Hamish: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#6,240

among boys · ↓234 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Hamish

How common

1 in 122,005

boys born in 2025

Peak year

2017

25 babies

All-time total

364

#9,540 all-time among boys

First recorded

1981

in Social Security records

Hamish popularity over time

364 babies have been named Hamish since 1981, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Boys	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–
1940s	–	–	–	–
1950s	–	–	–	–
1960s	–	–	–	–
1970s	–	–	–	–
1980s	5	1	–	#6,647
1990s	17	2	+240%	#8,171
2000s	92	9	+441%	#5,584
2010s	145	15	+58%	#4,154
2020s (to 2025)	105	18	+21%	#4,152

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.

How old are people named Hamish?

The median living Hamish is about 10 years old; half are between 5 and 17. An estimated 400 people named Hamish are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

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

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

1 Hamish Linklater American actor and playwright (born 1976) Contemporary
2 Hamish Bond New Zealand rower (born 1986) Contemporary
3 Hamish Carter New Zealand triathlete b. 1971 · Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Hamish, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Hamish?

The median living Hamish is about 10 years old. Half of all living Hamishs are between 5 and 17 years old.

How many people named Hamish are alive today?

An estimated 400 people named Hamish are alive in the United States, based on 364 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

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 Bond (writer), Hamish Carter (athlete).

Names like Hamish

Names that sound and feel close to Hamish: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Hamish with similar names → More names starting with H →