Sham
Girl name · #5201 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Sham? In official American birth records, Sham has been tracked continuously since 2001, giving it 24 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 25 baby girls were named Sham, placing it at #5201 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #6452, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 72,000 girls born in 2025 was named Sham.
Babies named Sham per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 24-year story
Sham first appears in the Social Security records in 2001, when 6 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2018, when 33 girls were named Sham — good for #4237 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Sham against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Sham in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Sham is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Sham will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Sham is most common
State-level data for Sham 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 Sham
Statistically, parents drawn to Sham tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Liam, Ariam, Stassi, Surah, and Prim.
LiamAriamStassiSurahPrimSilaChizaramBeckham
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Sham | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 25 | #5099 |
| 2024 | 15 | #7251 |
| 2023 | 14 | #7640 |
| 2022 | 11 | #9056 |
| 2021 | 9 | #10292 |
| 2020 | 13 | #7969 |
| 2019 | 15 | #7342 |
| 2018 | 33 | #4237 |
| 2017 | 21 | #5821 |
| 2016 | 16 | #7230 |
| 2015 | 19 | #6452 |
| 2014 | 14 | #8053 |
| 2013 | 14 | #8135 |
| 2012 | 10 | #10429 |
| 2007 | 5 | #17636 |
| 2001 | 6 | #13521 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Sham?
In official American birth records, the name Sham first appeared in 2001 (over 24 years ago), when 6 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 24 years.
Is Sham a popular girl name?
Sham ranked #5201 among girls in 2025 with 25 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #6452.
When was the name Sham most popular?
Sham peaked in 2018, when 33 American girls received the name (ranked #4237 that year). Since 2018 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Sham?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 72,000 newborn American girls was named Sham. 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.