Fun Facts About the Name Ames
- More than 1 thousand babies named Ames: U.S. records list 1,865 babies given the name Ames from 1880 through 2025. Even 10 girls received the name Ames - about 1 girl for every 186 boys.
What Does the Name Ames Mean?
Ames is an English surname and given name. Its main origin is the Norman French personal name Amis or Amys, which comes from Latin amicus, meaning 'friend.' In medieval England, Amis was used as a personal name, and from it the hereditary surname Ames developed. A second, less common origin is the Old French personal name Aimé, from Latin Amatus, meaning 'beloved.' That derivation produces the same surname in some families but a different literal meaning.
As a given name, Ames is mainly a transferred use of the surname rather than a name with a separate ancient tradition. Its meaning therefore follows the surname: 'friend' in the primary derivation, or 'beloved' in the secondary one.
Ames Name History & Origins
The personal name Amis came to England with Norman French speakers after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It was one of many Old French names, ultimately from Latin amicus, that were introduced into English usage. Medieval English records contain the personal name in forms such as Amis and Amys. By the later Middle Ages, when hereditary surnames were becoming fixed, this personal name became the surname Ames.
The surname also arose in some cases from the Old French personal name Aimé (Latin Amatus), meaning 'beloved.' These derivations can be difficult to separate in individual families. The surname Ames is found in England, and it was carried to Ireland and to North America by migration. In modern English-speaking countries, Ames is used as a given name mainly as a transferred surname. A modern literary example is the family name of the narrator in Marilynne Robinson's novel Gilead, but that is a literary use of the surname, not evidence of the name's origin.
How Popular is the Name Ames?
Ames has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2023. Its best rank was #1,695 in 2020.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | #15,452 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2016 | #16,420 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,754 | 92 | 0.0054% |
| 2024 | #2,007 | 76 | 0.0044% |
| 2023 | #1,753 | 93 | 0.0054% |
| 2022 | #2,097 | 71 | 0.0041% |
| 2021 | #1,784 | 89 | 0.0051% |
| 2020 | #1,695 | 92 | 0.0053% |
| 2019 | #2,081 | 69 | 0.0038% |
| 2018 | #2,047 | 70 | 0.0039% |
| 2017 | #2,033 | 69 | 0.0037% |
| 2016 | #1,762 | 87 | 0.0046% |
| 2015 | #2,459 | 51 | 0.0027% |
| 2014 | #2,806 | 42 | 0.0022% |
| 2013 | #2,956 | 38 | 0.0020% |
| 2012 | #2,293 | 56 | 0.0030% |
| 2011 | #3,436 | 31 | 0.0016% |
| 2010 | #6,367 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2009 | #8,334 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2008 | #5,778 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 2007 | #10,999 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2006 | #10,745 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2004 | #8,967 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2000 | #5,938 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1993 | #8,745 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1990 | #7,214 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1989 | #3,458 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1988 | #2,602 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1987 | #3,343 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1986 | #2,783 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1985 | #3,611 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1984 | #2,615 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1983 | #2,273 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1982 | #2,712 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1981 | #2,572 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1980 | #2,834 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1979 | #3,817 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1978 | #4,163 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1977 | #2,914 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1976 | #3,102 | 12 | 0.0008% |
| 1975 | #2,756 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1974 | #3,850 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1973 | #4,074 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1972 | #2,825 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1971 | #2,973 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1970 | #2,514 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1969 | #2,131 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1968 | #2,447 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1967 | #2,474 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1966 | #2,630 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1965 | #2,990 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1964 | #3,053 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1963 | #3,660 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1962 | #2,849 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1961 | #2,712 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1960 | #3,086 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1959 | #2,828 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1958 | #1,897 | 18 | 0.0008% |
| 1957 | #2,829 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1956 | #2,169 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1955 | #2,771 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1954 | #3,183 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1953 | #2,540 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1952 | #2,681 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1951 | #2,373 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1950 | #3,335 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1949 | #3,031 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1948 | #2,792 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1947 | #3,379 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1946 | #3,190 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1945 | #3,347 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1944 | #2,636 | 8 | 0.0006% |
| 1942 | #3,583 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1941 | #3,149 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1940 | #2,186 | 11 | 0.0009% |
| 1939 | #2,057 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1938 | #2,878 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1937 | #2,913 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1935 | #2,537 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1934 | #3,301 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1933 | #3,016 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1932 | #2,322 | 11 | 0.0011% |
| 1931 | #2,661 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1930 | #2,298 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1929 | #2,602 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1928 | #2,664 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1927 | #3,794 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1926 | #4,226 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1924 | #3,517 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1923 | #3,190 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1922 | #3,261 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1921 | #2,811 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1920 | #3,220 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1919 | #3,409 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1918 | #3,110 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1917 | #3,228 | 7 | 0.0008% |
| 1916 | #2,395 | 11 | 0.0012% |
| 1915 | #2,633 | 9 | 0.0011% |
| 1914 | #3,275 | 5 | 0.0008% |
| 1913 | #2,282 | 7 | 0.0014% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Ames Shapes Your Personality and Life?
Powerful and complete. You are good intellectually and require several outlets for your energies. You are not a builder but a planner, and you want others to carry out your plans. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Ames's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Ames's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.