Total births
1,404
Boys' name · since 1975
Nam
Since 1975, U.S. Social Security records show 1,404 babies named Nam, peaking in 1984. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #8495
- among boys today
- 1,404
- born since 1975
- 1980s
- peak decade
- 41%
- more common than other boys
Nam currently ranks #8495 among boys' names in America, with 1,404 babies recorded since 1975.
Social Security Administration records show Nam recorded 1,404 times among boys since 1975, holding rank #8495 nationally today, ahead of 41% 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 1975 to 2025.
- #8495 among boys today
- 1,404 born since 1975
- 1980s peak decade
- 41% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Nam is currently the #8495 boys' name in America, more common than 41% of boys - 1,404 born since 1975, peaking in the 1980s.
- #8495
- among boys today
- 1,404
- born since 1975
- 1980s
- peak decade
- 41%
- more common than other boys
Nam vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#8495
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 41% of names given to boys today.
1980s
Peak decade
33% of everyone ever named Nam was born in this single decade.
1984
Single peak year
58 babies were named Nam in 1984 - its busiest year on record.
How Nam compares
1,404 Top 26% higher than 74% 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
Nam's all-time total is 4x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Nam | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,404 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 58 | 23 | 22,252 |
Nam's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Nam's SSA record in two at 2000 and the more recent half accounts for 38% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 62%, consistent with a name more common in the past than in recent years. Its calmest year was 2022, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1984 peak of 58, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Nam at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1984
Current rank
#8,495
Active since
1975
Nam popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1975–2025
- Peak year (1984)
- 58
- Annual births at peak, across 51 years of records
Nam by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1980s was Nam's strongest decade.
458 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 33% of all-time use.
Nam births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1970s 81
1970s
81 births
- 1980s
1980s
458 births
- 1990s
1990s
325 births
- 2000s
2000s
250 births
- 2010s
2010s
234 births
- 2020s 56
2020s
56 births
What this shows Peak: 1980s at 458 births (33% of all-time use).
How Nam 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 Nam's total volume
Nam vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Nam by state
Where Nam concentrates geographically, total births since 1975
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 374 | 26.6% |
| #2 | Texas | | 133 | 9.5% |
| #3 | Louisiana | | 5 | 0.4% |
| #4 | Massachusetts | | 5 | 0.4% |
| #5 | Pennsylvania | | 5 | 0.4% |
| #6 | Washington | | 5 | 0.4% |
California share of Nam's total US births 26.6%
Even split
374 of 1,404 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 6 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Nam? ▼
Since 1975, Social Security records show 1,404 babies named Nam. Today it holds rank #8495 among boys. Its busiest year on record was 1984, with 58 births.
When was Nam most popular? ▼
Nam was most popular in the 1980s decade with 458 total births. The single peak year was 1984.
Where is Nam most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Nam are California (374 births), Texas (133 births), Louisiana (5 births).
How long has the name Nam been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Nam since 1975 -- 51 years through the most recent 2025 data.
What names are similar to Nam? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Namon, Namir, Naman, Namari, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Nam's data
- Nam's decade-level peak was the 1980s (458 total births); usage has since declined to 56 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Nams (374 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 Nam
Nearby Names Like Nam
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Nam
Namon Boy
1,121 births
Namir Boy
#2021 935 births
Naman Boy
#4725 521 births
Namari Boy
#1854 466 births
Nameer Boy
132 births
Compare Nam side by side: Nam vs Namon Nam vs Namir Nam vs Naman
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Nam
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, 1975–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Nam: #8495 Boys' Name - 1,404 Births, Peak 1984." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/nam. 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 Nam 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.