Adam
Boy name · #101 in 2025 · Well-known
How old is the name Adam? In official American birth records, Adam has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 3,501 baby boys were named Adam, placing it at #101 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #73, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 514 boys born in 2025 was named Adam.
The 145-year story
Adam first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 104 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1984, when 23,939 boys were named Adam — good for #18 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. 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 Adam per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Adam against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Adam in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Adam is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "well-known". A low score means broad familiarity: teachers will spell it right, and your child may share it with a classmate. For many families that's a feature, not a bug.
Where Adam is most common
Geography matters for names, and Adam is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Adam is most common in MI (4.4 per 1,000), NY (4.1 per 1,000), DE (4.1 per 1,000), IL (4 per 1,000), DC (4 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 2.4 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Adam is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Adam
Statistically, parents drawn to Adam tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Ryan, Aaron, Andrew, Jesse, and Joshua.
RyanAaronAndrewJesseJoshuaJoelJonathanMarcus
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Adam | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,501 | #101 |
| 2024 | 3,507 | #100 |
| 2023 | 3,487 | #103 |
| 2022 | 3,638 | #99 |
| 2021 | 3,657 | #104 |
| 2020 | 3,781 | #97 |
| 2019 | 4,188 | #91 |
| 2018 | 4,711 | #78 |
| 2017 | 4,933 | #77 |
| 2016 | 5,224 | #75 |
| 2015 | 5,404 | #73 |
| 2014 | 5,344 | #79 |
| 2013 | 5,251 | #82 |
| 2012 | 5,323 | #82 |
| 2011 | 5,215 | #81 |
| 2010 | 5,111 | #80 |
| 2009 | 5,676 | #74 |
| 2008 | 6,098 | #72 |
| 2007 | 6,790 | #65 |
| 2006 | 6,806 | #64 |
| 2005 | 6,846 | #64 |
| 2004 | 7,474 | #58 |
| 2003 | 7,690 | #58 |
| 2002 | 7,754 | #55 |
| 2001 | 7,758 | #51 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Adam?
In official American birth records, the name Adam first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 104 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Adam a popular boy name?
Adam ranked #101 among boys in 2025 with 3,501 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #73.
When was the name Adam most popular?
Adam peaked in 1984, when 23,939 American boys received the name (ranked #18 that year). Since 1984 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Adam?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 514 newborn American boys was named Adam. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "well-known".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.