Ames
Primarily a boy's name of Old French origin with 1,763 recorded births. Also given to 10 girls.
Meaning & Origin
A botanical plant name author abbreviation for botanist Oakes Ames (1874-1950).
Ames is a boy's and girl's baby name of Old French origin, from the French surname meaning 'friend' (from the Latin amicus) or from the Old French place name Amiens. The city of Ames, Iowa is a prominent American university town, home to Iowa State University.
Ames has a crisp, confident one-syllable quality — academic, friendly, and somehow both classic and fresh. For parents who love place names or French-rooted surnames, it offers something genuinely distinctive.
EtymologyShow more
The ending of a name often carries more etymological information than the beginning. Ames's final sounds are sharp, distinct — ending on a consonant gives it a firm, clear close. In English-language naming, masculine names frequently end on harder consonants or closed syllables, creating a sense of decisiveness and strength. Ames follows that masculine pattern.
Explore the ending-based name pages on this site to find names that share Ames's suffix pattern — names with similar endings often share a style and era, even when they come from different linguistic backgrounds.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Ames climbed 6960 spots in the last 20 years — from #8967 to #2007.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 421 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 526 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 54 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 11 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 173 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 110 | ▲ |
| 1960s | 98 | — |
| 1950s | 102 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 62 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 80 | ▲ |
| 1920s | 72 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 54 | — |
The Story of Ames
A Gen Alpha name
Peaking in 2023, Ames is a fresh, modern favorite. Boys named Ames are most likely born between 2013 and 2024.
How rare is Ames?
Only about 1 in every 47,368 babies born in 2024 was named Ames — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1913, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 2010s with 526 births that decade, and continues to thrive.
Ames by the numbers
- Would fill 37 school buses
- Meeting one Ames per day would take 4.8 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(97 years, 1913–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 76 | #2007 |
| 2023 | 93 | #1753 |
| 2022 | 71 | #2097 |
| 2021 | 89 | #1784 |
| 2020 | 92 | #1695 |
| 2019 | 69 | #2081 |
| 2018 | 70 | #2047 |
| 2017 | 69 | #2033 |
| 2016 | 87 | #1762 |
| 2015 | 51 | #2459 |
| 2014 | 42 | #2806 |
| 2013 | 38 | #2956 |
| 2012 | 56 | #2293 |
| 2011 | 31 | #3436 |
| 2010 | 13 | #6367 |
| 2009 | 9 | #8334 |
| 2008 | 15 | #5778 |
| 2007 | 6 | #10999 |
| 2006 | 6 | #10745 |
| 2004 | 7 | #8967 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Ames as a Girl's Name
While overwhelmingly a boy's name, Ames has also been given to 10 girls in the U.S. since 2016.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ames a boy's or girl's name?
When was Ames most popular?
How popular is the name Ames?
Can Ames be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1913–2024