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Home › Baby Names Directory › Burnham

Burnham

♂ Boy

Pronounced BUR-nuhm /ˈbɜːr.nəm/Medium

Meaning: Burnham is an English surname drawn from any of several places called Burnham, from the Old English 'burna' ('stream') and 'ham' ('homestead') - 'the homestead by the stream.' Used as a given name, it keeps that plain topographic meaning.Low

In 30 seconds: Burnham is a rare English surname used as a first name, meaning 'homestead by the stream.' It appears in early US records and peaked around 1918 (said BUR-nuhm).
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Origin LowEnglish
MeaningBurnham is an English surname drawn from any of several places called Burnham, from the Old English 'burna' ('stream') and 'ham' ('homestead') - 'the homestead by the stream.' Used as a given name, it keeps that plain topographic meaning.
U.S. rank (1951)#3783 ↘ Falling
1951 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1918
Total births (all-time)≈ 130

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 191819121951

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Burnham is an English place-name and surname, 'the homestead by the stream,' from 'burna' and 'ham.' It appears in American records in the early twentieth century, when family surnames were often passed on as first names.

It was never common, given to only about fifteen boys a year even at its peak around 1918. A boy named Burnham then would belong to his great-grandfather's generation.

Did you know? Many English place-names ending in '-ham,' like Burnham, simply record an early farmstead, so the name carries a quiet picture of a home set beside running water.
Overall data confidence 35%
References - Burnham — English place-name/surname ('burna' stream + 'ham' homestead); early-century surname-name; factual.

Variations

BurnamBurnhemBarnumBurne

Nicknames

BurnBurnie

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Burnham…

Denham— a similar '-ham' place-surname
Ashby— another English place-name of the era
Hollis— a like surname name in sound
Brigham— a similarly popular pick
Needham— a fellow English choice

Explore names like Burnham

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Burnham mean?

It is an English surname and place-name meaning 'homestead by the stream.'

How do you pronounce Burnham?

It is said BUR-nuhm /ˈbɜːr.nəm/ - two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Burnham a boy or girl name?

Burnham is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Burnham?

It was always rare in the United States, given to only about fifteen boys a year even at its peak in the nineteen-tens.

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