Beckham is an English given name that originated as a transfer of the surname Beckham. The surname itself is derived from a place name meaning "Becca's homestead", combining the Old English personal name Becca — which served as a byname meaning "pickaxe" — with hām meaning "homestead". Thus, according to Weiss (a citable source), the name can be interpreted as "Becca's settlement". Etymology The name Becca is historically recorded as both a given name and a byname in early medieval England. The element -hām is a common suffix in English place names, indicating a farm or village. Alternative forms of the surname include Beckom, reflecting dialectal variations. Notable Bearers The surname rose to global fame through retired English soccer player David Beckham (born 1975). His prominence largely elevated Beckham from a purely surname use to a contemporary given name. Other bearers include NFL player Odell Beckham Jr., though the given name usage for Americans sometimes draws as much from his surname as from the first name trend. The phrase "bend it like Beckham" — referencing David Beckham's curling free kicks — became proverbial, appearing in the title of a 2002 film. Usage and Distribution As a first name, Beckham is modern and rare, primarily used in English-speaking countries like the United States and United Kingdom. Surname statistics (2010 US Census) show Beckham ranks the 3,575th most common surname in the US, with 9,960 bearers, predominantly White (76.02%) and Black (18.78%). Related Names No widely recognized variants apart from the anglicized surnames Beckham and Beckom. Discover other surnames or given names with the -ham element, including Graham and Hingham. Meaning: "Becca's homestead" (Becca possibly meaning "pickaxe") Origin: English place name transferred to surname, then given name Type: Given name derived from surname Usage Regions: English-speaking world, notably USA & UK