Memphis
Every Memphis since 1915 — 12,735 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Memphis
Memphis is uncommon for boys in the United States, ranked #640 in 2025 with 437 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1915, 12,735 American babies have been named Memphis — about 80% boys and 20% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2021, when 986 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 Memphis stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Memphis 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 | 143 | #1,494 | 437 | #640 |
| 2024 | 133 | #1,585 | 487 | #588 |
| 2023 | 207 | #1,166 | 614 | #488 |
| 2022 | 251 | #1,024 | 705 | #442 |
| 2021 | 218 | #1,131 | 768 | #404 |
| 2020 | 168 | #1,315 | 653 | #455 |
| 2019 | 169 | #1,347 | 711 | #432 |
| 2018 | 145 | #1,510 | 647 | #458 |
| 2017 | 97 | #2,031 | 483 | #563 |
| 2016 | 93 | #2,109 | 429 | #624 |
| 2015 | 105 | #1,930 | 401 | #649 |
| 2014 | 104 | #1,934 | 371 | #683 |
| 2013 | 82 | #2,274 | 390 | #633 |
| 2012 | 58 | #2,964 | 303 | #755 |
| 2011 | 78 | #2,386 | 316 | #721 |
| 2010 | 63 | #2,799 | 407 | #611 |
| 2009 | 86 | #2,282 | 429 | #602 |
| 2008 | 78 | #2,455 | 351 | #685 |
| 2007 | 52 | #3,276 | 271 | #798 |
| 2006 | 47 | #3,452 | 201 | #934 |
| 2005 | 33 | #4,238 | 152 | #1,089 |
| 2004 | 31 | #4,457 | 150 | #1,068 |
| 2003 | 36 | #3,854 | 135 | #1,130 |
| 2002 | 19 | #6,053 | 152 | #1,017 |
| 2001 | 31 | #4,078 | 113 | #1,200 |
| 2000 | 6 | #14,391 | 12 | #5,791 |
| 1995 | — | — | — | — |
| 1990 | — | — | — | — |
| 1985 | — | — | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — | — | — |
| 1975 | — | — | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | 5 | #3,779 |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | 5 | #4,359 |
| 1925 | — | — | 6 | #4,038 |
| 1920 | — | — | 5 | #4,734 |
| 1915 | 5 | #4,748 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Memphis
- Memphis Slim Musician · 1915–1988
- Memphis Minnie Musician · 1897–1973
- Memphis Bleek Singer · b. 1978
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Memphis in 2025?
Memphis ranked #640 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 437 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Memphis?
12,735 babies have been named Memphis in the United States since 1915, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Memphis most popular?
Memphis peaked in 2021, when 986 newborns received the name.
Is Memphis a boy or girl name?
Memphis is used for both: about 20% of babies named Memphis have been girls and 80% boys.
Is the name Memphis rising or falling?
Memphis is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Memphis?
Well-known people named Memphis include Memphis Slim (musician), Memphis Minnie (musician), Memphis Bleek (singer).