Holding steady.
Popularity of Bascom since 1882
Babies named Bascom per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1916, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Bascom's real moment was 1884.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 48 |
| 1890s | 34 |
| 1900s | 22 |
| 1910s | 183 |
| 1920s | 185 |
| 1930s | 110 |
| 1940s | 96 |
| 1950s | 30 |
| 1960s | 17 |
| 1970s | 6 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Bascom is a rare given name that first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1882, the earliest year of Social Security data. Its peak usage came in 1884, when it ranked no. 253, but it quickly declined and has since become extremely uncommon. The name has never achieved widespread popularity, and its trajectory has been stable at very low levels. As a transferred surname with obscure English roots, Bascom offers a distinct vintage quality. Its rarity means no top states can be singled out for concentrated use. For parents drawn to obscure 19th-century revivals, Bascom provides a short, sturdy alternative to more common choices like Basil or Barclay.
Bascom is primarily known as a surname of English origin, possibly derived from a place name such as Bascombe or Bascome. These place names may come from Old English elements like *bæsc* 'a rush' (the plant) and *cumb* 'a valley'. As a given name, it emerged in the United States in the 19th century, likely as a transferred use of the surname. It saw modest use in the 1880s, peaking in 1884, but has since become very rare.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Bas
Variants: Bascombe, Bascome
Sibling names for Bascom
Names that share Bascom's style, for a brother or sister.
