Total births
554
Unisex name · since 1977
Lam
Since 1977, U.S. Social Security records show 554 babies named Lam, peaking in 1983. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #9227
- among boys today
- 554
- born since 1977
- 1980s
- peak decade
- 35%
- more common than other boys
554 babies have been named Lam since 1977, making it today's #9227 unisex name.
Social Security Administration records show Lam recorded 554 times among boys since 1977, holding rank #9227 nationally today, ahead of 35% 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 1977 to 2025.
- #9227 among boys today
- 554 born since 1977
- 1980s peak decade
- 35% more common than other boys
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
Lam is currently the #9227 unisex name in America, more common than 35% of boys - 554 born since 1977, peaking in the 1980s.
- #9227
- among boys today
- 554
- born since 1977
- 1980s
- peak decade
- 35%
- more common than other boys
Lam vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#9227
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 35% of names given to boys today.
1980s
Peak decade
31% of everyone ever named Lam was born in this single decade.
1983
Single peak year
27 babies were named Lam in 1983 - its busiest year on record.
How Lam compares
554 Top 41% higher than 59% 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
Lam's all-time total is 51% above the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Lam | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 554 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 27 | 23 | 22,252 |
Lam's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Lam splits its recorded history at 2000: 40% of all births land in the more recent half, 60% in the earlier half, leaning more toward its earlier era than today's. The single quietest year was 2014 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1983 peak of 27 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Lam at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1983
Current rank
#9,227
Active since
1977
Lam popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1977–2025
- Peak year (1983)
- 27
- Annual births at peak, across 49 years of records
Lam popularity over time - girls
76 total births recorded since 1984 (Lam as girls' name)
Lam by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1980s was Lam's strongest decade.
174 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 31% of all-time use.
Lam births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1970s 30
1970s
30 births
- 1980s
1980s
174 births
- 1990s
1990s
130 births
- 2000s
2000s
92 births
- 2010s
2010s
102 births
- 2020s 26
2020s
26 births
What this shows Peak: 1980s at 174 births (31% of all-time use).
How Lam 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 Lam's total volume
Lam vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Lam by state
Where Lam concentrates geographically, total births since 1977
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 71 | 12.8% |
| #2 | Texas | | 5 | 0.9% |
California share of Lam's total US births 12.8%
Even split
71 of 554 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 2 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Lam? ▼
Lam has been given to 554 babies in the U.S. since 1977, according to SSA data. Among boys, it ranks #9227 as of the latest data. 27 babies were born in 1983, its single highest year.
When was Lam most popular? ▼
Lam was most popular in the 1980s decade with 174 total births. The single peak year was 1983.
Where is Lam most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Lam are California (71 births), Texas (5 births).
Is Lam a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Lam is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 554 births, and as a girl's name it has 76 births.
How long has the name Lam been used? ▼
Lam has been recorded in Social Security data since 1977, spanning 49 years of data through 2025.
What names are similar to Lam? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Lamar, Lamont, Lambert, Lamonte, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Lam's data
- Lam's decade-level peak was the 1980s (174 total births); usage has since declined to 26 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Lams (71 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California 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 Lam
Nearby Names Like Lam
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Lam
Lamar Boy
#1495 33,967 births
Lamont Boy
#2600 24,024 births
Lambert Boy
#9003 3,515 births
Lamonte Boy
#5688 3,417 births
Lamarcus Boy
#6920 3,008 births
Compare Lam side by side: Lam vs Lamar Lam vs Lamont Lam vs Lambert
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Lam
Data Sources
Data as of July 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, 1977–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Lam: #9227 Unisex Name - 554 Births, Peak 1983." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/lam. 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 Lam 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 July 2026.