Niam
Boy name · #1440 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Niam? In official American birth records, Niam has been tracked continuously since 1993, giving it 32 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 125 baby boys were named Niam, placing it at #1440 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1374, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 14,400 boys born in 2025 was named Niam.
The 32-year story
Niam first appears in the Social Security records in 1993, when 6 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2021, when 169 boys were named Niam — good for #1168 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 Niam per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Niam against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Niam in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Niam is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Niam will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Niam is most common
Geography matters for names, and Niam is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Niam is most common in NJ (0.3 per 1,000), IL (0.3 per 1,000), NC (0.2 per 1,000), CA (0.1 per 1,000), TX (0.1 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.1 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Niam is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Niam
Statistically, parents drawn to Niam tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Lyam, Noam, Arham, Karam, and Iam.
LyamNoamArhamKaramIamNovaCamDream
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Niam | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 125 | #1436 |
| 2024 | 126 | #1438 |
| 2023 | 133 | #1390 |
| 2022 | 126 | #1440 |
| 2021 | 169 | #1168 |
| 2020 | 141 | #1288 |
| 2019 | 127 | #1394 |
| 2018 | 137 | #1324 |
| 2017 | 130 | #1365 |
| 2016 | 155 | #1216 |
| 2015 | 126 | #1374 |
| 2014 | 108 | #1492 |
| 2013 | 41 | #2804 |
| 2012 | 30 | #3530 |
| 2011 | 22 | #4356 |
| 2010 | 20 | #4678 |
| 2009 | 13 | #6436 |
| 2008 | 11 | #7187 |
| 2007 | 7 | #9788 |
| 2006 | 9 | #7998 |
| 2004 | 7 | #8927 |
| 2003 | 5 | #10894 |
| 2002 | 6 | #9392 |
| 2001 | 6 | #9243 |
| 2000 | 6 | #9112 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Niam?
In official American birth records, the name Niam first appeared in 1993 (over 32 years ago), when 6 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 32 years.
Is Niam a popular boy name?
Niam ranked #1440 among boys in 2025 with 125 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1374.
When was the name Niam most popular?
Niam peaked in 2021, when 169 American boys received the name (ranked #1168 that year). Since 2021 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Niam?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 14,400 newborn American boys was named Niam. 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.