Famous
A masculine name meaning celebrated or renowned.
Name Census estimates that about 173 living Americans carry the first name Famous. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Famous today is around 24 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Famous births was 2022 (12 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Famous. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
173
~ 1 in 1,981,239 Americans
Peak year
2022
12 babies that year
Average age
24
years old
2024 SSA rank
#11,323
Tracked since 1925
Popularity
Famous: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Famous from the 1920s through to the 2020s, spanning 8 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 46 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Famous by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Famous during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Famous' live
Origin
Meaning and history of Famous
The name Famous is derived from the Latin word "fama," which means "fame" or "renown." It is believed to have originated in ancient Rome, where the concept of fame and reputation held great significance.
Famous first appeared as a given name during the Roman era, when it was used to express a desire for the child to achieve greatness and have their name remembered throughout history. It was a popular choice among families of high social standing or those with noble aspirations.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Famous is found in the writings of the Roman historian Livy, who mentioned a nobleman named Famous Cornelius in his historical work "Ab Urbe Condita" (From the Founding of the City), written around 27-25 BC.
In the early days of Christianity, the name Famous was sometimes bestowed upon individuals who had achieved a high level of sanctity or had made significant contributions to the faith. One notable example is Famous Remigius, a 6th-century bishop of Reims who played a crucial role in the conversion of Clovis I, the first king of the Franks, to Christianity.
During the Renaissance period, the name Famous experienced a resurgence in popularity, particularly among artists, writers, and intellectuals who sought to immortalize their names through their works and accomplishments. One of the most renowned individuals with this name was Famous Petrarca, better known as Petrarch (1304-1374), the Italian scholar and poet considered the father of Renaissance humanism.
In the 17th century, Famous Ursinus (1598-1667), a German theologian and professor, made significant contributions to the field of Reformed theology and was widely respected for his scholarly works.
Another notable bearer of the name was Famous Beaumont (1584-1616), an English playwright who, along with his collaborator John Fletcher, wrote some of the most influential plays of the Jacobean era, including "The Knight of the Burning Pestle" and "Philaster."
In more recent times, Famous Lefebvre (1834-1910), a French historian and philosopher, gained recognition for his work on the Paris Commune and his contributions to Marxist theory.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have borne the name Famous, each leaving their mark on their respective fields and contributing to the legacy of this unique and aspirational name.
People
Famous + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Famous as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with F
Other first names starting with F with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Famous: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Famous?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 173 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Famous going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,981,239 US residents.
Is Famous a common name?
We classify Famous as "Very Rare". It ranks above 72.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 193 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Famous most popular?
The single biggest year for Famous was 2022, when 12 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Famous is about 24 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Famous a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Famous in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.