Najma

A girl's name of Arabic origin with 864 recorded U.S. births.

Girl's name#6305 in 2024Declining

Meaning & Origin

Among U.S. girl's names, Najma currently holds position #6305. It is known but far from saturated — a name that registers without repeating.

Appearing in records from 1983 to 2024, Najma has a solid multi-decade track record without being a permanent fixture — it belongs to a specific chapter of American naming.

In the most recent SSA release, Najma ranks #6305 among U.S. girl names — distinctive enough to stand out.

Najma is a girl's baby name of Arabic origin meaning 'star.' In Arabic poetry and classical literature, the star is a symbol of guidance, constancy, and beauty — making this a name rich with celestial imagery.

Najma is widely used across the Arab world and in East African Muslim communities, particularly in Somalia and Kenya, where its soft sound and luminous meaning have long made it a cherished choice.

EtymologyShow more

Names travel. They cross oceans, change spelling, shift pronunciation, and accumulate new associations with each culture that adopts them. Najma is rooted in the Arabic tradition, but its presence in American naming since 1983 means it has been shaped by English phonetics, local customs, and the cultural context of the families who chose it.

Najma’s 864 recorded births suggest it has found a niche — possibly within a specific cultural community, region, or naming subculture within the broader American landscape.

At a Glance

864

Total births

Since 1983

2016

Peak

38 births

1983

First recorded

42 years of data

Compare Najma with another name

Popularity Over Time

Najma was #6141 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #6305, but its charm endures.

First appeared: 1983Peak: 2016 (38 births)Current: #6305

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Najma
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	136	#5007	▼
2010s	304	#4740	—
2000s	307	#4549	▲
1990s	101	#8604	▲
1980s	16	#11605	—

The Story of Najma

A Gen Alpha name

Peaking in 2016, Najma is a fresh, modern favorite. Girls named Najma are most likely born between 2006 and 2024.

How rare is Najma?

Only about 1 in every 189,474 babies born in 2024 was named Najma — a truly uncommon choice.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1983, peaked in the 2000s with 307 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.

Najma by the numbers

Would fill 18 school buses
Meeting one Najma per day would take 2.4 years

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(36 years, 1983–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Najma
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	19	#6305	-8 (-29.6%)
2023	27	#4955	-1 (-3.6%)
2022	28	#4864	-2 (-6.7%)
2021	30	#4575	-2 (-6.3%)
2020	32	#4334	+4 (14.3%)
2019	28	#4860	-4 (-12.5%)
2018	32	#4426	+3 (10.3%)
2017	29	#4777	-9 (-23.7%)
2016	38	#3975	+5 (15.2%)
2015	33	#4372	-2 (-5.7%)
2014	35	#4239	+9 (34.6%)
2013	26	#5261	-4 (-13.3%)
2012	30	#4799	0
2011	30	#4778	+7 (30.4%)
2010	23	#5913	-8 (-25.8%)
2009	31	#4774	-3 (-8.8%)
2008	34	#4522	-2 (-5.6%)
2007	36	#4271	+5 (16.1%)
2006	31	#4654	-1 (-3.1%)
2005	32	#4338	+12 (60.0%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Najma a boy's or girl's name?

Najma is primarily a girl's name.

When was Najma most popular?

Najma reached its peak popularity in 2016 with 38 births that year. It is currently ranked #6305 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Najma?

Najma is currently ranked #6305 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 864 babies since 1983.

Explore More

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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1983–2024