Paloma
Girl name · #792 in 2025 · Uniqueness 52/100
Paloma ranks #792 among American girls' names as of 2025, with 343 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #901, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 5,248 girls born in 2025 was named Paloma.
The 104-year story
Paloma first appears in the Social Security records in 1921, when 6 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2009, when 411 girls were named Paloma — good for #705 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 Paloma per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Paloma against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Paloma in class?
Paloma scores 52 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Paloma is most common
Geography matters for names, and Paloma is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Palomas were CA (78), TX (58), FL (25), IL (23), AZ (14). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Paloma
Statistically, parents drawn to Paloma tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Iliana, Melina, Dayana, Paulina, and Aliya.
IlianaMelinaDayanaPaulinaAliyaSalmaAkiraGiana
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Paloma | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 343 | #792 |
| 2024 | 268 | #968 |
| 2023 | 266 | #971 |
| 2022 | 281 | #955 |
| 2021 | 309 | #881 |
| 2020 | 274 | #937 |
| 2019 | 290 | #912 |
| 2018 | 298 | #903 |
| 2017 | 303 | #890 |
| 2016 | 290 | #944 |
| 2015 | 306 | #901 |
| 2014 | 314 | #870 |
| 2013 | 359 | #755 |
| 2012 | 346 | #788 |
| 2011 | 317 | #833 |
| 2010 | 407 | #700 |
| 2009 | 411 | #705 |
| 2008 | 377 | #778 |
| 2007 | 329 | #857 |
| 2006 | 317 | #847 |
| 2005 | 303 | #837 |
| 2004 | 289 | #850 |
| 2003 | 281 | #859 |
| 2002 | 241 | #931 |
| 2001 | 272 | #841 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Paloma a popular girl name?
Paloma ranked #792 among girls in 2025 with 343 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #901.
When was the name Paloma most popular?
Paloma peaked in 2009, when 411 American girls received the name (ranked #705 that year). Since 2009 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Paloma?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 5,248 newborn American girls was named Paloma. It scores 52/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
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.