Given name
Memphis
“from the city in Tennessee”
Memphis is used as a given name. One American interpretation is “from the city in Tennessee.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One American interpretation is “from the city in Tennessee.”
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 1915. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Memphis through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 12,735
- 10,185 boys · 2,550 girls
- Most popular year
- 2021
- 986 babies
- 2025
- 580
- #640 for boys · #1,494 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +10%
- Rising
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 79% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 437 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 640 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 3.0% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. It also appeared in 143 birth records for girls in 2025. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (29). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 6,955 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Memphis’s family of names
Memphis has a related form in Memfis. Memphis has a related form in Memfus. Memphis has a related form in Memfys.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 5
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
See also 5
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Memphis
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Memphis, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Maverick
“one who is wild and free” · “an independent man; a nonconformist”
99% boys · 1% girls
Houston
“from the city in Texas” · “from Hugh's town”
96% boys · 4% girls
Texas
“a beloved friend” · “from the state of Texas”
86% boys · 14% girls
Delaware
“from the state of Delaware”
79% boys · 21% girls
Dustin
“from the dusty area” · “a courageous warrior”
>99% boys
Denver
“from the green valley”
62% boys · 38% girls
Wyatt
“having the strength of a warrior”
99% boys · 1% girls
Nicholys
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