Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1984

Nam

Gender Boy Rank 2025 #9,446
Rank 2025
#9,446
among boys · ↓676 vs 2024
Babies in 2025
8
named Nam
How common
1 in 213,510
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1984
58 babies
All-time total
1,404
#4,146 all-time among boys
First recorded
1975
in Social Security records

Nam popularity over time

1,404 babies have been named Nam since 1975, 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
0.010.020.030.0418801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1984Boys

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 81 8 – #2,442
1980s 458 46 +465% #1,210
1990s 325 33 -29% #1,863
2000s 250 25 -23% #3,117
2010s 234 23 -6% #3,755
2020s (to 2025) 56 9 -60% #6,190

The story of Nam

Nam is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #9,446 in 2025 with 8 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1975, 1,404 American babies have been named Nam. Its peak came in 1984, when 58 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1980s.

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 Nam stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Nam?

The median living Nam is about 31 years old; half are between 18 and 40. An estimated 1,400 people named Nam are alive in the United States today.

median 31 020406080100

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

Nam year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 8 #9,446
2024 9 #8,770
2023 8 #9,482
2022 5 #13,737
2021 12 #6,977
2020 14 #6,190
2019 18 #5,288
2018 18 #5,246
2017 26 #4,061
2016 26 #4,061
2015 29 #3,755
2014 17 #5,408
2013 22 #4,417
2012 28 #3,777
2011 27 #3,862
2010 23 #4,325
2009 28 #3,794
2008 16 #5,685
2007 37 #3,117
2006 19 #4,806
2005 26 #3,690
2004 32 #3,132
2003 21 #4,070
2002 25 #3,528
2001 22 #3,808
2000 24 #3,498
1995 35 #2,282
1990 36 #2,068
1985 46 #1,470
1980 40 #1,534
1975 14 #2,861
1970 – –
1965 – –
1960 – –
1955 – –
1950 – –
1945 – –
1940 – –
1935 – –
1930 – –
1925 – –
1920 – –
1915 – –
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Nam

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

  1. 1 Nam Joo-hyuk Nam Joo-hyuk South Korean actor and model (born 1994) Contemporary
  2. 2 Nam June Paik Nam June Paik South Korean video artist (1932–2006) Contemporary
  3. 3 Nam Woo-hyun Nam Woo-hyun South Korean singer and actor (born 1991) Contemporary
  4. 4 Nam Gyu-ri Nam Gyu-ri South Korean actress and singer (born 1985) Contemporary
  5. 5 Nam Hyun-hee Nam Hyun-hee South Korean fencer (born 1981) Contemporary
  6. 6 Nam Song-chol Nam Song-chol Soccer player, North Korea b. 1982 · Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Nam?

The median living Nam is about 31 years old. Half of all living Nams are between 18 and 40 years old.

How many people named Nam are alive today?

An estimated 1,400 people named Nam are alive in the United States, based on 1,404 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Nam in 2025?

Nam ranked #9,446 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 8 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Nam?

1,404 babies have been named Nam in the United States since 1975, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Nam most popular?

Nam peaked in 1984, when 58 newborns received the name.

Is Nam a boy or girl name?

Nam is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Nam rising or falling?

Nam is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Nam?

Well-known people named Nam include Nam Joo-hyuk (actor), Nam June Paik (musician), Nam Woo-hyun (singer).

Names like Nam

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

Compare Nam with similar names → More names starting with N →