Shams
Every Shams since 1993 — 448 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Shams
Shams is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #3,635 in 2025 with 42 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1993, 448 American babies have been named Shams — about 76% girls and 24% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2025, when 49 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
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 Shams stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Shams 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 | 42 | #3,635 | 7 | #10,511 |
| 2024 | 40 | #3,809 | 5 | #13,922 |
| 2023 | 34 | #4,264 | 12 | #7,232 |
| 2022 | 18 | #6,671 | 6 | #12,091 |
| 2021 | 21 | #5,920 | 11 | #7,498 |
| 2020 | 24 | #5,293 | 5 | #13,729 |
| 2019 | 29 | #4,757 | 6 | #11,915 |
| 2018 | 16 | #7,365 | — | — |
| 2017 | 22 | #5,797 | 6 | #11,998 |
| 2016 | 12 | #9,342 | — | — |
| 2015 | 14 | #8,368 | 6 | #11,863 |
| 2014 | 12 | #9,452 | — | — |
| 2013 | 8 | #12,977 | 7 | #10,549 |
| 2012 | — | — | — | — |
| 2011 | 5 | #19,124 | — | — |
| 2010 | 12 | #9,706 | 6 | #11,966 |
| 2009 | 7 | #14,991 | — | — |
| 2008 | — | — | — | — |
| 2007 | 7 | #15,226 | — | — |
| 2006 | 8 | #13,422 | — | — |
| 2005 | 6 | #16,117 | — | — |
| 2004 | — | — | — | — |
| 2003 | — | — | — | — |
| 2002 | — | — | 6 | #10,458 |
| 2001 | — | — | 7 | #9,076 |
| 2000 | — | — | — | — |
| 1995 | — | — | — | — |
| 1990 | — | — | — | — |
| 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 Shams
- Shams Tabrizi Writer · 1185–1248
- Shams Pahlavi Politician · 1917–1996
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Shams in 2025?
Shams ranked #3,635 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 42 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Shams?
448 babies have been named Shams in the United States since 1993, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Shams most popular?
Shams peaked in 2025, when 49 newborns received the name.
Is Shams a boy or girl name?
Shams is used for both: about 76% of babies named Shams have been girls and 24% boys.
Is the name Shams rising or falling?
Shams is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Shams?
Well-known people named Shams include Shams Tabrizi (writer), Shams Pahlavi (politician).