Declining since 2017, #1,959 for boys today.
Popularity of Ramsey since 1894
Babies named Ramsey per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 | 7 |
| 1900s | 0 | 0 |
| 1910s | 0 | 84 |
| 1920s | 0 | 122 |
| 1930s | 0 | 101 |
| 1940s | 0 | 127 |
| 1950s | 0 | 205 |
| 1960s | 5 | 319 |
| 1970s | 64 | 639 |
| 1980s | 145 | 978 |
| 1990s | 276 | 1,077 |
| 2000s | 454 | 1,080 |
| 2010s | 796 | 1,216 |
| 2020s | 519 | 647 |
Meaning & origin
Ramsey has longstanding roots as a Scottish and English surname before its adoption as a given name. It first entered U.S. birth records in 1894 and saw intermittent use for over a century. The name climbed to its peak rank in 2017 and has since been falling in popularity, sitting at rank 1959 in the latest year 2025 with an incidence of 1 in 21,898 newborns. Its strongest regional presence is in Minnesota, Georgia, and Texas. Ramsey's strong consonant sounds and unisex appeal align it with other surnames-turned-first-names that fit a modern, rugged style.
Ramsey is a habitational surname derived from Old English hramsa 'wild garlic' + ēg 'island', referring to places in Huntingdonshire and the Isle of Man. Alternatively, it may be from Old Norse hrafn 'raven' + ey 'island', as in the Scottish place-name. As a given name, it gained modest use in the late 19th century and rose notably in the 2010s.
Where Ramsey is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys 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: Ram
Sibling names for Ramsey
Names that share Ramsey's style, for a brother or sister.
