Fun Facts About the Name Tam
- More than 1 thousand babies named Tam: U.S. records list 1,891 babies given the name Tam from 1880 through 2025. Even 902 girls received the name Tam.
What Does the Name Tam Mean?
Tam has three independent origins and meanings. In Scots, it is a familiar form of Thomas, a name that comes through Greek and Latin from Aramaic tāʾmā, "twin." In Vietnamese, the name is usually written Tâm, from Sino-Vietnamese tâm (心), "heart" or "mind"; the unaccented English spelling Tam commonly represents it. In Hebrew, tam (תם) is an adjective meaning "whole," "complete," or "innocent," and is used as a given name. These are separate developments, not one etymology.
Tam Name History & Origins
In Scots, Tam developed as a familiar short form of Thomas and appears as the name of the title character in Robert Burns's poem Tam o' Shanter; the poem is a literary use, not the origin of the name. The Vietnamese given name Tâm is formed from the Sino-Vietnamese element 心, and its unaccented English spelling Tam reflects the common omission of Vietnamese tone and vowel marks in English-language contexts. In Hebrew, the adjective tam appears in the Hebrew Bible, where it describes Jacob as a quiet or plain man in Genesis 25:27; the modern given name draws on that adjective rather than on a biblical personal name.
How Popular is the Name Tam?
Tam 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 1982. Its best rank was #1,382 in 1982.
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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #17,015 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2023 | #11,067 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 2022 | #17,487 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2021 | #15,058 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2020 | #17,261 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2019 | #15,368 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2018 | #10,480 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2017 | #15,735 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2016 | #10,044 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2015 | #11,744 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2014 | #9,471 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2013 | #10,178 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2012 | #10,356 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2010 | #7,482 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2009 | #10,605 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2008 | #8,073 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2007 | #11,546 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2006 | #10,545 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2005 | #8,822 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2004 | #10,603 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2003 | #10,357 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2002 | #5,650 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 2001 | #6,043 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2000 | #8,489 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1999 | #14,245 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1998 | #8,517 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1997 | #8,279 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1996 | #7,089 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1995 | #9,469 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1994 | #8,075 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1993 | #9,462 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1992 | #5,456 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1991 | #11,390 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1990 | #6,106 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1989 | #5,261 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1988 | #4,638 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1987 | #5,895 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1986 | #3,878 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 1985 | #5,051 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1984 | #4,304 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1983 | #3,793 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 1982 | #4,325 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1981 | #5,860 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1980 | #5,217 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1979 | #7,963 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1978 | #9,601 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1977 | #8,337 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1976 | #8,030 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1975 | #10,409 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1974 | #8,620 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1973 | #8,302 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1972 | #7,192 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1968 | #4,460 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1967 | #7,723 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1966 | #3,929 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1965 | #6,448 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1964 | #3,676 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1963 | #2,243 | 29 | 0.0015% |
| 1962 | #2,456 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 1961 | #3,177 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1960 | #2,504 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 1959 | #1,851 | 37 | 0.0018% |
| 1958 | #1,901 | 34 | 0.0017% |
| 1957 | #2,639 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1956 | #3,304 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1955 | #3,557 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1954 | #4,613 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1953 | #6,422 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1952 | #3,179 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1951 | #6,130 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1949 | #3,869 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1947 | #6,034 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1946 | #5,623 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1944 | #5,172 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #13,669 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2024 | #12,139 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2021 | #13,839 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2020 | #7,436 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2019 | #9,635 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2018 | #7,080 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2017 | #8,071 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2016 | #8,084 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2015 | #7,970 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2014 | #9,521 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2013 | #10,595 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2012 | #7,493 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2011 | #7,446 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2010 | #10,622 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2009 | #6,390 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2008 | #5,041 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 2007 | #4,964 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 2006 | #6,059 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2005 | #4,798 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 2004 | #4,580 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2003 | #5,517 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2002 | #4,473 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 2001 | #4,449 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 2000 | #4,760 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1999 | #4,316 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1998 | #3,691 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1997 | #5,239 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1996 | #3,537 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1995 | #2,674 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 1994 | #3,450 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1993 | #2,634 | 28 | 0.0014% |
| 1992 | #2,458 | 30 | 0.0015% |
| 1991 | #2,460 | 29 | 0.0014% |
| 1990 | #2,081 | 36 | 0.0018% |
| 1989 | #2,063 | 35 | 0.0017% |
| 1988 | #2,352 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 1987 | #1,934 | 33 | 0.0018% |
| 1986 | #1,870 | 33 | 0.0018% |
| 1985 | #1,758 | 35 | 0.0019% |
| 1984 | #1,528 | 41 | 0.0023% |
| 1983 | #1,743 | 33 | 0.0018% |
| 1982 | #1,382 | 48 | 0.0026% |
| 1981 | #1,858 | 31 | 0.0017% |
| 1980 | #2,525 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1979 | #2,555 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1978 | #4,518 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1977 | #5,064 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1976 | #2,320 | 20 | 0.0013% |
| 1975 | #3,216 | 12 | 0.0008% |
| 1961 | #4,594 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1960 | #4,007 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1958 | #3,245 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1957 | #2,481 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1956 | #2,779 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1948 | #3,292 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1929 | #4,474 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1924 | #4,881 | 5 | 0.0004% |
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 Tam Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You like to control everyone within your influence, to shape things to your own liking. If positive, you develop high spirituality, as you have a God's protection. You are sensitive, affectionate, imaginative and cooperative, spiritually aware and prone to self-sacrifice. You can keep secrets and are a good diplomat. You may have healing and psychic powers. 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.
✦ Tam's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Tam's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.