Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Bambi
GirlItalian· “little child”
- Meaning
- little child
- Origin
- Italian
- Pronunciation
- BAM-bee
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #6,581
- US babies 2025
- 17
- Best rank
- #562 (1979)
- Peak year
- 1979
Meaning and origin of Bambi
Bambi is an Italian name that means “little child”.
Bambi comes from the Italian bambino or bambina, little child. It is said BAM-bee. The name has a sweet, playful image, though many people will associate it with the deer. It became famous through Bambi, a Life in the Woods, the novel by the Austrian writer Felix Salten, published in the early twentieth century, and even more through the Disney film. As a given name, Bambi was used in the US in the mid-twentieth century.
Popularity over time
Bambi first appears in US Social Security records in 1943. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 17 different years, starting in 1954. Its best national rank was #562 in 1979, the same year it reached its highest count of 327 babies. In 2025, 17 babies were named Bambi, and it ranked #6,581 nationally.
Its national rank moved from #3,243 in 1950, #577 in 1980, #15,363 in 2000, and #6,581 in 2025. Of the 5,261 US girls named Bambi since records began, 26% were born in the 1970s, its biggest decade. The 1960s come next, with 1,294 babies. Since 2010, 104 more have been named Bambi.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Syreeta, Loni, Tosha, Quiana, and Mindi.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Bambi is usually pronounced BAM-bee, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with B and ends in “-bi”.
Middle names for Bambi
A few middle names that flow with Bambi: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Bambi
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Lists that include Bambi
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Bambi mean?
Bambi is an Italian name that means “little child”.
What is the origin of the name Bambi?
Bambi has Italian roots. Bambi comes from the Italian bambino or bambina, little child.
Is Bambi a popular name?
Not especially. Bambi ranked #6,581 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Bambi a boy or girl name?
Bambi is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Bambi?
Bambi is usually pronounced BAM-bee. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings