Hamer
A masculine German name derived from the Old German word "hamar", meaning "hammer".
Name Census estimates that about 2 living Americans carry the first name Hamer. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Hamer today is around 89 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Hamer births was 1921 (9 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Hamer. 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.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Hamer is about 89 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Hamers were born before 1947.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Hamer. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
2
~ 1 in 171,377,169 Americans
Peak year
1921
9 babies that year
Average age
89
years old
1930 SSA rank
#4,233
Tracked since 1913
Popularity
Hamer: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Hamer from the 1910s through to the 1930s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 35 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Hamer 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 Hamer during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Hamer
The given name Hamer has its origins in the Old English language, tracing back to the Anglo-Saxon period in the 5th to 11th centuries. Derived from the word "hamor," meaning "hammer" or "shaper of metal," this name likely originated among blacksmiths and metalworkers of that era.
In ancient Germanic cultures, the hammer was a revered tool associated with strength, craftsmanship, and the forging of weapons and armor. It held symbolic significance and was often depicted in Norse mythology, such as the mighty hammer of Thor, the god of thunder.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hamer can be found in the Domesday Book, a great survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. Entries in this historical document mention individuals with the surname "Hamer," suggesting the name's existence during the Norman conquest of England.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Hamer. One such figure was Hamer Papworth (1847-1918), a British architect and author who wrote extensively on architectural ornament and design. Another was Hamer Jeremiah Jackson (1912-1987), an American civil rights activist and Baptist minister who played a significant role in the Montgomery bus boycott of 1955-1956.
In the realm of sports, Hamer Bey Basheer (1946-2009) was a notable American heavyweight boxer who competed in the 1970s and earned the nickname "The Hammer" for his powerful punches. Similarly, Hamer Bucker (1901-1986), an American baseball player, played for the St. Louis Cardinals and Detroit Tigers during the 1920s and 1930s.
Lastly, Hamer Muñoz Badajoz (1886-1936) was a Spanish military officer and politician who served as the Minister of War during the Second Spanish Republic in the early 20th century.
While the name Hamer may not be as common today, its rich history and connections to skilled craftsmanship, strength, and perseverance continue to imbue it with a sense of resilience and determination.
People
Hamer + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Hamer as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with H
Other first names starting with H with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Hamer: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Hamer?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 2 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Hamer 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 171,377,169 US residents.
Is Hamer a common name?
We classify Hamer as "Very Rare". It ranks above 4.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 56 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Hamer most popular?
The single biggest year for Hamer was 1921, when 9 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Hamer is about 89 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Hamer in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Hamer a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Hamer 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.
Is Hamer still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Hamer in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Hamer can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have Hamer as a first name?
For a quick modern take, check how many people have the name Hamer on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.