Tam: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#13,669

among boys · ↓1,484 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Tam

How common

1 in 341,615

boys born in 2025

Peak year

1982

64 babies

All-time total

1,889

#5,179 all-time among boys

First recorded

1924

in Social Security records

Tam popularity over time

1,889 babies have been named Tam since 1924, 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

BoysGirls

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	–	–	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	10	10	1	–	#4,474
1930s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1940s	24	7	31	3	–	#3,293
1950s	148	30	178	18	+474%	#2,479
1960s	143	11	154	15	-13%	#4,005
1970s	52	66	118	12	-23%	#2,319
1980s	169	333	502	50	+325%	#1,408
1990s	110	240	350	35	-30%	#2,082
2000s	133	169	302	30	-14%	#4,449
2010s	93	94	187	19	-38%	#7,081
2020s (to 2025)	30	27	57	10	-49%	#7,440

The story of Tam

Tam is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #13,669 in 2025 with 5 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1924, 1,889 American babies have been named Tam, about 52% boys and 48% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1982, when 64 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 Tam stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Tam?

The median living Tam is about 36 years old; half are between 23 and 45. An estimated 1,800 people named Tam 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.

Tam 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	5	#17,015	5	#13,669
2024	–	–	6	#12,185
2023	9	#11,082	–	–
2022	5	#17,498	–	–
2021	6	#15,067	5	#13,845
2020	5	#17,272	11	#7,440
2019	6	#15,375	8	#9,637
2018	10	#10,484	12	#7,081
2017	6	#15,738	10	#8,073
2016	11	#10,048	10	#8,085
2015	9	#11,747	10	#7,971
2014	12	#9,472	8	#9,524
2013	11	#10,181	7	#10,597
2012	11	#10,357	11	#7,493
2011	–	–	11	#7,449
2010	17	#7,482	7	#10,623
2009	11	#10,605	14	#6,391
2008	16	#8,073	19	#5,041
2007	10	#11,547	19	#4,964
2006	11	#10,546	14	#6,059
2005	13	#8,822	18	#4,800
2004	10	#10,604	19	#4,580
2003	10	#10,358	14	#5,517
2002	21	#5,650	18	#4,473
2001	19	#6,043	18	#4,449
2000	12	#8,489	16	#4,761
1995	9	#9,469	28	#2,673
1990	15	#6,105	36	#2,082
1985	15	#5,053	35	#1,758
1980	14	#5,216	20	#2,525
1975	5	#10,410	12	#3,217
1970	–	–	–	–
1965	6	#6,448	–	–
1960	24	#2,504	6	#4,005
1955	12	#3,556	–	–
1950	–	–	–	–
1945	–	–	–	–
1940	–	–	–	–
1935	–	–	–	–
1930	–	–	–	–
1925	–	–	–	–
1920	–	–	–	–
1915	–	–	–	–
1910	–	–	–	–
1905	–	–	–	–
1900	–	–	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Tam?

The median living Tam is about 36 years old. Half of all living Tams are between 23 and 45 years old.

How many people named Tam are alive today?

An estimated 1,800 people named Tam are alive in the United States, based on 1,889 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Tam mean?

A diminutive of the female given name Tamara.

How popular is the name Tam in 2025?

Tam ranked #13,669 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 5 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Tam?

1,889 babies have been named Tam in the United States since 1924, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Tam most popular?

Tam peaked in 1982, when 64 newborns received the name.

Is Tam a boy or girl name?

Tam is used for both: about 48% of babies named Tam have been girls and 52% boys.

Is the name Tam rising or falling?

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

Names like Tam

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

Compare Tam with similar names → More names starting with T →