Total births
123
Boys' name · since 1912
Pelham
Since 1912, U.S. Social Security records show 123 babies named Pelham, peaking in 1917. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 123
- total births
- 1912–1973
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 31%
- born in that decade
123 boys have been named Pelham since 1912, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Social Security Administration records show Pelham recorded 123 times among boys since 1912, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used boys names, peaking in the 1920s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1912 to 1973.
- 123 total births
- 1912–1973 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 31% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
123 boys have been named Pelham since 1912, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 1973.
- 123
- total births
- 1912–1973
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 31%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
31% of everyone ever named Pelham was born in this single decade.
1917
Single peak year
9 babies were named Pelham in 1917 - its busiest year on record.
Pelham's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Pelham's SSA record in two at 1928 and the more recent half accounts for 47% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 53%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1912, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1917 peak of 9, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Pelham at a glance
Last recorded 1973Peak year
1917
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1912
Pelham popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1912–1973
- Peak year (1917)
- 9
- Annual births at peak, across 62 years of records
Pelham by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Pelham's strongest decade.
38 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 31% of all-time use.
Pelham births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s
1910s
35 births
- 1920s
1920s
38 births
- 1930s
1930s
18 births
- 1940s 10
1940s
10 births
- 1950s
1950s
17 births
- 1970s 5
1970s
5 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 38 births (31% of all-time use).
Pelham by state
Where Pelham concentrates geographically, total births since 1912
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Alabama | | 5 | 4.1% |
Alabama share of Pelham's total US births 4.1%
5 of 123 births nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Pelham? ▼
Pelham has been given to 123 babies in the U.S. since 1912, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 1973. 9 babies were born in 1917, its single highest year.
When was Pelham most popular? ▼
Pelham was most popular in the 1920s decade with 38 total births. The single peak year was 1917.
Where is Pelham most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Pelham are Alabama (5 births).
How long has the name Pelham been used? ▼
Records for Pelham go back to 1912, giving 62 years of history through 1973.
What names are similar to Pelham? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Pellegrino, Pele, Peleg. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Pelham's data
- Pelham's decade-level peak was the 1920s (38 total births); usage has since declined to 5 in the 1970s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Alabama records the most Pelhams (5 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Alabama 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 Pelham
Nearby Names Like Pelham
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Pelham
Compare Pelham side by side: Pelham vs Pellegrino Pelham vs Pele Pelham vs Peleg
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
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, 1912–1973 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Pelham: Baby Name Since 1912 - 123 Births, Peak 1917." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/pelham. 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 Pelham 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.