Memphis
Boy name · #639 in 2025 · Uniqueness 68/100
Memphis is currently the #639 boy name in the United States — 437 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #649, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 4,119 boys born in 2025 was named Memphis.
The 109-year story
Memphis first appears in the Social Security records in 1916, when 8 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2021, when 768 boys were named Memphis — good for #404 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 Memphis per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Memphis against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Memphis in class?
Memphis scores 68 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Memphis will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Memphis is most common
Geography matters for names, and Memphis is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Memphiss were TX (29), OH (28), NC (27), KY (26), GA (24). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Memphis
Statistically, parents drawn to Memphis tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Magnus, Cassius, Mattias, Osiris, and Genesis.
MagnusCassiusMattiasOsirisGenesisIdrisMatthiasMathias
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Memphis | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 437 | #639 |
| 2024 | 487 | #586 |
| 2023 | 614 | #486 |
| 2022 | 705 | #441 |
| 2021 | 768 | #404 |
| 2020 | 653 | #455 |
| 2019 | 711 | #432 |
| 2018 | 647 | #457 |
| 2017 | 483 | #563 |
| 2016 | 429 | #624 |
| 2015 | 401 | #649 |
| 2014 | 371 | #682 |
| 2013 | 390 | #632 |
| 2012 | 303 | #754 |
| 2011 | 316 | #720 |
| 2010 | 407 | #609 |
| 2009 | 429 | #602 |
| 2008 | 351 | #685 |
| 2007 | 271 | #796 |
| 2006 | 201 | #934 |
| 2005 | 152 | #1081 |
| 2004 | 150 | #1067 |
| 2003 | 135 | #1125 |
| 2002 | 152 | #1016 |
| 2001 | 113 | #1200 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Memphis a popular boy name?
Memphis ranked #639 among boys in 2025 with 437 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #649.
When was the name Memphis most popular?
Memphis peaked in 2021, when 768 American boys received the name (ranked #404 that year). Since 2021 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Memphis?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 4,119 newborn American boys was named Memphis. It scores 68/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.