What turned Bam into a baby name in 2004?

TV personality Brandon "Bam" Margera
Bam Margera

Once upon a time, “bam” was merely an interjection. These days, it’s also baby name!

How did this come about?

It wasn’t Bamm-Bamm Rubble from The Flintstones (though his counterpart Pebbles did influence the baby name charts back in the ’60s).

Instead, it was young pro-skateboarder Brandon “Bam” Margera, one of the stars of the MTV reality stunt show Jackass, which started airing in October of 2000.

The name Bam debuted in the U.S. baby name data in 2004:

  • 2010: unlisted
  • 2009: 6 baby boys named Bam
  • 2008: 8 baby boys named Bam
  • 2007: 13 baby boys named Bam
  • 2006: unlisted
  • 2005: unlisted
  • 2004: 12 baby boys named Bam [debut]
  • 2003: unlisted
  • 2002: unlisted

The debut is specifically attributable to the Bam-focused spin-off series Viva La Bam (2003-2005), which also featured stunts/pranks.

The name might have been a one-hit wonder if not for Bam Margera’s second reality TV show, Bam’s Unholy Union (2007), which followed Bam and his fiancée Missy as they planned their wedding. (The marriage, his second, lasted until 2012.)

Brandon’s grandfather started calling him “Bam” when he was a toddler and running into walls a lot. Though he has considered legally changing his first name to Bam, his government name is still Brandon at this point.

What are your thoughts on the baby name Bam?

Sources: Bam Margera – Wikipedia, SSA

Image: Adapted from Bam Margera by Matt Rogers under CC BY-SA 2.0.

[Latest update: Jan. 2024]

One thought on “What turned Bam into a baby name in 2004?

  1. Well, if this is the parents’ roll model for their kids… I hope their parenting skills are way better than their naming skills. Terrible name, Bam. But if little Bam grows up to be like his parents, then I suppose everyone will be happy.

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