Lam
Every Lam since 1977 — 630 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Lam
Lam is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #13,120 in 2025 with 5 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1977, 630 American babies have been named Lam — about 88% boys and 12% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1984, when 28 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 Lam stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Lam 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 | #13,120 |
| 2024 | — | — | 8 | #9,503 |
| 2023 | — | — | — | — |
| 2022 | — | — | 6 | #11,701 |
| 2021 | 5 | #16,619 | 7 | #10,346 |
| 2020 | — | — | — | — |
| 2019 | 5 | #16,926 | 9 | #8,596 |
| 2018 | — | — | 9 | #8,554 |
| 2017 | 7 | #13,489 | 7 | #10,328 |
| 2016 | 6 | #15,398 | 17 | #5,447 |
| 2015 | — | — | 8 | #9,223 |
| 2014 | 8 | #12,571 | 5 | #13,227 |
| 2013 | 9 | #11,530 | 11 | #7,345 |
| 2012 | 7 | #14,336 | 10 | #7,894 |
| 2011 | 5 | #18,336 | 11 | #7,299 |
| 2010 | — | — | 15 | #5,919 |
| 2009 | — | — | 12 | #7,066 |
| 2008 | 5 | #19,205 | 11 | #7,503 |
| 2007 | 5 | #19,218 | 10 | #7,936 |
| 2006 | — | — | 7 | #10,196 |
| 2005 | — | — | 9 | #8,044 |
| 2004 | — | — | 6 | #10,786 |
| 2003 | 8 | #11,920 | 9 | #7,598 |
| 2002 | — | — | 8 | #8,129 |
| 2001 | — | — | 9 | #7,250 |
| 2000 | — | — | 11 | #6,155 |
| 1995 | — | — | 13 | #4,683 |
| 1990 | — | — | 9 | #5,628 |
| 1985 | — | — | 19 | #2,652 |
| 1980 | — | — | 12 | #3,528 |
| 1975 | — | — | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Lam
- Lam Ching-ying Actor · 1952–1997
- Lamá Soccer player · b. 1981
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Lam in 2025?
Lam ranked #13,120 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 Lam?
630 babies have been named Lam in the United States since 1977, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Lam most popular?
Lam peaked in 1984, when 28 newborns received the name.
Is Lam a boy or girl name?
Lam is used for both: about 12% of babies named Lam have been girls and 88% boys.
Is the name Lam rising or falling?
Lam is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Lam?
Well-known people named Lam include Lam Ching-ying (actor), Lamá (soccer player).