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© 2026 Namesake · namesake.baby

Data: Social Security Administration, US births 1880–2024

Ames — Meaning, Origin & Popularity | Namesake
All names
Amery|Amethyst
English◈ Unisex · 52% boy · 48% girl↓ Fading

◈= unisex (gender-neutral)

Ames

◈

AYMZ · 1 syllables

Share Ames:
Compare with another name
Boy
#2007
↓ Fading
Boy
#2007
Popularity score: 23
↓ Fading
Peak
#1695 in 2020
5yr
-254 ranks
Velocity
-254
Birth frequency
2.1 per 100,000 births
Girl

Outside top 1000

Last ranked #15452 in 2022

Peak: #15452 in 2022

→ Stable
5yr
—
Velocity
—
Birth frequency
1.4 per 1,000,000 births

Popularity Over Time

↑ Higher on this chart = more popular · ↓ Lower = less popular

How Popular Is This Name?

Bars show the range of popularity for each group. The dot shows where this name sits. Further right = more popular.

BOY
Average0255075100Popularity score (0–100)20202024

Rank #2007 · Falling since 2020

All US boy names
Top 200 boy names
English boy names
Ames

Popularity score: 23  ·  SSA Rank: #2007

GIRL
Average0255075100Popularity score (0–100)20162022

Rank #15452 · Rising since 2016

This name is given to very few babies each year — it sits outside the range shown in these charts.

Rare  ·  Distinctive  ·  Familiar  ·  Common  ·  Very Common

Popularity score: 0 = least popular, 100 = most popular. Based on SSA rank.

Namesake Score
30
Higher than 30% of names
Combines uniqueness, trend, meaning, feasibility, and search interest.
Trend
↓ Fading
-254 ranks
Based on SSA rank velocity
Feasibility
Limited
.com taken · — · clear
Low friction, available
Uniqueness
70
4 per 10,000 births
Won't be common in class

Ames scores lower overall — the popularity trend is fading.

Meaning Depth37% of score
60
Name Trend28% of score
32
Uniqueness20% of score
70
Feasibility15% of score
50

Scores are percentile-ranked across 43,000+ names.

Name DNA
UnisexModernSurname-as-first-nameOne-syllableContemporaryGender-neutralMinimalistCoolShortEnglish
Character
analytical mindsteady determinationquiet confidenceloyal friend
STRONG
High confidence

Ames is an English unisex name with cooling SSA momentum. It ranked #2007 in the US in 2024.

Trend:↓ Fading · -254 ranks
Feasibility:.com taken · — · clear
Popularity:#2007 · very rare
Ames at a Glance
Meaning:Derived from the surname Ames, likely from Old French 'ami' (friend) or as a place name. Modern given name use reflects contemporary unisex naming trends.
Language root:English · Old French
Peak rank:#1695 in 2020
5yr change:-254 ranks
Sex usage:Boy #2007 · Girl #—
Notable bearers
Ames Walker
American film director and producer
Similar Sound
Ames◈AimsEamesJamesHayes◈
Similar Style
Kai◈Sage◈River◈Vale◈Rowan◈Blake◈
Works well with
River◈Sage◈Blake◈Kai◈Morgan◈Casey◈Riley◈Phoenix◈
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Kai◈
English · #76
→ Stable
River◈
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→ Stable
Rowan◈
Celtic · #71
→ Stable
Jack
English · #15
→ Stable
Hudson
English · #22
→ Stable
Jackson
English · #35
→ Stable
Source: Social Security Administration baby names data. Popularity data reflects US births. Feasibility data updated monthly.
Ames illustration
Name Intelligence
Ames · Overview
Summary

Ames is an English unisex name with cooling SSA momentum. It ranked #2007 in the US in 2024.

Search interest: 14/100 → Stable

Strengths
Works for any sex
52% boy · 48% girl. A genuinely unisex name is rare at this level of distinctiveness.
Modern · Meaningful character
Ames carries a cool, grounded quality that makes it distinctive without being invented.
Considerations
Popularity declining
Rank has dropped 254 positions in the last year. Consider whether this trajectory matters for your decision.
Domain taken
ames.com is not available. Alternative TLDs may work.
Explore

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Data source:Social Security Administration
Coverage:US births 1879–2024
Updated:January 2025
ISR:Refreshes monthly
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