Holding steady, #12,008 for boys today.
Popularity of Inman since 1913
Babies named Inman per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 51 |
| 1920s | 89 |
| 1930s | 30 |
| 1940s | 29 |
| 1950s | 14 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 21 |
| 2010s | 47 |
| 2020s | 25 |
Meaning & origin
Inman is a rare given name with English surname origins, most likely derived from an occupational term for an innkeeper or a dweller near a cave. It first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1913, with its peak popularity in 1920 when it ranked among the moderately rare names of the era. Since then, its usage has been stable but very infrequent, remaining below the top 10,000 since the 1940s. As of 2025, the name ranks 12,008, given to roughly 1 in 341,615 boys. Its trajectory has been consistent as a low-frequency choice, never experiencing a revival or a significant decline.
Inman originates as an English surname, derived from the Old English "inn" (a lodging or house) and "mann" (man), meaning one who lived at or worked at an inn. Alternatively, it may come from the Old English "in-ōra" meaning cave dweller. As a given name, it was occasionally used in the 19th and early 20th centuries, often as a transfer from the surname.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Inny
Sibling names for Inman
Names that share Inman's style, for a brother or sister.
