Declining since 2018, #3,450 for boys today.
Popularity of Kam since 1914
Babies named Kam per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 0 | 5 |
| 1920s | 5 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0 | 0 |
| 1940s | 0 | 0 |
| 1950s | 30 | 19 |
| 1960s | 107 | 57 |
| 1970s | 226 | 100 |
| 1980s | 17 | 37 |
| 1990s | 0 | 42 |
| 2000s | 0 | 44 |
| 2010s | 0 | 393 |
| 2020s | 0 | 261 |
Meaning & origin
Kam is a short, punchy name that has been in use in the United States since 1914, though it has never been common. Its popularity peaked in 2019, when it reached rank 3450, with about 1 in 51760 boys receiving the name that year. Since 2018, however, its usage has been declining. The name's simplicity and modern feel align with contemporary naming trends favoring brief, easy-to-pronounce names. Kam is most likely a truncation of longer names like Kamal or Kameron, but it has carved out its own identity. Despite its low rank, Kam has maintained a steady presence for over a century, appealing to parents seeking a distinctive yet familiar-sounding name.
Kam is typically used as a nickname or short form of longer names such as Kamal (Arabic for 'perfection') or Kameron (Scottish surname meaning 'crooked nose'). As an independent given name, it has been in use in the United States since at least 1914, but its popularity has been modest and fluctuating. Its recent rise in the 2010s may reflect the trend towards short, simple names.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Cam
Sibling names for Kam
Names that share Kam's style, for a brother or sister.
