Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 2005

Shyam

Meaning Borrowed from Sanskrit श्याम (śyāma) Gender Boy Rank 2025 #10,520

Borrowed from Sanskrit श्याम (śyāma).

Rank 2025
#10,520
among boys · ↑247 vs 2024
Babies in 2025
7
named Shyam
How common
1 in 244,011
boys born in 2025
Peak year
2005
34 babies
All-time total
754
#6,129 all-time among boys
First recorded
1971
in Social Security records

Shyam popularity over time

754 babies have been named Shyam since 1971, 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
0.010.010.020.0218801900192019401960198020002020Peak 2005Boys

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 33 3 – #4,120
1980s 108 11 +227% #2,770
1990s 204 20 +89% #2,768
2000s 241 24 +18% #3,079
2010s 125 13 -48% #5,009
2020s (to 2025) 43 7 -43% #7,964

The story of Shyam

Shyam is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #10,520 in 2025 with 7 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1971, 754 American babies have been named Shyam. Its peak came in 2005, when 34 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 2000s.

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

How old are people named Shyam?

The median living Shyam is about 24 years old; half are between 16 and 32. An estimated 700 people named Shyam are alive in the United States today.

median 24 020406080100

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

Shyam year by year

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

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 7 #10,520
2024 7 #10,767
2023 – –
2022 9 #8,879
2021 10 #8,075
2020 10 #7,964
2019 7 #10,636
2018 14 #6,290
2017 11 #7,470
2016 10 #8,073
2015 8 #9,439
2014 17 #5,451
2013 16 #5,617
2012 6 #12,057
2011 17 #5,398
2010 19 #5,009
2009 18 #5,279
2008 21 #4,682
2007 19 #4,956
2006 22 #4,347
2005 34 #3,079
2004 24 #3,839
2003 29 #3,262
2002 21 #4,021
2001 26 #3,394
2000 27 #3,213
1995 24 #3,008
1990 12 #4,636
1985 18 #2,808
1980 7 #5,435
1975 – –
1970 – –
1965 – –
1960 – –
1955 – –
1950 – –
1945 – –
1940 – –
1935 – –
1930 – –
1925 – –
1920 – –
1915 – –
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Shyam

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

  1. 1 Shyam Benegal Shyam Benegal Indian director and screenwriter (1934–2024) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Shyam?

The median living Shyam is about 24 years old. Half of all living Shyams are between 16 and 32 years old.

How many people named Shyam are alive today?

An estimated 700 people named Shyam are alive in the United States, based on 754 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Shyam mean?

Borrowed from Sanskrit श्याम (śyāma).

How popular is the name Shyam in 2025?

Shyam ranked #10,520 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 7 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Shyam?

754 babies have been named Shyam in the United States since 1971, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Shyam most popular?

Shyam peaked in 2005, when 34 newborns received the name.

Is Shyam a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Shyam rising or falling?

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

Who are famous people named Shyam?

Well-known people named Shyam include Shyam Benegal (film director).

Names like Shyam

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

Compare Shyam with similar names → More names starting with S →