Hamish
Anglicized spelling of Scottish Gaelic Sheumais, vocative case of Seumas, from English James (see for more).
Every Hamish since 1981 — 364 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Hamish
Hamish is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #6,240 in 2025 with 14 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.
Since 1981, 364 American babies have been named Hamish. Its peak came in 2017, when 25 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2010s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Hamish stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Hamish year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 14 | #6,240 |
| 2024 | 15 | #6,006 |
| 2023 | 13 | #6,666 |
| 2022 | 22 | #4,609 |
| 2021 | 25 | #4,152 |
| 2020 | 16 | #5,542 |
| 2019 | 10 | #7,841 |
| 2018 | 15 | #5,870 |
| 2017 | 25 | #4,154 |
| 2016 | 11 | #7,313 |
| 2015 | 21 | #4,605 |
| 2014 | 20 | #4,755 |
| 2013 | 10 | #7,717 |
| 2012 | 15 | #5,804 |
| 2011 | 7 | #10,001 |
| 2010 | 11 | #7,248 |
| 2009 | 12 | #6,961 |
| 2008 | 16 | #5,584 |
| 2007 | 9 | #8,434 |
| 2006 | 8 | #9,008 |
| 2005 | 6 | #10,569 |
| 2004 | 9 | #7,758 |
| 2003 | 9 | #7,466 |
| 2002 | 10 | #6,715 |
| 2001 | 7 | #8,623 |
| 2000 | 6 | #9,523 |
| 1995 | 6 | #8,171 |
| 1990 | 5 | #8,605 |
| 1985 | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — |
| 1975 | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
Famous people named Hamish
- Hamish Linklater Actor · b. 1976
- Hamish Carter Athlete · b. 1971
- Hamish Bond Writer · b. 1986
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Hamish mean?
Anglicized spelling of Scottish Gaelic Sheumais, vocative case of Seumas, from English James (see for more).
How popular is the name Hamish in 2025?
Hamish ranked #6,240 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 14 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Hamish?
364 babies have been named Hamish in the United States since 1981, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Hamish most popular?
Hamish peaked in 2017, when 25 newborns received the name.
Is Hamish a boy or girl name?
Hamish is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Hamish rising or falling?
Hamish has been roughly stable over the past decade.
Who are famous people named Hamish?
Well-known people named Hamish include Hamish Linklater (actor), Hamish Carter (athlete), Hamish Bond (writer).