Holding steady.
Popularity of Pamala since 1926
Babies named Pamala per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1920s | 5 |
| 1930s | 24 |
| 1940s | 984 |
| 1950s | 2,575 |
| 1960s | 2,396 |
| 1970s | 940 |
| 1980s | 302 |
| 1990s | 117 |
| 2000s | 14 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Pamala emerged as a variant spelling of Pamela in the mid-20th century, appearing on U.S. records from 1926 onward. The name enjoyed its peak usage in 1954, when it ranked highest among American baby girls. By 2025, however, Pamala had fallen out of widespread use, no longer ranking in the top 1,000. Its trajectory has been stable in recent decades, reflecting a shift away from mid-century stylings. Though no top states were recorded for Pamala, the similar but more common Pamela was especially popular in the South and Midwest during the 1950s. Pamala remains a distinctive, less-heard alternative to the classic Pamela.
Pamala is a less common variant of Pamela, a name coined by the poet Sir Philip Sidney for his pastoral romance 'The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia' (1590). Sidney likely derived it from the Greek phrase παν μέλι (pan meli, 'all honey' or 'all sweetness'). Pamela gained popularity in the 18th century after Samuel Richardson's novel 'Pamela; or, Virtue Rewarded' (1740). The spelling Pamala emerged as a mid-20th-century American variant.
Where Pamala is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Pam, Pammy, Lala
Variants: Pamela
Sibling names for Pamala
Names that share Pamala's style, for a brother or sister.
