Total births
987
Unisex name · since 1924
Tam
Since 1924, U.S. Social Security records show 987 babies named Tam, peaking in 1982. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #11085
- among boys today
- 987
- born since 1924
- 1980s
- peak decade
- 22%
- more common than other boys
Tam currently ranks #11085 among unisex names in America, with 987 babies recorded since 1924.
Social Security Administration records show Tam recorded 987 times among boys since 1924, holding rank #11085 nationally today, ahead of 22% 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 1924 to 2025.
- #11085 among boys today
- 987 born since 1924
- 1980s peak decade
- 22% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Tam is currently the #11085 unisex name in America, more common than 22% of boys - 987 born since 1924, peaking in the 1980s.
- #11085
- among boys today
- 987
- born since 1924
- 1980s
- peak decade
- 22%
- more common than other boys
Tam vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#11085
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 22% of names given to boys today.
1980s
Peak decade
34% of everyone ever named Tam was born in this single decade.
1982
Single peak year
46 babies were named Tam in 1982 - its busiest year on record.
How Tam compares
987 Top 31% higher than 69% 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
Tam's all-time total is 169% above the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Tam | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 987 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 46 | 23 | 22,252 |
Tam's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Tam splits its recorded history at 1995: 39% of all births land in the more recent half, 61% in the earlier half, leaning more toward its earlier era than today's. The single quietest year was 1924 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1982 peak of 46 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Tam at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1982
Current rank
#11,085
Active since
1924
Tam popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1924–2025
- Peak year (1982)
- 46
- Annual births at peak, across 102 years of records
Tam popularity over time - girls
902 total births recorded since 1944 (Tam as girls' name)
Tam by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1980s was Tam's strongest decade.
333 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 34% of all-time use.
Tam births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1920s 10
1920s
10 births
- 1940s 7
1940s
7 births
- 1950s 30
1950s
30 births
- 1960s 11
1960s
11 births
- 1970s 66
1970s
66 births
- 1980s
1980s
333 births
- 1990s
1990s
240 births
- 2000s
2000s
169 births
- 2010s 94
2010s
94 births
- 2020s 27
2020s
27 births
What this shows Peak: 1980s at 333 births (34% of all-time use).
How Tam 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 Tam's total volume
Tam vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Tam by state
Where Tam concentrates geographically, total births since 1924
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 198 | 20.1% |
| #2 | Texas | | 72 | 7.3% |
| #3 | Louisiana | | 6 | 0.6% |
California share of Tam's total US births 20.1%
Even split
198 of 987 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 3 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Tam? ▼
Tam has been given to 987 babies in the U.S. since 1924, according to SSA data. Among boys, it ranks #11085 as of the latest data. 46 babies were born in 1982, its single highest year.
When was Tam most popular? ▼
Tam was most popular in the 1980s decade with 333 total births. The single peak year was 1982.
Where is Tam most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Tam are California (198 births), Texas (72 births), Louisiana (6 births).
Is Tam a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Tam is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 987 births, and as a girl's name it has 902 births.
How long has the name Tam been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Tam since 1924 -- 102 years through the most recent 2025 data.
What names are similar to Tam? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Tamir, Tammy, Tamar, Tamer, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Tam's data
- Tam's decade-level peak was the 1980s (333 total births); usage has since declined to 27 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Tams (198 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 Tam
Nearby Names Like Tam
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Tam
Tamir Boy
#1845 2,401 births
Tammy Boy
1,392 births
Tamar Boy
886 births
Tamer Boy
799 births
Tamim Boy
#2181 698 births
Compare Tam side by side: Tam vs Tamir Tam vs Tammy Tam vs Tamar
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Tam
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, 1924–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Tam: #11085 Unisex Name - 987 Births, Peak 1982." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/tam. 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 Tam 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.