Variant of Burnham, an English place name meaning 'homestead by a stream.'
Burnam is a variant of Burnham, an English place name meaning homestead by a stream. That geographic origin gives the name an old, settled quality, even when it is used as a first name rather than a surname.
It carries the atmosphere of the English landscape: practical, rooted, and tied to a specific place rather than to ornament or invention. In modern use, Burnam has the sturdy, surname-to-given-name feel that many families find appealing. It sounds dependable and slightly antique, but not ornate.
The final consonant gives it firmness, while the middle vowel keeps it from sounding too heavy. As a rare first name, it feels like something drawn from a family line or local history, and that gives it a quiet dignity.