UK name, mostly boys
Noam
Masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "pleasantness" or "pleasantry".
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.
Noam is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Noam popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3688, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2009, with 15 births.
This profile covers 211 England and Wales registrations across 27 recorded years from 1997 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 33% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 210 living people in the UK are called Noam. 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
- • Noam ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2009, when 15 boys were registered as Noam.
- • About 210 living people in the UK are estimated to have Noam as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 97.2% of Noam registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3688
2024
Births in 2024
5
Latest year
Peak year
2009
15 births
Estimated living
210
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Noam
In England and Wales birth records, Noam has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 97.2% of registrations are for boys and 2.8% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Noam registered for boys
- Ranked #3,688 in 2024
- 5 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 2009 (15 births)
Noam registered for girls
- Ranked #5,785 in 2016
- 3 girls registered in 2016
- Peak: 1998 (3 births)
Meaning
What does Noam mean?
The name Noam is a Hebrew name derived from the Biblical Hebrew word "no'am," which means "pleasantness" or "delightfulness." It is a name that has been in use for centuries, with its origins traced back to ancient Israel.
The name Noam first appeared in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in the Book of Proverbs, where it is used to describe the quality of wisdom and understanding. This association with wisdom and pleasantness has likely contributed to the name's enduring popularity among the Jewish community.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Noam comes from the 12th century, when a prominent Jewish scholar and philosopher named Noam ben Yitzhak lived in Spain. He was known for his contributions to the fields of astronomy and mathematics.
In the 20th century, the name Noam gained increased recognition due to the renowned linguist and political activist Noam Chomsky, who was born in 1928 in Philadelphia, United States. Chomsky is widely considered one of the most influential intellectuals of our time, known for his groundbreaking work in linguistics and his critiques of U.S. foreign policy.
Another notable figure with the name Noam is Noam Murro, an Israeli-American film director and screenwriter born in 1960. Murro has directed several successful films, including the 2014 action thriller "300: Rise of an Empire."
In the realm of music, Noam Banai is a celebrated Israeli singer-songwriter and guitarist born in 1985. He has released several acclaimed albums and is known for his unique blend of rock, folk, and world music influences.
Noam Shalev is an Israeli novelist and screenwriter born in 1972. He has written several bestselling novels and has also contributed to various television shows and films, showcasing his talent for storytelling.
Throughout history, the name Noam has been associated with wisdom, pleasantness, and intellectual pursuits. Its Hebrew origins and biblical references have contributed to its enduring popularity, particularly within the Jewish community, while its bearers have made their mark across various fields, from academia and activism to the arts and literature.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Noam over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Noam in England and Wales, from 1997 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 Noam, the clearest high point is 2009. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2024, compared with 15 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Noam by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Noam 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 | #2893 | 34 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2054 | 107 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2519 | 63 | 10 |
| 1990s | #2640 | 7 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Noam
- Noah 72,596
- Nathan 46,860
- Nicholas 15,983
- Nathaniel 12,151
- Niall 5,746
- Nicolas 3,825
- Nico 3,532
- Nate 2,029
- Nikodem 1,872
- Noel 1,865
- Ned 1,614
- Neo 1,563
FAQ
Noam: questions and answers
How popular is the name Noam in the UK right now?
In 2024, Noam was ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Noam most popular?
The peak year on record was 2009, with 15 babies registered as Noam in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Noam?
Masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "pleasantness" or "pleasantry".
How many people are called Noam in the UK?
A total of 211 babies have been registered as Noam across the 27 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.