Kam is a unisex name of African origin, derived from various sources. One such source is Swahili, where 'Kam' means 'moon'. It also has roots in Arabic, translating to 'perfume' or 'generosity'. The name gained popularity worldwide due to its brevity and uniqueness, often used independently but also as a short form of longer names like Kamaria or Kamal. It is pronounced as /kæm/, with the emphasis on the first syllable.
The name Kam has seen a significant increase in popularity over the past century, with a notable spike in recent years. Between 1914 and 1995, there were fewer than 10 births per year on average. However, starting from 1997, the number of annual births with the name Kam began to rise steadily, reaching double digits by 2006. This trend continued into the 2010s and 2020s, with over 40 births occurring each year since 2014, peaking at 57 in 2016. As of 2023, there have been a total of 894 births with the name Kam recorded over this period.