Unisex name · peaked 2017

Ramsay

A male given name transferred from the surname.

Every Ramsay since 1922 — 463 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex — comparable across eras
00.010.010.0118801900192019401960198020002020BoysGirls
BoysGirls
Rank 2025
#10,436
among boys
Babies in 2025
12
named Ramsay
Peak year
2017
25 babies
All-time total
463
since 1922

The story of Ramsay

Ramsay is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #10,436 in 2025 with 7 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.

Since 1922, 463 American babies have been named Ramsay — about 84% boys and 16% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2017, when 25 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2010s.

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

Ramsay 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 #16,717 7 #10,436
2024 6 #12,026
2023 6 #14,781 9 #8,770
2022 13 #6,750
2021 5 #17,125 15 #5,972
2020 6 #14,733 7 #10,351
2019 11 #7,516
2018 5 #17,593 10 #8,023
2017 9 #11,420 16 #5,723
2016 8 #9,475
2015 5 #18,527 6 #11,769
2014 8 #9,418
2013 5 #18,683 11 #7,439
2012 6 #16,417 7 #10,505
2011 7 #10,527
2010 8 #9,478
2009 10 #8,158
2008 5 #19,786 10 #8,153
2007
2006 9 #8,576
2005 6 #11,142
2004 6 #11,025
2003 5 #12,321
2002 8 #8,268
2001 6 #10,248
2000 10 #6,713
1995 6 #8,631
1990 7 #6,993
1985 7 #5,610
1980 5 #7,047
1975
1970
1965
1960
1955
1950
1945
1940
1935
1930
1925
1920
1915
1910
1905
1900
1895
1890
1885
1880

Famous people named Ramsay

  1. Ramsay MacDonald Politician · 1866–1937

Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Ramsay mean?

A male given name transferred from the surname.

How popular is the name Ramsay in 2025?

Ramsay ranked #10,436 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 Ramsay?

463 babies have been named Ramsay in the United States since 1922, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Ramsay most popular?

Ramsay peaked in 2017, when 25 newborns received the name.

Is Ramsay a boy or girl name?

Ramsay is used for both: about 16% of babies named Ramsay have been girls and 84% boys.

Is the name Ramsay rising or falling?

Ramsay has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Ramsay?

Well-known people named Ramsay include Ramsay MacDonald (politician).

Names like Ramsay

Compare Ramsay with similar names →