Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Pamela
GirlEnglish, Greek· “often said to mean 'all sweetness'”
- Meaning
- often said to mean 'all sweetness'
- Origin
- English, Greek
- Pronunciation
- PA-muh-luh
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #2,251
- US babies 2025
- 82
- Best rank
- #10 (1953)
- Peak year
- 1954
Meaning and origin of Pamela
Pamela is an English and Greek name that is usually said to mean “often said to mean 'all sweetness'”.
Pamela was invented by the Elizabethan poet Sir Philip Sidney for a character in his romance Arcadia. Its meaning is not recorded, but it is often explained as coming from Greek elements meaning all and honey, so it is sometimes said to mean all sweetness. The name became widely known through Samuel Richardson's novel Pamela, published in the eighteenth century. It was very popular in the mid-twentieth century. Pamela feels classic and friendly. Pam and Pammy are the familiar nicknames.
Popularity over time
Pamela first appears in US Social Security records in 1895. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 87 different years, starting in 1925. Its best national rank was #10 in 1953, and the most babies received it in 1954, when 27,361 were named Pamela. In 2025, 82 babies were named Pamela, and it ranked #2,251 nationally. That is 51% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #1,618 in 1920, #17 in 1950, #86 in 1980, #458 in 2000, #984 in 2010, and #2,251 in 2025. Of the 595,076 US girls named Pamela since records began, 40% were born in the 1950s, its biggest decade. The 1960s come next, with 181,939 babies. Since 2010, 2,519 more have been named Pamela.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Diane, Janet, Beverly, Connie, and Susan.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Pamela ranked highest in Illinois, New York, and California.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | #1573 | 5 |
| New York | #1791 | 7 |
| California | #1819 | 12 |
| Florida | #1827 | 7 |
| Texas | #2172 | 10 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Pamela is usually pronounced PA-muh-luh, with three syllables. It has six letters, starts with P and ends in “-la”.
Middle names for Pamela
A few middle names that flow with Pamela: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Pamela
Similar names
Louella Girl
loo-EL-uh
“blend of Lou and Ella” · English
#1,475
Nicola Unisex
NIK-uh-luh
“victory of the people” · Italian
#3,920
Angela Girl
AN-juh-luh
“angel, messenger” · Latin
#408
Dorothy Girl
DAW-ruh-thee
“gift of God” · Greek
#421
Belinda Girl
buh-LIHN-duh
Germanic
#1,819
Viola Girl
vy-OH-luh
“violet” · Latin
#1,015
Melinda Girl
muh-LIHN-duh
“from Greek meli honey plus -inda” · English
#1,985
Calla Girl
KAL-uh
“calla lily; beauty” · Greek
#1,397
Aniela Girl
ah-NYEH-lah
“Polish form of Angela, messenger” · Polish
#3,985
Alexa Girl
uh-LEK-suh
“defender of men” · Greek
#1,029
Camilla Girl
kuh-MIH-luh
“from a Roman family name, perhaps 'young attendant'” · Latin
#361
Estella Girl
eh-STEL-uh
“star” · Latin
#509
Lists that include Pamela
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Pamela mean?
Pamela is an English and Greek name that is usually said to mean “often said to mean 'all sweetness'”.
What is the origin of the name Pamela?
Pamela has English and Greek roots. Pamela was invented by the Elizabethan poet Sir Philip Sidney for a character in his romance Arcadia.
Is Pamela a popular name?
Not especially. Pamela ranked #2,251 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Pamela a boy or girl name?
Pamela is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Pamela?
Pamela is usually pronounced PA-muh-luh. 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