Total births
503
Girls' name · since 1979
Sanam
Sanam has 503 recorded births since 1979 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1997 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- 503
- total births
- 1979–2025
- years on record
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 31%
- born in that decade
Sanam is not among the current top-ranked girls names; 503 have been recorded since 1979.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Sanam has been recorded 503 times among girls since 1979, though it is not among the currently most-used girls names, with its heaviest use in the 1990s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1979 to 2025.
- 503 total births
- 1979–2025 years on record
- 1990s peak decade
- 31% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
503 girls have been named Sanam since 1979, peaking in the 1990s, last recorded in 2025.
- 503
- total births
- 1979–2025
- years on record
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 31%
- born in that decade
1990s
Peak decade
31% of everyone ever named Sanam was born in this single decade.
1997
Single peak year
25 babies were named Sanam in 1997 - its busiest year on record.
Sanam's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Sanam's SSA record in two at 2001 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 1980, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1997 peak of 25, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Sanam at a glance
Last recorded 2025Peak year
1997
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1979
Sanam popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1979–2025
- Peak year (1997)
- 25
- Annual births at peak, across 47 years of records
Sanam by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1990s was Sanam's strongest decade.
156 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 31% of all-time use.
Sanam births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1970s 6
1970s
6 births
- 1980s
1980s
92 births
- 1990s
1990s
156 births
- 2000s
2000s
108 births
- 2010s
2010s
85 births
- 2020s 56
2020s
56 births
What this shows Peak: 1990s at 156 births (31% of all-time use).
How Sanam compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Sanam's total volume
Sanam vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Sanam by state
Where Sanam concentrates geographically, total births since 1979
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 117 | 23.3% |
| #2 | New York | | 11 | 2.2% |
California share of Sanam's total US births 23.3%
Even split
117 of 503 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 2 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Sanam? ▼
503 babies have been named Sanam since 1979. It was last recorded in 2025. The peak year was 1997 with 25 births.
When was Sanam most popular? ▼
Sanam was most popular in the 1990s decade with 156 total births. The single peak year was 1997.
Where is Sanam most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Sanam are California (117 births), New York (11 births).
How long has the name Sanam been used? ▼
Sanam has been recorded in Social Security data since 1979, spanning 47 years of data through 2025.
What names are similar to Sanam? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Sandra, Sandy, Sandi, Saniyah, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Sanam's data
- Sanam's usage has stayed within range of its 1990s decade-level peak (156 total births) through the 2020s (56) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- California records the most Sanams (117 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 Sanam
Nearby Names Like Sanam
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Sanam
Sandra Girl
#1046 875,531 births
Sandy Girl
#3233 69,072 births
Sandi Girl
#15517 10,101 births
Saniyah Girl
#1312 7,300 births
Saniya Girl
#2576 6,985 births
Compare Sanam side by side: Sanam vs Sandra Sanam vs Sandy Sanam vs Sandi
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, 1979–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Sanam: Baby Name Since 1979 - 503 Births, Peak 1997." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/sanam. 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 Sanam 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.