This post contains affiliate links.
At a Glance: Name: Ames – Meaning: friends (from Old French amis) – Origin: French – Gender: used for both boys and girls – Pronunciation: AYMZ
Ames is a French name meaning "friends," from the Old French amis. It's pronounced AYMZ (/eɪmz/), a short, one-syllable name that's easy to say and spell.
Meaning & Origin of Ames
Meaning: Friends (from Old French amis).
Origin: French.
How to Pronounce Ames
Phonetic: AYMZ IPA: /eɪmz/
Popularity of Ames
Ames ranked #2007 in the U.S. in 2024, with 76 babies given the name. Its highest ranking since Social Security records began in 1913 was #1695 in 2020, when 92 babies were named Ames.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1913–2024.
Make Ames Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Ames, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Ames mean?
Friends (from Old French amis).
How do you pronounce Ames?
Ames is pronounced AYMZ (IPA: /eɪmz/).
Is Ames a popular name right now?
Ames peaked at #1695 in 2020 and is ranked #2007 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1913–2024.)
📊 How popular is Ames? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
🎲 Think you know your baby names? Take the quiz!
🎨 Get Printable Name Art for Ames
Beautiful nursery-ready 8×10" print with name & meaning
Preview & Download →More Baby Name Inspiration
📱 The Baby Names app is here
Swipe names, match with your partner the moment you both say yes, and claim a free Name Art print of your winner. Free to download. See all our apps →




