Tam
A diminutive of the female given name Tamara.
Every Tam since 1924 — 1,889 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
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.
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
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.