Unisex nameCurrently #588 in the USRising
Memphis
MEM-fiss//ˈmɛmfɪs//
2 syllablesPeak year: 20217 lettersStarts with M
Meaning & origin
Enduring and beautiful (ancient Egyptian capital)
Memphis takes its name both from the ancient Egyptian capital, whose name has been interpreted as 'enduring and beautiful', and from the American city in Tennessee, a cradle of blues and rock and roll music. Its musical, geographic weight has made it a distinctive modern choice.
Memphis's popularity over time
| Year | Births named Memphis |
|---|---|
| 1915 | 5 |
| 1916 | 8 |
| 1918 | 8 |
| 1920 | 5 |
| 1921 | 7 |
| 1922 | 7 |
| 1923 | 10 |
| 1925 | 6 |
| 1928 | 5 |
| 1929 | 7 |
| 1930 | 5 |
| 1937 | 7 |
| 1940 | 5 |
| 1941 | 6 |
| 1946 | 6 |
| 1994 | 6 |
| 1996 | 6 |
| 1997 | 5 |
| 2000 | 18 |
| 2001 | 144 |
| 2002 | 171 |
| 2003 | 171 |
| 2004 | 181 |
| 2005 | 185 |
| 2006 | 248 |
| 2007 | 323 |
| 2008 | 429 |
| 2009 | 515 |
| 2010 | 470 |
| 2011 | 394 |
| 2012 | 361 |
| 2013 | 472 |
| 2014 | 474 |
| 2015 | 506 |
| 2016 | 522 |
| 2017 | 579 |
| 2018 | 791 |
| 2019 | 878 |
| 2020 | 821 |
| 2021 | 986 |
| 2022 | 956 |
| 2023 | 820 |
| 2024 | 615 |
Memphis through the decades
- Memphis peaked in 2021, when 986 babies were named Memphis in the US.
- Over the last 10 years of data (2015–2024), use of Memphis has risen 93% compared to the 10 years before that.
- Memphis currently ranks #588 in the US and is on the rise.
Nicknames
Memphis
Variants & spellings
Memphys