Baby Names US
girls' name ★ peaked 1959

Pam

Meaning A diminutive of the female given name Pamela Gender Girl Rank 2025 Below top lists

A diminutive of the female given name Pamela.

Rank 2025
–
among girls
Babies in 2025
<5
named Pam
How common
–
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1959
3,677 babies
All-time total
33,148
#785 all-time among girls
First recorded
1915
in Social Security records

Pam popularity over time

33,148 babies have been named Pam since 1915, 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
0.511.5218801900192019401960198020002020GirlsBoys
GirlsBoys

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 Girls Boys Total Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – – – –
1890s – – – – – –
1900s – – – – – –
1910s 5 – 5 1 – #4,806
1920s 7 – 7 1 +40% #4,186
1930s 116 – 116 12 +1557% #1,617
1940s 3,357 – 3,357 336 +2794% #305
1950s 11,235 6 11,241 1,124 +235% #125
1960s 17,109 17 17,126 1,713 +52% #132
1970s 1,126 – 1,126 113 -93% #561
1980s 144 – 144 14 -87% #3,392
1990s 26 – 26 3 -82% #8,335
2000s – – – – – –
2010s – – – – – –
2020s (to 2025) – – – – – –

The story of Pam

Pam is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1915, 33,148 American babies have been named Pam. Its peak came in 1959, when 3,677 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1950s.

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

How old are people named Pam?

The median living Pam is about 65 years old; half are between 62 and 67. An estimated 28 thousand people named Pam are alive in the United States today.

median 65 020406080100

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

Pam year by year

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

Year Girls Girls rank Boys Boys rank
2025 – – – –
2024 – – – –
2023 – – – –
2022 – – – –
2021 – – – –
2020 – – – –
2019 – – – –
2018 – – – –
2017 – – – –
2016 – – – –
2015 – – – –
2014 – – – –
2013 – – – –
2012 – – – –
2011 – – – –
2010 – – – –
2009 – – – –
2008 – – – –
2007 – – – –
2006 – – – –
2005 – – – –
2004 – – – –
2003 – – – –
2002 – – – –
2001 – – – –
2000 – – – –
1995 – – – –
1990 10 #8,335 – –
1985 8 #8,092 – –
1980 24 #3,472 – –
1975 53 #1,772 – –
1970 327 #561 – –
1965 1,218 #246 – –
1960 3,406 #132 10 #2,814
1955 473 #402 – –
1950 229 #546 – –
1945 349 #377 – –
1940 55 #968 – –
1935 10 #2,886 – –
1930 7 #3,964 – –
1925 – – – –
1920 – – – –
1915 5 #4,806 – –
1910 – – – –
1905 – – – –
1900 – – – –
1895 – – – –
1890 – – – –
1885 – – – –
1880 – – – –

Famous people named Pam

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

  1. 1 Pam Grier Pam Grier American actress (born 1949) Contemporary
  2. 2 Pam Dawber Pam Dawber American actress (born 1951) Contemporary
  3. 3 Pam Ferris Pam Ferris British actress (born 1948) Contemporary
  4. 4 Pam Shriver Pam Shriver American tennis player (born 1962) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Pam?

The median living Pam is about 65 years old. Half of all living Pams are between 62 and 67 years old.

How many people named Pam are alive today?

An estimated 28 thousand people named Pam are alive in the United States, based on 33,148 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Pam mean?

A diminutive of the female given name Pamela.

How popular is the name Pam in 2025?

Pam did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Pam?

33,148 babies have been named Pam in the United States since 1915, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Pam most popular?

Pam peaked in 1959, when 3,677 newborns received the name.

Is Pam a boy or girl name?

Pam is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Pam rising or falling?

Pam has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Pam?

Well-known people named Pam include Pam Grier (actor), Pam Dawber (actor), Pam Ferris (actor).

Names like Pam

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

Compare Pam with similar names → More names starting with P →