Elam
Boy name · #2210 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Elam? In official American birth records, Elam has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Elam ranks #2210 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 64 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1252, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 28,125 boys born in 2025 was named Elam.
The 145-year story
Elam first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 6 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2015, when 144 boys were named Elam — good for #1252 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. 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.
Babies named Elam per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Elam against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Elam in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Elam is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Elam will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Elam is most common
State-level data for Elam 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 Elam
Statistically, parents drawn to Elam tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Bram, Ekam, Akram, Eyad, and Kam.
BramEkamAkramEyadKamAgamAramEmmet
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Elam | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 64 | #2207 |
| 2024 | 65 | #2210 |
| 2023 | 60 | #2315 |
| 2022 | 74 | #2039 |
| 2021 | 97 | #1688 |
| 2020 | 92 | #1694 |
| 2019 | 101 | #1624 |
| 2018 | 103 | #1593 |
| 2017 | 109 | #1518 |
| 2016 | 108 | #1539 |
| 2015 | 144 | #1252 |
| 2014 | 102 | #1559 |
| 2013 | 73 | #1915 |
| 2012 | 64 | #2104 |
| 2011 | 58 | #2232 |
| 2010 | 68 | #2010 |
| 2009 | 51 | #2486 |
| 2008 | 40 | #2946 |
| 2007 | 42 | #2811 |
| 2006 | 34 | #3153 |
| 2005 | 35 | #2960 |
| 2004 | 28 | #3368 |
| 2003 | 37 | #2674 |
| 2002 | 26 | #3349 |
| 2001 | 27 | #3228 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Elam?
In official American birth records, the name Elam first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 6 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Elam a popular boy name?
Elam ranked #2210 among boys in 2025 with 64 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1252.
When was the name Elam most popular?
Elam peaked in 2015, when 144 American boys received the name (ranked #1252 that year). Since 2015 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Elam?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 28,125 newborn American boys was named Elam. 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.