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© 2026 Namesake · namesake.baby

Data: Social Security Administration, US births 1880–2024

Hamish — Meaning, Origin & Popularity | Namesake
All names
Hamir|Hamlet
ScottishBoy↑↑ Surging

Hamish

HAY-mish · 2 syllables

Share Hamish:
Compare with another name
Boy
#5982
↑↑ Surging
#5982
in the US · 2024
Popularity score: 12
Peak rank
#4149 in 2021
5yr change
+678 ranks
Birth frequency
4.2 per 1,000,000 births
Sex split
100% boy · 0% girl

Popularity Over Time

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

Average0255075100Popularity score (0–100)20202024

Rank #5982 · Falling since 2020

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.

All US boy names
Top 200 boy names
Scottish boy names
Hamish

Popularity score: 12  ·  SSA Rank: #5982

Rare  ·  Distinctive  ·  Familiar  ·  Common  ·  Very Common

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

Namesake Score
84
Higher than 84% of names
Combines uniqueness, trend, meaning, feasibility, and search interest.
Trend
↑↑ Surging
+678 ranks
Based on SSA rank velocity
Feasibility
Limited
.com taken · — · clear
Low friction, available
Uniqueness
55
13 per 10,000 births
Won't be common in class

Hamish is surging in popularity right now.

Meaning Depth37% of score
60
Name Trend28% of score
88
Uniqueness20% of score
55
Feasibility15% of score
50

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

Name DNA
ScottishGaelicClassicStrongBoy2-syllableCeltic RootTimelessHeritage
Character
supplanting determination
People with this name

Qualities shared by notable Hamishs

versatilededicatedintrospectiveprofessionalclever
STRONG
High confidence

Hamish is a Scottish boy name with upward momentum in SSA rankings. It ranked #5982 in the US in 2024.

Trend:↑↑ Surging · +678 ranks
Feasibility:.com taken · — · clear
Popularity:#5982 · very rare
Hamish at a Glance
Meaning:Scottish diminutive of James, from Hebrew Yaakov meaning 'supplanter'. Popular in the Scottish Highlands since medieval times.
Language root:Scottish Gaelic · Old Irish
Peak rank:#4149 in 2021
5yr change:+678 ranks
Sex usage:100% boy · 0% girl
Notable bearers
Hamish Linklater
Actor
Hamish MacBeth
Fictional detective
Similar Sound
JamesJamie◈AngusLachlan◈DuncanCallum
Similar Style
Finlay◈Rowan◈CormacIainMagnusAlastair
Works well with
IslaCallumEwanFionaRory◈CatrionaLachlan◈Maeve
You Might Also Like
Finlay◈
Scottish · #2478
↑↑ Surging
Rowan◈
Celtic · #71
→ Stable
Cormac
Irish · #1254
→ Stable
Iain
Scottish · #4227
↑↑ Surging
Magnus
Latin · #749
→ Stable
Alastair
Scottish · #2364
↓ Declining
Source: Social Security Administration baby names data. Popularity data reflects US births. Feasibility data updated monthly.
Name Intelligence
Hamish · Overview
Summary

Hamish is a Scottish boy name with upward momentum in SSA rankings. It ranked #5982 in the US in 2024.

Search interest: 1/100 → Stable

Strengths
Strong fundamentals
Hamish scores 84/100 on the Namesake scale — meaning, origin, and trend all contribute positively.
Surging fast
Rank has moved 678 positions in the last year. Exceptional momentum.
Classic · Strong character
Hamish carries a bold, grounded, warm quality that makes it distinctive without being invented.
Considerations
Rising very fast
Hamish is surging. If the trend continues, it may become significantly more common within 2-3 years.
Domain taken
hamish.com is not available. Alternative TLDs may work.
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Data source:Social Security Administration
Coverage:US births 1879–2024
Updated:January 2025
ISR:Refreshes monthly
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