Sanam: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

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	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–
1940s	–	–	–	–
1950s	–	–	–	–
1960s	–	–	–	–
1970s	6	1	–	#9,917
1980s	92	9	+1433%	#4,914
1990s	156	16	+70%	#4,349
2000s	108	11	-31%	#6,026
2010s	85	9	-21%	#6,937
2020s (to 2025)	56	9	+10%	#7,209

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

1930s

–

1940s

–

1950s

–

1960s

–

1970s

–

#9,917

1980s

+1433%

#4,914

1990s

156

+70%

#4,349

2000s

108

-31%

#6,026

2010s

-21%

#6,937

2020s (to 2025)

+10%

#7,209

The story of Sanam

Sanam is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #9,360 in 2025 with 11 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1979, 503 American babies have been named Sanam. Its peak came in 1997, when 25 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1990s.

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

How old are people named Sanam?

The median living Sanam is about 26 years old; half are between 13 and 34. An estimated 500 people named Sanam 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.

Sanam year by year

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

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	11	#9,360
2024	–	–
2023	5	#17,196
2022	16	#7,239
2021	16	#7,209
2020	8	#11,965
2019	10	#10,348
2018	12	#9,062
2017	–	–
2016	7	#14,105
2015	18	#6,937
2014	7	#14,313
2013	6	#16,202
2012	9	#12,064
2011	5	#19,072
2010	11	#10,346
2009	6	#16,906
2008	6	#17,111
2007	9	#12,478
2006	14	#8,637
2005	11	#9,998
2004	9	#11,447
2003	10	#10,291
2002	9	#10,926
2001	19	#6,026
2000	15	#7,086
1995	16	#5,892
1990	16	#5,773
1985	11	#6,361
1980	5	#11,752
1975	–	–
1970	–	–
1965	–	–
1960	–	–
1955	–	–
1950	–	–
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Sanam?

The median living Sanam is about 26 years old. Half of all living Sanams are between 13 and 34 years old.

How many people named Sanam are alive today?

An estimated 500 people named Sanam are alive in the United States, based on 503 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Sanam in 2025?

Sanam ranked #9,360 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 11 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Sanam?

503 babies have been named Sanam in the United States since 1979, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Sanam most popular?

Sanam peaked in 1997, when 25 newborns received the name.

Is Sanam a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Sanam rising or falling?

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

Sanam

Sanam popularity over time

The story of Sanam

How old are people named Sanam?

Sanam year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Sanam