Holding steady.
Popularity of Flem since 1880
Babies named Flem per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1927, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Flem's real moment was 1880.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 25 |
| 1890s | 11 |
| 1900s | 6 |
| 1910s | 32 |
| 1920s | 86 |
| 1930s | 42 |
| 1940s | 22 |
| 1950s | 20 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Flem is a rare name that peaked in 1880, the first year of Social Security data, and has not appeared on the charts since. Its trajectory is stable but extremely low, with no recent resurgence. The name is likely a Dutch-derived short form of Flemming, and it was used almost exclusively in the 1880s. Given its obscurity, Flem remains a name of historical curiosity rather than modern use.
The name Flem is likely a short form of Flemish names such as Flemming, which denotes a person from Flanders. It may also be derived from the Dutch word 'vlam' meaning 'flame'. The name was used in the United States in the late 19th century, particularly in the 1880s, but has since become exceedingly rare.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Flemm
Sibling names for Flem
Names that share Flem's style, for a brother or sister.
