Find out how popular the first name Cambridge has been for the last 32 years (from 1992 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Cambridge by gender

Based on the last 32 years of data, Cambridge is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 51% of people named Cambridge being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 5 male babies and 5 female babies born with the name Cambridge.

The history of the first name Cambridge

The name Cambridge is an English place name derived from the combination of the Brittonic word "Cantab" meaning "winding river" and the Old English word "brycg" meaning "bridge." It refers to the city of Cambridge in England, situated on the River Cam. The name became popular as a given name after the city itself gained prominence as the location of the prestigious University of Cambridge, one of the world's oldest universities, founded in the early 13th century.

The earliest recorded use of Cambridge as a given name dates back to the late 16th century. One of the earliest known individuals with this name was Cambridge Bury, an English academic and clergyman born in 1580 who served as the Master of Benedict College, Cambridge.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Cambridge. One of the most famous was Cambridge Phillips Brooks (1835-1893), an American Episcopal clergyman and author who served as the Bishop of Massachusetts and is best known for writing the lyrics to the beloved Christmas carol "O Little Town of Bethlehem."

Another notable figure was Cambridge Trelawny (1692-1759), an English clergyman and author who served as the Bishop of Winchester and was known for his involvement in the Bangorian Controversy, a theological debate that took place in the early 18th century.

In the realm of literature, Cambridge Milton Adolphus Meetkerke (1871-1956) was a British writer and poet who published several works, including "The Bath Comedy" and "The Houghton Experiment."

The name also has associations with the world of sports. Cambridge Evan Calverley (1889-1973) was a British rower who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, winning a silver medal as part of the British coxless four rowing team.

While the name Cambridge has its origins in England, it has been adopted as a given name in various other cultures and regions over time, likely due to the prestige associated with the University of Cambridge and the city itself.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Cambridge was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Cambridge, please contact us.

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