Lamar
Boy name · #1514 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Lamar? In official American birth records, Lamar has been tracked continuously since 1882, giving it 143 years of documented American history.
Lamar is currently the #1514 boy name in the United States — 115 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #817, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 15,652 boys born in 2025 was named Lamar.
The 143-year story
Lamar first appears in the Social Security records in 1882, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1989, when 737 boys were named Lamar — good for #325 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 Lamar per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Lamar against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Lamar in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Lamar is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Lamar will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Lamar is most common
State-level data for Lamar 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 Lamar
Statistically, parents drawn to Lamar tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Jamar, Derick, Nestor, Brett, and Pierre.
JamarDerickNestorBrettPierreTerrellBryantRico
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Lamar | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 115 | #1514 |
| 2024 | 120 | #1494 |
| 2023 | 136 | #1369 |
| 2022 | 144 | #1308 |
| 2021 | 148 | #1280 |
| 2020 | 182 | #1086 |
| 2019 | 194 | #1054 |
| 2018 | 201 | #1023 |
| 2017 | 234 | #910 |
| 2016 | 230 | #923 |
| 2015 | 277 | #817 |
| 2014 | 268 | #843 |
| 2013 | 327 | #717 |
| 2012 | 289 | #784 |
| 2011 | 315 | #722 |
| 2010 | 333 | #701 |
| 2009 | 293 | #777 |
| 2008 | 308 | #740 |
| 2007 | 339 | #695 |
| 2006 | 340 | #671 |
| 2005 | 303 | #686 |
| 2004 | 263 | #725 |
| 2003 | 238 | #752 |
| 2002 | 242 | #729 |
| 2001 | 288 | #648 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Lamar?
In official American birth records, the name Lamar first appeared in 1882 (over 143 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Lamar a popular boy name?
Lamar ranked #1514 among boys in 2025 with 115 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #817.
When was the name Lamar most popular?
Lamar peaked in 1989, when 737 American boys received the name (ranked #325 that year). Since 1989 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Lamar?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 15,652 newborn American boys was named Lamar. 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.