Bama
A girl's name of Native American origin with 498 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Nickname for Alabama: a state of the United States.
Bama is a girl's baby name of Native American origin, taken from the state name Alabama, itself derived from the Alabama people of the Muskogean language family — the word possibly meaning 'vegetation gatherers' or 'thicket clearers.'
Bama as a given name was used primarily as a regional nickname in the American South, reflecting deep affection for the state of Alabama. It appears in records mainly from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, embodying a distinctly Southern regional identity.
EtymologyShow more
Bama first shows up in U.S. Social Security records in 1880. Names present in the earliest SSA data (which begins in 1880) were typically carried by immigrants from Europe, handed down through families, or drawn from biblical and classical sources.
Its Native American classification suggests a path from native american linguistic traditions into American usage, though the specific route — whether through immigration, literature, or cultural exchange — would require deeper historical research.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Bama has 62+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1880.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 17 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 28 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 43 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 87 | ▼ |
| 1910s | 100 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 83 | ▲ |
| 1890s | 74 | ▲ |
| 1880s | 61 | — |
The Story of Bama
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1894, Bama is a name steeped in history. Girls named Bama are most likely born between 1884 and 1904.
How rare is Bama?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Bama is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1880, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1910s with 100 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Bama by the numbers
- Would fill 10 school buses
- Meeting one Bama per day would take 1.4 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(62 years, 1880–1982)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 5 | #10650 |
| 1959 | 5 | #6310 |
| 1955 | 5 | #5883 |
| 1951 | 7 | #4410 |
| 1949 | 5 | #5295 |
| 1948 | 6 | #4698 |
| 1946 | 5 | #5004 |
| 1942 | 5 | #4676 |
| 1941 | 7 | #3590 |
| 1938 | 8 | #3200 |
| 1935 | 5 | #4269 |
| 1932 | 11 | #2659 |
| 1931 | 11 | #2594 |
| 1930 | 8 | #3378 |
| 1929 | 8 | #3417 |
| 1928 | 7 | #3783 |
| 1927 | 7 | #3902 |
| 1926 | 10 | #3068 |
| 1925 | 9 | #3386 |
| 1924 | 10 | #3166 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bama a boy's or girl's name?
When was Bama most popular?
How popular is the name Bama?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1880–1982