Ames
Ames was the 1754th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 92 babies. Its best year was 2020, when it ranked 1695th; the most babies were born in 2023 (93). Over the last ten years it has moved up 705 places. More babies were named Ames in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning Not yet researched how we research meanings
- Rank in 2025
- #1,754 boys, down 59 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 92boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 202393 babies
- Total since 1880
- 1,865babies recorded
Ames popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 10 since 2016.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,754 | 92 |
| 2020 | #1,695 | 92 |
| 2010 | #6,367 | 13 |
| 2000 | #5,938 | 11 |
| 1990 | #7,214 | 6 |
| 1980 | #2,834 | 16 |
| 1970 | #2,511 | 14 |
| 1960 | #3,086 | 8 |
| 1950 | #3,335 | 6 |
| 1940 | #2,186 | 11 |
| 1930 | #2,298 | 12 |
| 1920 | #3,220 | 8 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Ames, counting every spelling?
Ames has no other common spelling that sounds the same.
How many kids will share the name Ames?
92 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Ames (0.03 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Ames born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 91 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Ames.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Ames?
About 1,500 people born in the US named Ames are alive today, with a median age of 10; half are between 5 and 40. That makes Ames a young name: most people with it are children. The wide spread shows a name popular in two different eras.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Ames by state
How common Ames was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Minnesota (5.5×). In 42 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Ames: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Ames, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Ames
How popular is the name Ames?
Ames was the 1754th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 92 babies. Its best year was 2020, when it ranked 1695th; the most babies were born in 2023 (93). Over the last ten years it has moved up 705 places. More babies were named Ames in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Ames a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Ames in the US.
Where is Ames most popular?
In 2021–2025, Ames was most common in Minnesota (0.27 per 1,000 boys), followed by Iowa and Illinois.