Total births
1,230
Boys' name · since 1898
Adams
Adams has 1,230 recorded births since 1898 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1983 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #3226
- among boys today
- 1,230
- born since 1898
- 1980s
- peak decade
- 77%
- more common than other boys
1,230 babies have been named Adams since 1898, making it today's #3226 boys' name.
Social Security Administration records show Adams recorded 1,230 times among boys since 1898, holding rank #3226 nationally today, ahead of 77% of boys, peaking in the 1980s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1898 to 2025.
- #3226 among boys today
- 1,230 born since 1898
- 1980s peak decade
- 77% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Adams is currently the #3226 boys' name in America, more common than 77% of boys - 1,230 born since 1898, peaking in the 1980s.
- #3226
- among boys today
- 1,230
- born since 1898
- 1980s
- peak decade
- 77%
- more common than other boys
Adams vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#3226
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 77% of names given to boys today.
1980s
Peak decade
27% of everyone ever named Adams was born in this single decade.
1983
Single peak year
42 babies were named Adams in 1983 - its busiest year on record.
How Adams compares
1,230 Top 28% higher than 72% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Adams's all-time total is 3x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Adams | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,230 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 42 | 23 | 22,252 |
Adams's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Adams's SSA record in two at 1983 and the more recent half accounts for 64% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 36%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1913, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1983 peak of 42, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Adams at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1983
Current rank
#3,226
Active since
1898
Adams popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1898–2025
- Peak year (1983)
- 42
- Annual births at peak, across 128 years of records
Adams by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1980s was Adams's strongest decade.
329 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 27% of all-time use.
Adams births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1890s 7
1890s
7 births
- 1910s 42
1910s
42 births
- 1920s 40
1920s
40 births
- 1930s 39
1930s
39 births
- 1950s 18
1950s
18 births
- 1960s 46
1960s
46 births
- 1970s
1970s
161 births
- 1980s
1980s
329 births
- 1990s
1990s
134 births
- 2000s 119
2000s
119 births
- 2010s
2010s
137 births
- 2020s
2020s
158 births
What this shows Peak: 1980s at 329 births (27% of all-time use).
How Adams compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Adams's total volume
Adams vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Adams by state
Where Adams concentrates geographically, total births since 1898
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Florida | | 58 | 4.7% |
| #2 | California | | 23 | 1.9% |
| #3 | New York | | 20 | 1.6% |
| #4 | Ohio | | 7 | 0.6% |
Florida share of Adams's total US births 4.7%
Even split
58 of 1,230 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 4 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Adams? ▼
1,230 babies have been named Adams since 1898. It currently ranks #3226 among boys. The peak year was 1983 with 42 births.
When was Adams most popular? ▼
Adams was most popular in the 1980s decade with 329 total births. The single peak year was 1983.
Where is Adams most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Adams are Florida (58 births), California (23 births), New York (20 births).
How long has the name Adams been used? ▼
Adams has been recorded in Social Security data since 1898, spanning 128 years of data through 2025.
What names are similar to Adams? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Adam, Adan, Adalberto, Adair, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Adams's data
- Adams's usage has stayed within range of its 1980s decade-level peak (329 total births) through the 2020s (158) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- Florida records the most Adamss (58 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Florida names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Adams
Nearby Names Like Adams
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Adams
Adam Boy
#100 580,378 births
Adan Boy
#496 31,478 births
Adalberto Boy
#5273 4,633 births
Adair Boy
#2375 1,797 births
Adarius Boy
#6005 1,321 births
Compare Adams side by side: Adams vs Adam Adams vs Adan Adams vs Adalberto
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Adams
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1898–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Adams: #3226 Boys' Name - 1,230 Births, Peak 1983." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/adams. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Adams draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.