Memphis - A very unique male name
Memphis at a glance
Memphis is ranked #636 among boy baby names in 2025, with 400 births in 2025. It peaked in 2021 at #401 and first appeared on the charts in 2001.
- Rank in 2025
- #636
- Births in 2025
- 400
- Peak year
- 2021 (#401)
- First appeared
- 2001
- Trend
- #455 in 2020 → #636 in 2025 (Falling)
- Popularity
- 1 in 3,666 boys
- Visitor rating
- 4.4/5 (58 recent votes)
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration · Data through 2025 · Updated 2026
With that position 1 in 3,666 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Memphis peaked in popularity 5 years ago in 2021 on position 401.
Famous with this name
Ricky Memphis
Memphis Bleek
Memphis Slim
How would you rate Memphis, 1-5?
Memphis is currently topping the charts in...
Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Memphis is currently topping the baby name charts in Kentucky at position #219 - and is the least popular in New York at position #1,949.Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Memphis is where you live.
Comment and discuss
Memphis origin and meaning
Place name (Tennessee city, named for Memphis, Egypt)
From Egyptian Men-nefer, 'enduring and beautiful', via Greek
Memphis is a place name twice over: the ancient Egyptian capital, whose name meant 'enduring and beautiful', and the Tennessee city named in its honour in 1819. As a boys' name it carries music-city and blues associations. It peaked in 2021 and has fallen since, while remaining in the top 650.
Attested etymology
Memphis is a 7 letter name with 2 syllables.
To see famous people named Memphis, pop culture references for the name Memphis and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.Similar to Memphis
We've found the following names that sound similar to Memphis, sorted by popularity.
Manvik / Mavis /Name statistics
Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better
understanding of how popular or unique this name is.
With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually
differ a lot from state to state.
Chart position per year (visualized)
Chart position per state (visualized)
Chart position per year (table view)
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 636 |
| 2024 | 571 |
| 2023 | 487 |
| 2022 | 443 |
| 2021 | 401 |
| 2020 | 455 |
| 2019 | 429 |
| 2018 | 456 |
| 2017 | 556 |
| 2016 | 620 |
| 2015 | 644 |
| 2014 | 679 |
| 2013 | 634 |
| 2012 | 737 |
| 2011 | 720 |
| 2010 | 604 |
| 2009 | 591 |
| 2008 | 677 |
| 2007 | 805 |
| 2006 | 942 |
| 2005 | 1183 |
| 2004 | 1170 |
| 2003 | 1211 |
| 2002 | 1083 |
| 2001 | 1258 |
Chart position per state (table view)
| State | Rank |
|---|---|
| Kentucky | 219 |
| South Carolina | 322 |
| Missouri | 322 |
| West Virginia | 358 |
| Louisiana | 389 |
| Ohio | 394 |
| North Carolina | 412 |
| Oklahoma | 415 |
| Virginia | 426 |
| Alabama | 441 |
| Michigan | 452 |
| Kansas | 455 |
| Georgia | 459 |
| Mississippi | 505 |
| Arkansas | 532 |
| Indiana | 534 |
| Iowa | 554 |
| Wisconsin | 555 |
| Pennsylvania | 566 |
| Tennessee | 626 |
| Utah | 775 |
| Maryland | 778 |
| Illinois | 785 |
| Texas | 888 |
| Arizona | 899 |
| Florida | 994 |
| Washington | 1095 |
| New Jersey | 1133 |
| California | 1280 |
| New York | 1949 |
Even more about Memphis
These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.
Is Memphis a common or unique name?
By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.What is the number of syllables for the name Memphis?
2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.Pronunciation
MEM-fis · /ˈmɛm.fɪs/
Around the world
No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.
Famous bearers
- Memphis Depay — Dutch international footballer, known mononymously as Memphis (b. 1994) Contemporary
Style
Place name
Why parents choose it
Memphis suits parents who want a soulful, musical place name with real swagger. It is recognisable and still fairly well used, though cooling from its peak.
Worth knowing
- The city, the ancient capital and Elvis associations will dominate first impressions.
