Total births
39
Boys' name · since 1918
Sambo
Since 1918, U.S. Social Security records show 39 babies named Sambo, peaking in 1924. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 39
- total births
- 1918–1986
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 31%
- born in that decade
Sambo sits outside today's top ranks for boys, with 39 recorded since 1918.
Social Security Administration records show Sambo recorded 39 times among boys since 1918, 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 1918 to 1986.
- 39 total births
- 1918–1986 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 31% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
39 boys have been named Sambo since 1918, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 1986.
- 39
- total births
- 1918–1986
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 31%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
31% of everyone ever named Sambo was born in this single decade.
1924
Single peak year
7 babies were named Sambo in 1924 - its busiest year on record.
Sambo's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Sambo splits its recorded history at 1924: 62% of all births land in the more recent half, 38% in the earlier half, a lean toward present-day use rather than a passing spike. The single quietest year was 1918 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1924 peak of 7 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Sambo at a glance
Last recorded 1986Peak year
1924
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1918
Sambo popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1918–1986
- Peak year (1924)
- 7
- Annual births at peak, across 69 years of records
Sambo by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Sambo's strongest decade.
12 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 31% of all-time use.
Sambo births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s
1910s
10 births
- 1920s
1920s
12 births
- 1930s
1930s
6 births
- 1980s
1980s
11 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 12 births (31% of all-time use).
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Sambo? ▼
Sambo has been given to 39 babies in the U.S. since 1918, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 1986. 7 babies were born in 1924, its single highest year.
When was Sambo most popular? ▼
Sambo was most popular in the 1920s decade with 12 total births. The single peak year was 1924.
How long has the name Sambo been used? ▼
Sambo has been recorded in Social Security data since 1918, spanning 69 years of data through 1986.
What names are similar to Sambo? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Samuel, Sam, Sammy, Sammie, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Sambo's data
- Sambo's usage has stayed within range of its 1920s decade-level peak (12 total births) through the 1980s (11) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- 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 Sambo
Nearby Names Like Sambo
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Sambo
Samuel Boy
#17 820,196 births
Sam Boy
#650 127,234 births
Sammy Boy
#1544 43,382 births
Sammie Boy
#4893 20,836 births
Samson Boy
#522 12,879 births
Compare Sambo side by side: Sambo vs Samuel Sambo vs Sam Sambo vs Sammy
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, 1918–1986 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Sambo: Baby Name Since 1918 - 39 Births, Peak 1924." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/sambo. 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 Sambo 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.