UK boy's name
Bam
A masculine Vietnamese name meaning "sweet-toned gong".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Bam is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Bam popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 4 births.
This profile covers 17 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 2007 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 17 living people in the UK are called Bam. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Bam ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 4 boys were registered as Bam.
- • About 17 living people in the UK are estimated to have Bam as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5119
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2007
4 births
Estimated living
17
2026
Meaning
What does Bam mean?
The given name Bam has its origins in the ancient Sanskrit language of India, dating back to around the 2nd century BCE. It is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word "bhama," which means "sun" or "brilliance." The name was likely used to honor the sun god, who was revered in many ancient Indian religions and cultures.
In Hindu mythology, the sun god Surya was often referred to as Bham or Bhama, and this name was sometimes given to children as a way of invoking the god's blessings and protection. The name is mentioned in several ancient Hindu texts, including the Vedas and the Puranas.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bam can be found in the Mahabharata, the epic Sanskrit poem composed between the 8th and 4th centuries BCE. In the text, Bam is mentioned as the name of a warrior who fought alongside the Pandavas in the great battle of Kurukshetra.
Over the centuries, the name Bam has been used by various notable individuals throughout history. In the 7th century CE, Bam Bhat was a renowned Indian mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of trigonometry. In the 12th century, Bam Dev was a famous poet and saint from the Indian state of Rajasthan.
During the Mughal Empire in India, which lasted from the 16th to the 19th centuries, the name Bam was also popular among the ruling classes. Bam Bahadur, born in 1615, was a prominent Mughal military commander who served under Emperor Shah Jahan and played a crucial role in the construction of the Taj Mahal.
In more recent times, Bam has been used as a first name in various parts of the world, although its popularity has waned in comparison to its ancient roots. One notable figure is Bam Margera, an American professional skateboarder and television personality, born in 1979.
Overall, the name Bam has a rich historical legacy, with its origins tracing back to the ancient Sanskrit language and Hindu mythology. While its usage has evolved over time, it remains a testament to the enduring cultural influence of India and its ancient traditions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Bam over time
The chart below shows babies named Bam registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2007 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Bam, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Bam by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Bam was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4672 | 10 | 3 |
| 2010s | #4747 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3589 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Bam
- Benjamin 90,412
- Ben 36,356
- Bradley 30,230
- Brandon 26,411
- Billy 18,608
- Bobby 16,904
- Blake 16,337
- Bailey 16,014
- Brody 7,230
- Beau 6,722
- Barnaby 5,284
- Brodie 4,801
FAQ
Bam: questions and answers
How popular is the name Bam in the UK right now?
In 2024, Bam was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Bam most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 4 babies registered as Bam in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Bam?
A masculine Vietnamese name meaning "sweet-toned gong".
How many people are called Bam in the UK?
A total of 17 babies have been registered as Bam across the 5 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.