Memphis
Memphis is a name with a single cultural origin: English.
- English
Meaning & Origin of Memphis
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Memphis is a name with a single cultural origin: English.
Origin data from Behind the Name .
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
The Story of Memphis
As a girl name
American parents first put Memphis on the record books as a girl name in 1915, with 5 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 2022, when 251 Memphiss were born — ranking #1,024 that year. About 48% of every Memphis on record arrived during the 2020s, its defining decade. As of 2026, Memphis ranks #1,403 for girls with 159 births, gradually rising (+14%). All told, over 3K Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1910s to the 2020s.
As a boy name
Memphis first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1916, with 8 babies given the name that year. The name hit its high-water mark in 2021: 768 births, good for #404 nationwide. About 41% of every Memphis on record arrived during the 2010s, its defining decade. As of 2026, Memphis ranks #592 for boys with 489 births, gradually falling (-14%). All told, over 11K Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1910s to the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Memphis
Phonetically similar names — useful when Memphis is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
- Menace
- Momus
- Mimus
- Moonface
- Maphis
- Mimos
- Minious
- Minus
- Mamas
- Memos
- Nymphs
- Mommas
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Memphis
What does the name Memphis mean?
What is the origin of the name Memphis?
How popular is Memphis in 2026?
When was Memphis most popular?
In which U.S. states is Memphis most popular?
Is Memphis a unisex name?
What names go well with Memphis?
About the name Memphis
Memphis is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1916 and has accumulated 11K births in the dataset. Memphis's peak popularity came in 2021 when it ranked #404. Use the chart and map above to compare Memphis's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2021 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "M" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.