Ames
Boy name · #1758 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Ames? In official American birth records, Ames has been tracked continuously since 1913, giving it 112 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 92 baby boys were named Ames, placing it at #1758 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #2457, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 19,565 boys born in 2025 was named Ames.
Babies named Ames per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 112-year story
Ames first appears in the Social Security records in 1913, when 7 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2023, with 93 babies and a rank of #1754. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Ames against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Ames in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Ames is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Ames will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Ames is most common
State-level data for Ames is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Ames
Statistically, parents drawn to Ames tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Stiles, Akai, Alias, Hermes, and Aris.
StilesAkaiAliasHermesArisAxleMarsAras
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Ames | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 92 | #1753 |
| 2024 | 76 | #2012 |
| 2023 | 93 | #1754 |
| 2022 | 71 | #2094 |
| 2021 | 89 | #1784 |
| 2020 | 92 | #1694 |
| 2019 | 69 | #2081 |
| 2018 | 70 | #2046 |
| 2017 | 69 | #2032 |
| 2016 | 87 | #1763 |
| 2015 | 51 | #2457 |
| 2014 | 42 | #2805 |
| 2013 | 38 | #2955 |
| 2012 | 56 | #2292 |
| 2011 | 31 | #3434 |
| 2010 | 13 | #6359 |
| 2009 | 9 | #8310 |
| 2008 | 15 | #5767 |
| 2007 | 6 | #10921 |
| 2006 | 6 | #10662 |
| 2004 | 7 | #8927 |
| 2000 | 11 | #5920 |
| 1993 | 5 | #8700 |
| 1990 | 6 | #7178 |
| 1989 | 16 | #3446 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Ames?
In official American birth records, the name Ames first appeared in 1913 (over 112 years ago), when 7 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 112 years.
Is Ames a popular boy name?
Ames ranked #1758 among boys in 2025 with 92 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2457.
When was the name Ames most popular?
Ames peaked in 2023, when 93 American boys received the name (ranked #1754 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Ames?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 19,565 newborn American boys was named Ames. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.