Given name & surname
Famous
“one who is wellknown”
Famous is used as a given name and a surname. One American interpretation is “one who is wellknown.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One American interpretation is “one who is wellknown.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is American.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1925. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Famous through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 193
- 193 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2022
- 12 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +100%
- Rising fast
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for boys is 6 in 2024. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 206 as a first name in 2020; 246 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Similar names
If you love Famous, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Cactus
“resembling the spiny plant” · “resembling the prickly plant”
>99% boys
Faris
“a forgiving woman”
>99% boys
Flash
“emanating bright light” · “a shining man; one who is fast”
>99% boys
Fenn
“an intelligent woman” · “from the marsh”
>99% boys
Lefty
“a left-handed man”
>99% boys
Costner
“one who is embraced by all”
>99% boys
Cable
“resembling a heavy rope; having great strength” · “one who makes rope”
>99% boys
Pecos
“from the river; a cowboy”
>99% boys