Niam
Boy name · #1440 in 2025 · Uniqueness 71/100
In 2025, 125 baby boys were named Niam, placing it at #1440 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1374, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 14,400 boys born in 2025 was named Niam.
The 32-year story
Niam first appears in the Social Security records in 1993, when 6 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2021, when 169 boys were named Niam — good for #1168 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 Niam per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Niam against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Niam in class?
Niam scores 71 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Niam will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Niam is most common
Geography matters for names, and Niam is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Niams were CA (16), IL (14), TX (14), NJ (12), NC (10). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Niam
Statistically, parents drawn to Niam tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Lyam, Noam, Arham, Karam, and Iam.
LyamNoamArhamKaramIamNovaCamDream
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Niam | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 125 | #1436 |
| 2024 | 126 | #1438 |
| 2023 | 133 | #1390 |
| 2022 | 126 | #1440 |
| 2021 | 169 | #1168 |
| 2020 | 141 | #1288 |
| 2019 | 127 | #1394 |
| 2018 | 137 | #1324 |
| 2017 | 130 | #1365 |
| 2016 | 155 | #1216 |
| 2015 | 126 | #1374 |
| 2014 | 108 | #1492 |
| 2013 | 41 | #2804 |
| 2012 | 30 | #3530 |
| 2011 | 22 | #4356 |
| 2010 | 20 | #4678 |
| 2009 | 13 | #6436 |
| 2008 | 11 | #7187 |
| 2007 | 7 | #9788 |
| 2006 | 9 | #7998 |
| 2004 | 7 | #8927 |
| 2003 | 5 | #10894 |
| 2002 | 6 | #9392 |
| 2001 | 6 | #9243 |
| 2000 | 6 | #9112 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Niam a popular boy name?
Niam ranked #1440 among boys in 2025 with 125 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1374.
When was the name Niam most popular?
Niam peaked in 2021, when 169 American boys received the name (ranked #1168 that year). Since 2021 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Niam?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 14,400 newborn American boys was named Niam. It scores 71/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
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.