How to say it
BECK · ham
ˈbɛk.əm
Masculine
Beckham
Homestead by the stream
What it means
English place name from Old English beac ('stream') + ham ('homestead'). Originally a surname tied to villages in Norfolk. David Beckham the English footballer is the dominant modern anchor; baby names with this shape rose globally after his fame in the 2000s.
Beckham is an English place name from the Old English beac ('stream') + hām ('homestead'), giving 'homestead by the stream.' Originally a surname tied to villages in Norfolk (Beckham and East Beckham). David Beckham the English footballer (born 1975, Manchester United and Real Madrid, married to Victoria 'Posh Spice' Beckham) is overwhelmingly the dominant cultural anchor. As a first name Beckham is American and modern, basically zero before 2007 and climbing fast since. It entered the US top 500 in 2017. Common short: Beck or Beckam.
How to spell Beckham
The standard spelling is Beckham. Common variants include Beckam, Beckhem, but Beckham is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #168 in 2024, currently #168 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pop culture
David Beckham is the dominant anchor; almost all first-name use is downstream of his fame, with celebrity-baby naming after 2007 driving the curve.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- David Beckham English footballer, Manchester United and Real Madrid, born 1975
Spelling variants
- Beckam
- Beckhem
Names with the same feeling
See Beckham from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Beckham mean?
- English place name from Old English beac ('stream') + ham ('homestead'). Originally a surname tied to villages in Norfolk. David Beckham the English footballer is the dominant modern anchor; baby names with this shape rose globally after his fame in the 2000s.
- What does Beckham mean in English?
- In English, Beckham means "Homestead by the stream." Beckham is an English place name from the Old English beac ('stream') + hām ('homestead'), giving 'homestead by the stream.' Originally a surname tied to villages in Norfolk (Beckham and East Beckham). David Beckham the English footballer (born 1975, Manchester United and Real Madrid, married to Victoria 'Posh Spice' Beckham) is overwhelmingly the dominant cultural anchor. As a first name Beckham is American and modern, basically zero before 2007 and climbing fast since. It entered the US top 500 in 2017. Common short: Beck or Beckam.
- How do you pronounce Beckham?
- Beckham is pronounced ˈbɛk.əm. Say it as BECK-ham, with the stress on the "beck" syllable.
- How do you spell Beckham?
- The standard spelling is Beckham. Common spelling variants include Beckam, Beckhem.
- Is Beckham a boy or girl name?
- Beckham is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Beckham?
- Beckham ranked #168 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.