Elam Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: EE-lam /iːˈlæm/
Origin: Hebrew; Biblical
Meaning: Hebrew: 'eternity'; Biblical: 'the name of a place'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Elam has its roots in ancient Semitic languages, specifically deriving from the Hebrew word "Elam" (אֵילָם), which refers to a region and people mentioned in the Bible. The name is believed to originate from the Akkadian word "Elamû," which translates to "foreigner" or "highland." This term was used to describe the Elamite civilization that existed in what is now southwestern Iran.
The transition of the name into English occurred through the Latinization of biblical texts, particularly during the translation of the Hebrew Bible into Greek (the Septuagint) and later into Latin (the Vulgate), before it was adopted into English translations such as the King James Bible in the early 17th century. Historically, Elam is significant as it refers to both a geographical region and a people that played a crucial role in the ancient Near East.
The Elamites are mentioned in various biblical accounts, including their interactions with the Israelites. Notably, Elam is referenced in the Book of Genesis, where it is listed among the descendants of Shem, indicating its importance in the genealogical narratives of the Hebrew Bible.
The Elamite civilization flourished from approximately the 3rd millennium BCE until its eventual decline in the 6th century BCE, making it one of the earliest known cultures in the region. Culturally, the name Elam carries connotations of strength and resilience, reflecting the historical significance of the Elamite people who were known for their rich contributions to art, architecture, and governance in ancient times.
The name has been preserved in various forms throughout history, often associated with themes of heritage and identity. While diminutive forms or variations of the name may exist, the original form "Elam" remains a powerful reminder of its ancient roots and the enduring legacy of the civilization it represents.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Elam, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Elam. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Elam was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Elam has ranked as high as #2746 nationally, which occurred in 2015, and has been most popular in Pennsylvania, Texas, Kentucky, California, and Ohio.
In the past 5 years the name Elam has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Elam is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Elam was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Elam.
| Year | Total Births | Boy |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 64 | 64 |
| 2024 | 65 | 65 |
| 2023 | 60 | 60 |
| 2022 | 74 | 74 |
| 2021 | 97 | 97 |
| 2020 | 92 | 92 |
| 2019 | 101 | 101 |
| 2018 | 103 | 103 |
| 2017 | 109 | 109 |
| 2016 | 108 | 108 |
| 2015 | 144 | 144 |
| 2014 | 102 | 102 |
| 2013 | 73 | 73 |
| 2012 | 64 | 64 |
| 2011 | 58 | 58 |
| 2010 | 68 | 68 |
| 2009 | 51 | 51 |
| 2008 | 40 | 40 |
| 2007 | 42 | 42 |
| 2006 | 34 | 34 |
| 2005 | 35 | 35 |
| 2004 | 28 | 28 |
| 2003 | 37 | 37 |
| 2002 | 26 | 26 |
| 2001 | 27 | 27 |
| 2000 | 34 | 34 |
| 1999 | 25 | 25 |
| 1998 | 18 | 18 |
| 1997 | 19 | 19 |
| 1996 | 21 | 21 |
| 1995 | 16 | 16 |
| 1994 | 18 | 18 |
| 1993 | 22 | 22 |
| 1992 | 28 | 28 |
| 1991 | 20 | 20 |
| 1990 | 22 | 22 |
| 1989 | 19 | 19 |
| 1988 | 14 | 14 |
| 1987 | 9 | 9 |
| 1986 | 15 | 15 |
| 1985 | 10 | 10 |
| 1984 | 24 | 24 |
| 1983 | 17 | 17 |
| 1982 | 16 | 16 |
| 1981 | 14 | 14 |
| 1980 | 19 | 19 |
| 1979 | 14 | 14 |
| 1978 | 19 | 19 |
| 1977 | 10 | 10 |
| 1976 | 15 | 15 |
| 1975 | 12 | 12 |
| 1974 | 13 | 13 |
| 1973 | 15 | 15 |
| 1972 | 8 | 8 |
| 1971 | 12 | 12 |
| 1970 | 10 | 10 |
| 1969 | 13 | 13 |
| 1968 | 7 | 7 |
| 1967 | 6 | 6 |
| 1965 | 9 | 9 |
| 1964 | 10 | 10 |
| 1963 | 9 | 9 |
| 1962 | 12 | 12 |
| 1961 | 13 | 13 |
| 1960 | 8 | 8 |
| 1959 | 12 | 12 |
| 1958 | 5 | 5 |
| 1957 | 11 | 11 |
| 1956 | 9 | 9 |
| 1955 | 10 | 10 |
| 1954 | 8 | 8 |
| 1953 | 9 | 9 |
| 1952 | 14 | 14 |
| 1951 | 9 | 9 |
| 1950 | 14 | 14 |
| 1949 | 13 | 13 |
| 1948 | 7 | 7 |
| 1947 | 12 | 12 |
| 1946 | 17 | 17 |
| 1945 | 8 | 8 |
| 1944 | 6 | 6 |
| 1943 | 14 | 14 |
| 1942 | 7 | 7 |
| 1941 | 14 | 14 |
| 1940 | 12 | 12 |
| 1939 | 11 | 11 |
| 1937 | 14 | 14 |
| 1936 | 12 | 12 |
| 1935 | 9 | 9 |
| 1934 | 7 | 7 |
| 1932 | 8 | 8 |
| 1931 | 14 | 14 |
| 1930 | 9 | 9 |
| 1929 | 20 | 20 |
| 1928 | 20 | 20 |
| 1927 | 10 | 10 |
| 1926 | 21 | 21 |
| 1925 | 9 | 9 |
| 1924 | 15 | 15 |
| 1923 | 15 | 15 |
| 1922 | 9 | 9 |
| 1921 | 13 | 13 |
| 1920 | 22 | 22 |
| 1919 | 15 | 15 |
| 1918 | 15 | 15 |
| 1917 | 18 | 18 |
| 1916 | 12 | 12 |
| 1915 | 17 | 17 |
| 1914 | 13 | 13 |
| 1913 | 5 | 5 |
| 1912 | 9 | 9 |
| 1911 | 7 | 7 |
| 1905 | 5 | 5 |
| 1903 | 5 | 5 |
| 1901 | 5 | 5 |
| 1898 | 9 | 9 |
| 1893 | 5 | 5 |
| 1891 | 6 | 6 |
| 1887 | 6 | 6 |
| 1886 | 5 | 5 |
| 1883 | 6 | 6 |
| 1882 | 5 | 5 |
| 1880 | 6 | 6 |
Top States for Elam (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| PA | 18 | |
| IN | 5 | |
| OH | 5 |