Elam Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Elam originates from Hebrew, meaning 'forever' or 'eternal', and traces its roots back to ancient Mesopotamia, associated with the Elamites. Over time, it has evolved through various languages like Hebrew and Latin. The name holds biblical relevance as it refers to a region and people mentioned in biblical texts. Although less popular today as a personal name, it remains significant in historical and cultural discussions.
The name Elam is most popular in Pennsylvania, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Alpha generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is declining in usage, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Elam has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, falling for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Elam' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 2085th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2371st out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2506th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 3006th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3173rd out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2804th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1712th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Elam' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Elam"
Pronunciation
/ˈiːləm/
Origin
Hebrew
Etymology
The name Elam is derived from the Hebrew word 'Elam', which refers to a region and people in ancient Mesopotamia, known for their own distinct language and culture.
Meaning
forever; eternal
Language Evolution
Elamite, Hebrew, Latin
Biblical Background
Elam is mentioned in the Bible as the name of one of the sons of Shem and is also the name of a territory east of Babylon.
Historical Usage
The name gained historical prominence in the biblical context, especially during the periods of the Old Testament, where it was associated with the Elamites.
Variants & Derivatives
Elama, Elamite
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Elam is less common as a personal name but is often recognized for its historical and biblical significance.
Famous People
Elam M. Smith - American politician, Elam M. McCauley - American architect
Explore More Elam Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Elam"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Elam"
"Elam" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 2085th of 7545 | 240 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 2371st of 6773 | 185 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 2506th of 7552 | 202 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 3006th of 10718 | 182 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 3173rd of 16616 | 285 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 2804th of 24088 | 604 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 1712th of 23106 | 1,127 |
Regional Popularity of "Elam" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- |
51.27% 707th/1379 |
- | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- |
44.09% 686th/1556 |
- | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- |
34.28% 833rd/2430 |
- | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- |
27.56% 960th/3483 |
- | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- |
22.26% 996th/4475 |
- | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
68.16% 3123rd/4582 |
23.28% 1202nd/5164 |
63.45% 4640th/7313 |
- |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
39.61% 1578th/3984 |
25.87% 1161st/4487 |
26.97% 1840th/6822 |
41.17% 2584th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Elam" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Elam"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Elam" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.