Pamela

#2,239 for girls in 2025, 82 births · Last seen for boys in 2004 at #11,356
Given to girls 99.8% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1953 · 25,760 births
Debut · girls
5 births
In top 100 · girls
39 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · girls
595,076
since 1895

Pamela over time

girls

Rank among girls' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201952peak #10, 1953girls
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#2,23982—
2024#2,15088—
2023#1,934102—
2022#2,03495—
2021#1,801112—
2020#1,668123—
2019#1,495146—
2018#1,585136—
2017#1,451155—
2016#1,300184—
2015#1,399167—
2014#1,289185—
2013#1,171205—
2012#1,148215—
2011#961266—
2010#983258—
2009#842331—
2008#671455—
2007#582516—
2006#532568—
2005#618457—
2004#527540#11,3565
2003#446673—
2002#517530—
2001#483578—
2000#457607—
1999#421655#9,9125
1998#388714—
1997#359770—
1996#341814—
1995#385687—
1994#352748—
1993#324806#6,8167
1992#301920#8,4355
1991#2591,085#6,5197
1990#2381,194#4,67311
1989#1991,331#4,27112
1988#1841,510#5,7517
1987#1531,784#3,95911
1986#1382,016#5,3327
1985#1162,468#3,80511
1984#1042,642#4,5528
1983#913,029#3,88410
1982#823,546#2,83116
1981#763,881#3,41212
1980#863,533#4,9407
1979#903,365#3,16813
1978#1092,690#4,1578
1977#1022,830#2,91014
1976#843,364#2,24520
1975#704,177#2,45017
1974#545,272#2,05021
1973#475,813#2,03620
1972#347,472#1,96621
1971#2810,149#1,27243
1970#2612,907#1,15951
1969#2413,355#98960
1968#2014,031#1,20640
1967#1715,368#1,04349
1966#1516,249#1,21638
1965#1217,467#1,27136
1964#1119,823#1,21940
1963#1420,593#94763
1962#1321,270#1,31135
1961#1521,691#1,13648
1960#1422,092#1,05853
1959#1224,714#1,26538
1958#1125,279#1,00158
1957#1225,015#1,10048
1956#1226,928#1,19341
1955#1226,690#1,21938
1954#1227,361#1,22737
1953#1025,760#1,33132
1952#1720,879#1,34731
1951#1618,570#1,43027
1950#1716,202#1,39527
1949#2115,132#1,54423
1948#2214,281#1,37828
1947#2812,398#1,39428
1946#349,367#1,40925
1945#426,169#1,85214
1944#446,204#1,40023
1943#544,839#1,52921
1942#1062,632#2,5239
1941#1551,468#2,8727
1940#251631—
1939#347337—
1938#369314—
1937#399264—
1936#434220—
1935#458194—
1934#535147—
1933#629108—
1932#69296—
1931#66799—
1930#71794—
1929#666110—
1928#703100—
1927#91167—
1926#84376—
1925#86175—
1924#1,09651—
1923#1,07650—
1922#1,26938—
1921#1,40933—
1920#1,58427—
1919#1,74522—
1918#2,02918—
1917#1,99617—
1916#2,49812—
1915#1,57122—
1914#1,89613—
1913#1,46516—
1912#1,29717—
1911#1,7928—
1910#2,3985—
1909——
1908——
1907——
1906#1,7276—
1905——
1904#1,8775—
1903——
1902——
1901——
1900——
1899——
1898#1,5026—
1897——
1896——
1895#1,5925—
1894——
1893——
1892——
1891——
1890——
1889——
1888——
1887——
1886——
1885——
1884——
1883——
1882——
1881——
1880——
First appearance
1895

The first year at least five girls were named Pamela! It came in at #1,592, and was given to 5 baby girls.


Quietest stretch: 1895–1897, when fewer than 6 girls a year got the name.

Where Pamela is popular in 1952

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: #14 for girls · 28 births · 1 in 65 girlsAKMaine: #11 for girls · 151 births · 1 in 59 girlsMEVermont: #12 for girls · 60 births · 1 in 60 girlsVTNew Hampshire: #16 for girls · 72 births · 1 in 69 girlsNHWashington: #11 for girls · 469 births · 1 in 58 girlsWAIdaho: #12 for girls · 104 births · 1 in 61 girlsIDMontana: #16 for girls · 75 births · 1 in 85 girlsMTNorth Dakota: #13 for girls · 109 births · 1 in 63 girlsNDMinnesota: #15 for girls · 437 births · 1 in 81 girlsMNIllinois: #12 for girls · 1,452 births · 1 in 65 girlsILWisconsin: #21 for girls · 444 births · 1 in 90 girlsWIMichigan: #15 for girls · 1,255 births · 1 in 64 girlsMINew York: #27 for girls · 1,183 births · 1 in 131 girlsNYMassachusetts: #28 for girls · 494 births · 1 in 98 girlsMARhode Island: #29 for girls · 78 births · 1 in 105 girlsRIOregon: #14 for girls · 226 births · 1 in 73 girlsORNevada: #19 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 84 girlsNVWyoming: #17 for girls · 39 births · 1 in 75 girlsWYSouth Dakota: #10 for girls · 137 births · 1 in 54 girlsSDIowa: #12 for girls · 470 births · 1 in 61 girlsIAIndiana: #10 for girls · 881 births · 1 in 53 girlsINOhio: #11 for girls · 1,559 births · 1 in 61 girlsOHPennsylvania: #25 for girls · 837 births · 1 in 133 girlsPANew Jersey: #25 for girls · 382 births · 1 in 127 girlsNJConnecticut: #18 for girls · 266 births · 1 in 76 girlsCTCalifornia: #13 for girls · 1,813 births · 1 in 72 girlsCAUtah: #12 for girls · 127 births · 1 in 75 girlsUTColorado: #16 for girls · 210 births · 1 in 77 girlsCONebraska: #13 for girls · 243 births · 1 in 59 girlsNEMissouri: #15 for girls · 628 births · 1 in 66 girlsMOKentucky: #15 for girls · 432 births · 1 in 78 girlsKYWest Virginia: #13 for girls · 351 births · 1 in 63 girlsWVVirginia: #22 for girls · 378 births · 1 in 102 girlsVAMaryland: #19 for girls · 271 births · 1 in 96 girlsMDDelaware: #28 for girls · 30 births · 1 in 116 girlsDEArizona: #10 for girls · 124 births · 1 in 84 girlsAZNew Mexico: #28 for girls · 75 births · 1 in 133 girlsNMKansas: #12 for girls · 327 births · 1 in 63 girlsKSArkansas: #15 for girls · 234 births · 1 in 85 girlsARTennessee: #19 for girls · 433 births · 1 in 86 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #22 for girls · 543 births · 1 in 94 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #39 for girls · 167 births · 1 in 175 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: #21 for girls · 140 births · 1 in 93 girlsDCOklahoma: #6 for girls · 436 births · 1 in 49 girlsOKLouisiana: #20 for girls · 341 births · 1 in 104 girlsLAMississippi: #35 for girls · 178 births · 1 in 158 girlsMSAlabama: #28 for girls · 291 births · 1 in 127 girlsALGeorgia: #25 for girls · 384 births · 1 in 115 girlsGAHawaii: #16 for girls · 66 births · 1 in 89 girlsHITexas: #18 for girls · 1,102 births · 1 in 97 girlsTXFlorida: #18 for girls · 331 births · 1 in 99 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Oklahoma#6 · 1 in 49
  2. Indiana#10 · 1 in 53
  3. South Dakota#10 · 1 in 54
  4. Arizona#10 · 1 in 84
  5. Washington#11 · 1 in 58

Best ever in a state: #3 in West Virginia, 1959.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Oklahoma#64361 in 49
Arizona#101241 in 84
Indiana#108811 in 53
South Dakota#101371 in 54
Maine#111511 in 59
Ohio#111,5591 in 61
Washington#114691 in 58
Idaho#121041 in 61
Illinois#121,4521 in 65
Iowa#124701 in 61
Kansas#123271 in 63
Utah#121271 in 75
Vermont#12601 in 60
California#131,8131 in 72
Nebraska#132431 in 59
North Dakota#131091 in 63
West Virginia#133511 in 63
Alaska#14281 in 65
Oregon#142261 in 73
Arkansas#152341 in 85
Kentucky#154321 in 78
Michigan#151,2551 in 64
Minnesota#154371 in 81
Missouri#156281 in 66
Colorado#162101 in 77
Hawaii#16661 in 89
Montana#16751 in 85
New Hampshire#16721 in 69
Wyoming#17391 in 75
Connecticut#182661 in 76
Florida#183311 in 99
Texas#181,1021 in 97
Maryland#192711 in 96
Nevada#19161 in 84
Tennessee#194331 in 86
Louisiana#203411 in 104
District of Columbia#211401 in 93
Wisconsin#214441 in 90
North Carolina#225431 in 94
Virginia#223781 in 102
Georgia#253841 in 115
New Jersey#253821 in 127
Pennsylvania#258371 in 133
New York#271,1831 in 131
Alabama#282911 in 127
Delaware#28301 in 116
Massachusetts#284941 in 98
New Mexico#28751 in 133
Rhode Island#29781 in 105
Mississippi#351781 in 158
South Carolina#391671 in 175

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Pamela
Momentum · girls
Falling
  • 89 spots since 2024 (#2,150 → #2,239)
  • 571 spots since 2020 (#1,668 → #2,239)
  • 840 spots since 2015 (#1,399 → #2,239)
  • Biggest jump: 235 spots in 1925 (#1,096 → #861)
  • Biggest drop: 187 spots in 2012 (#961 → #1,148)
Rise & fade · girls
58 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1895
  • Peaked 1953 at #10 (25,760 births)
  • Births halved by 1971, 18 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 10 for 1 yr
  • Top 10: 1 yr · 1953
  • Top 100: 39 yrs · run 1943–1976
  • Top 1,000: 87 yrs · run 1925–2011
Share of babies · girls
1 in 71
  • Highest: 1 in 71 girls born in 1954 were named Pamela (1.4%)
  • Latest: 1 in 19,601 girls born in 2025 (0.01%)
  • Its best rank, #10 in 1953, was only 1 in 73 (1.4%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
Era · girls
The 1950s
  • 39.9% of all girls named Pamela (237,398) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1890s11#1,502 (1898)#1,547
1900s11#1,727 (1906)#1,802
1910s150#1,297 (1912)#1,869
1920s627#666 (1929)#1,042
1930s1,873#347 (1939)#525
1940s73,121#21 (1949)#76
1950s237,398#10 (1953)#13
1960s181,939#11 (1964)#16
1970s58,039#26 (1970)#64
1980s25,740#76 (1981)#123
1990s8,393#238 (1990)#337
2000s5,255#446 (2003)#568
2010s1,917#961 (2011)#1,278
2020s602#1,668 (2020)#1,971

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Pamela in 1952

girls
#17
20,879 births · 1 in 89 girls
boys
#1,347
31 births · 1 in 62,698 boys

Top girls' names in 1952

  1. #1Linda67,082
  2. #2Mary65,629
  3. #3Patricia53,101
  4. #4Deborah49,811
  5. #5Susan41,348
  6. #6Barbara39,864
  7. #7Nancy31,739
  8. #8Karen28,956
  9. #9Debra26,832
  10. #10Sandra26,097
  11. #17Pamela20,879

Top boys' names in 1952

  1. #1James87,065
  2. #2Robert86,588
  3. #3John83,140
  4. #4Michael79,037
  5. #5David71,752
  6. #6William63,039
  7. #7Richard58,350
  8. #8Thomas48,647
  9. #9Charles38,866
  10. #10Gary38,754
  11. #1,347Pamela31
More about 1952

girls

1,854,335 girls got a published name in 1952; 1 in 89 of them was named Pamela, which outranked 99.7% of the 6,389 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.2% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Pamela
  1. #14Sharon23,386
  2. #15Brenda21,439
  3. #16Diane21,063
  4. #17Pamela20,879
  5. #18Cynthia19,878
  6. #19Janet17,921
  7. #20Christine17,548
Biggest movers since 1951
Risers
  1. ↑ 2,501Pandora#3,284 → #783
  2. ↑ 368Lise#1,314 → #946
  3. ↑ 353Vanessa#656 → #303
  4. ↑ 334Dorinda#1,170 → #836
  5. ↑ 332Mitzi#928 → #596
Fallers
  1. ↓ 380Rhona#988 → #1,368
  2. ↓ 342Sharleen#765 → #1,107
  3. ↓ 270Enid#908 → #1,178
  4. ↓ 237Allyn#988 → #1,225
  5. ↓ 230Sheron#908 → #1,138

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,943,633 boys got a published name in 1952; 1 in 62,698 of them was named Pamela, which outranked 68.4% of the 4,257 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.7% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Pamela
  1. #1,323Vic32
  2. #1,323Wayland32
  3. #1,323Waymond32
  4. #1,347Pamela31
  5. #1,347Addison31
  6. #1,347Arvil31
  7. #1,347Author31
  8. #1,378Amado30
  9. #1,378Audrey30
  10. #1,378Augustin30

Tied with 30 names at #1,347; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1951
Risers
  1. ↑ 753Darren#1,598 → #845
  2. ↑ 372Robby#1,242 → #870
  3. ↑ 355Cris#1,218 → #863
  4. ↑ 301Ethan#1,295 → #994
  5. ↑ 280Adan#1,150 → #870
Fallers
  1. ↓ 477Ottis#984 → #1,461
  2. ↓ 408Wayland#915 → #1,323
  3. ↓ 330Mcarthur#806 → #1,136
  4. ↓ 305Arvin#963 → #1,268
  5. ↓ 285Levon#881 → #1,166

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1952 →