United States ^[2]. Current popularity rankings show Natalie at #175 in US births overall and #63 specifically for girl births ^[3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks important contextual information about the significant variation in estimates. The analyses reveal a substantial discrepancy between the commonly cited figure of ~146,000 and the SSA-based estimate of over 304,000 people ^[2]. This difference suggests that different methodologies or data sources produce vastly different results.

The question also omits the historical popularity trends of the name. Natalie has been consistently ranked in the Social Security Administration's top 1,000 names for baby girls since 1880, with its popularity fluctuating significantly over time - reaching its peak at No. 13 in 2008 and ranking at No. 55 in 2022 ^[4]. This historical context is crucial for understanding current population estimates, as naming trends directly impact the total number of people with any given name.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself does not contain misinformation, as it simply asks for factual information. However, the conflicting data sources present a significant reliability issue. The substantial difference between the ~146,000 estimate and the 304,080 SSA-based figure ^[2] suggests that some sources may be using incomplete data sets or different counting methodologies.

Organizations that benefit from providing name statistics, such as naming websites and genealogy services, may have incentives to present data in ways that drive traffic to their platforms. The lack of transparency about methodology in most sources makes it difficult to determine which estimate is most accurate. Users seeking this information should be aware that population estimates for names can vary significantly depending on the data source and methodology used.