Pam Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Pam is an English name derived from the name Pamela, which was created by Sir Philip Sidney. It means 'honey' and has seen linguistic evolution primarily from Pamela to its diminutive forms like Pammy. The name carries traits of warmth and familiarity, has no biblical relevance, and gained popularity in the mid-20th century.
The name Pam is most popular in South Dakota, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Baby Boomers generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Pam has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Pam' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 5506th out of 7552 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 7503rd out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 839th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 217th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 591st out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 7773rd out of 27321 names. Discover how the name 'Pam' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Pam"
Pronunciation
/pæm/
Origin
English
Etymology
Pam is often considered a diminutive form of the name Pamela, which was created by the English poet Sir Philip Sidney in the late 16th century.
Meaning
honey
Language Evolution
Pamela, Pammy
Historical Usage
The name Pam gained popularity as a standalone name in the mid-20th century, particularly in English-speaking countries.
Variants & Derivatives
Pamela, Pammy, Pammie
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Pam is often viewed as a friendly and approachable name, associated with warmth and familiarity.
Famous People
Pamela Anderson, Pam Grier, Pamela Sue Martin
Explore More Pam Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Pam"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Pam"
"Pam" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 5506th of 7552 | 23 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 7503rd of 9107 | 12 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 839th of 9204 | 1,345 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 217th of 12526 | 26,916 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 591st of 19264 | 4,706 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 7773rd of 27321 | 146 |
Regional Popularity of "Pam" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Pam" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
37.26% 576th/1546 |
58.74% 914th/1556 |
49.98% 1176th/2353 |
28.05% 434th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
8.26% 184th/2227 |
13.13% 319th/2430 |
8.17% 233rd/2853 |
7.14% 198th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
16.34% 480th/2937 |
23.20% 808th/3483 |
15.86% 558th/3518 |
16.32% 660th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - |
94.19% 4892nd/5194 |
- |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Pam"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Pam" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.