Paloma
Girl name · #792 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Paloma? In official American birth records, Paloma has been tracked continuously since 1921, giving it 104 years of documented American history.
Paloma ranks #792 among American girls' names as of 2025, with 343 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #901, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 5,248 girls born in 2025 was named Paloma.
The 104-year story
Paloma first appears in the Social Security records in 1921, when 6 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2009, when 411 girls were named Paloma — good for #705 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 Paloma per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Paloma against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Paloma in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Paloma is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Paloma will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Paloma is most common
Geography matters for names, and Paloma is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Paloma is most common in IL (0.5 per 1,000), AZ (0.5 per 1,000), WA (0.5 per 1,000), CA (0.5 per 1,000), TX (0.4 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.3 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Paloma is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Paloma
Statistically, parents drawn to Paloma tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Iliana, Melina, Dayana, Paulina, and Aliya.
IlianaMelinaDayanaPaulinaAliyaSalmaAkiraGiana
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Paloma | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 343 | #792 |
| 2024 | 268 | #968 |
| 2023 | 266 | #971 |
| 2022 | 281 | #955 |
| 2021 | 309 | #881 |
| 2020 | 274 | #937 |
| 2019 | 290 | #912 |
| 2018 | 298 | #903 |
| 2017 | 303 | #890 |
| 2016 | 290 | #944 |
| 2015 | 306 | #901 |
| 2014 | 314 | #870 |
| 2013 | 359 | #755 |
| 2012 | 346 | #788 |
| 2011 | 317 | #833 |
| 2010 | 407 | #700 |
| 2009 | 411 | #705 |
| 2008 | 377 | #778 |
| 2007 | 329 | #857 |
| 2006 | 317 | #847 |
| 2005 | 303 | #837 |
| 2004 | 289 | #850 |
| 2003 | 281 | #859 |
| 2002 | 241 | #931 |
| 2001 | 272 | #841 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Paloma?
In official American birth records, the name Paloma first appeared in 1921 (over 104 years ago), when 6 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 104 years.
Is Paloma a popular girl name?
Paloma ranked #792 among girls in 2025 with 343 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #901.
When was the name Paloma most popular?
Paloma peaked in 2009, when 411 American girls received the name (ranked #705 that year). Since 2009 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Paloma?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 5,248 newborn American girls was named Paloma. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.