Fun Facts About the Name Kam
- More than 1 thousand babies named Kam: U.S. records list 1,353 babies given the name Kam from 1880 through 2025. Even 385 girls received the name Kam - about 1 girl for every 3 boys.
What Does the Name Kam Mean?
Kam is a short name with several independent origins. In English, it is often a short form of Kamal or Kamran. Kamal has two separate sources: the Arabic name Kamāl (كمال), from the root k-m-l, meaning 'perfection' or 'completeness'; and the Sanskrit name Kamal (कमल), meaning 'lotus.' Kamran is a Persian name meaning 'fortunate' or 'prosperous.' Kam is also used as a spelling variant of Cam, a Scottish Gaelic word meaning 'crooked' or 'bent,' and a short form of Cameron (from cam 'crooked' + sròn 'nose') or Campbell (from cam 'crooked' + beul 'mouth').
In Sanskrit, the word kāma (काम) means 'desire,' 'wish,' or 'love,' and is the name of Kāma, the god of love. In Persian, kām means 'wish' or 'desire.' These are related words, but the given name Kam is often a shortening of a longer name rather than a direct use of the noun. In Hindi and Urdu, kam (from Persian) means 'less,' which is a different meaning and not the usual source of the name.
In Cantonese romanization, Kam can represent more than one Chinese character, such as 金 (gold) or 甘 (sweet). The meaning therefore depends on the character and cannot be determined from the spelling Kam alone.
Kam Name History & Origins
Kam is not a single name with one line of descent. In English, it is most often a clipped form of a longer name. The spelling with K also appears as a respelling of Cam, a Scottish short form of Cameron or Campbell. Cameron comes from Scottish Gaelic camshron (cam 'crooked' + sròn 'nose'); Campbell comes from Caimbeul (cam 'crooked' + beul 'mouth'). The K spelling of Kam is not tied exclusively to that Scottish source, however, and it is also used for short forms of Kamal, Kamran, and other names beginning with Kam-.
In South Asia, Kam is used as a short form or first element in names such as Kamal, Kamala, Kamlesh, and Kamini. The Sanskrit noun kāma means 'desire' or 'love' and is the name of Kāma, the god of love. The Persian word kām also means 'wish' or 'desire,' and from Persian, Hindi and Urdu kam means 'less.' These are separate words, and the given name is usually a shortening rather than a direct use of the noun 'less.'
In Cantonese romanization, Kam can represent different Chinese characters. Common examples are 金 (gold), 甘 (sweet), and 錦 (brocade). Because the romanization does not show the character or tone, the meaning of a Cantonese Kam cannot be known from the spelling alone.
In Turkish, kam is an old word for a shaman. It is not a common modern given name, and it is a separate word from the Arabic and Sanskrit names above.
How Popular is the Name Kam?
Kam 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 1974. Its best rank was #1,556 in 1974.
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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | #11,244 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1981 | #11,135 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1980 | #8,548 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1979 | #6,971 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1978 | #4,536 | 15 | 0.0010% |
| 1977 | #4,129 | 17 | 0.0011% |
| 1976 | #2,756 | 28 | 0.0019% |
| 1975 | #2,334 | 35 | 0.0024% |
| 1974 | #1,556 | 62 | 0.0042% |
| 1973 | #2,949 | 23 | 0.0016% |
| 1972 | #3,000 | 22 | 0.0014% |
| 1971 | #8,877 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1970 | #5,211 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1969 | #5,676 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1968 | #2,385 | 27 | 0.0016% |
| 1967 | #4,772 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1966 | #5,050 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1965 | #4,058 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1964 | #3,972 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1963 | #3,895 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1962 | #7,010 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1961 | #5,555 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1960 | #4,953 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1958 | #5,733 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1957 | #3,803 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1955 | #4,555 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1953 | #6,083 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1923 | #5,328 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,477 | 33 | 0.0019% |
| 2024 | #3,011 | 41 | 0.0024% |
| 2023 | #2,755 | 47 | 0.0028% |
| 2022 | #2,692 | 49 | 0.0028% |
| 2021 | #2,570 | 51 | 0.0029% |
| 2020 | #2,956 | 40 | 0.0023% |
| 2019 | #2,406 | 56 | 0.0031% |
| 2018 | #2,529 | 51 | 0.0028% |
| 2017 | #2,366 | 55 | 0.0030% |
| 2016 | #2,317 | 57 | 0.0030% |
| 2015 | #2,505 | 50 | 0.0026% |
| 2014 | #2,909 | 40 | 0.0021% |
| 2013 | #3,811 | 27 | 0.0014% |
| 2012 | #3,950 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 2011 | #4,746 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2010 | #7,328 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2009 | #10,430 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2008 | #10,469 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #10,335 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 2006 | #7,723 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2005 | #12,372 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2003 | #8,231 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1998 | #9,058 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1997 | #6,365 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1995 | #9,586 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1994 | #6,095 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1993 | #9,460 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1990 | #6,132 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1989 | #8,559 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1988 | #5,462 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1986 | #6,326 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1985 | #7,073 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1984 | #5,974 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1980 | #5,228 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1979 | #2,842 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1978 | #2,733 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1977 | #4,859 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1976 | #4,676 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1975 | #2,499 | 17 | 0.0011% |
| 1974 | #2,875 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1973 | #3,326 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1972 | #5,362 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1970 | #3,402 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1969 | #2,362 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1968 | #4,430 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1966 | #3,119 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1965 | #3,405 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1964 | #3,827 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1963 | #4,344 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1962 | #3,470 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1960 | #4,331 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1958 | #3,156 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1957 | #3,772 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1952 | #4,004 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1924 | #4,678 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1922 | #4,646 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1914 | #3,512 | 5 | 0.0008% |
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.
Explore More Lists with Name Kam
Most Popular Boy Names That Start with K
Short Boy Names That Start with K
How the Name Kam Shapes Your Personality and Life?
EXTREMES in fortune, health and spirituality. You are very versatile, idealistic and intuitive. You either enjoy great success or suffer abject misery. The solution is service to others. Use your leadership abilities for humanity and not for self-glorification. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are very intuitive. You have a reservoir of inspired wisdom combined with inherited analytical ability, which could reward you through expressions of spiritual leadership, business analysis, marketing, artistic visions, and scientific research. Operating on spiritual side of your individuality can bring you to the great heights, and drop you off if you neglect your spiritual identity. You are always looking for an opportunity to investigate the unknown, to use and show your mental abilities, to find the purpose and meaning of life. You want to grow wise and to understand people and things. You need privacy to replenish your energy. You have a unique way of thinking, intuitive, reflective, absorbing.
✦ Kam's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Kam's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.