Ransom

Meaning: Possibly redemption money, or Ranulf's son
Origin: English — Possibly from ransom, or a patronym · surname; word or patronymic origin

Boy's name · #1695 in the US (2025) · Vintage

Popularity over time

Ransom is an heirloom: its strongest era came around 1882, when it ranked #464. It has thinned since but never left the records — about 4,900 boys since 1880, ranked #1695 today.

Across the states

See where Ransom is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 8 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Ransoms

Ransom Riggs — American writer and filmmaker
Ransom E. Olds — American businessman (1864–1950)
Ransom W. Dunham — American politician (1838–1896)
Ransom Wilson — American flutist and conductor
Ransom H. Gillet — American politician (1800–1876)

As a surname

It is also an American family name — about 17,000 people carried it as a surname in the 2010 census.

John Crowe Ransom — American poet (1888–1974)
Matt Whitaker Ransom — Confederate Army general, lawyer, politician (1826–1904)
Caroline L. Ransom — American egyptologist and classical archaeologist

What Ransoms become

Among 34 notable people named Ransom:

Political leaders appear 2.48× more often than among typical names — e.g. Ransom W. Dunham, American politician (1838–1896).

Similar names: Smith · Ranger · Wylie · Taysom · Sloan · Merritt

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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