Boy · #10,757 in 2026

Hamsa

The hamsa, also romanized khamsa, and known as the hand of Fatima, is a palm-shaped amulet popular throughout North Africa and in the Middle East and commonly used in jewellery and wall hangings. Depicting the open hand, an image recognized and used as a sign of protection in many times throughout history, the hamsa is believed to provide defense against the evil eye.

Current Rank
#10,757
Peak Rank
#5,032 (2005)
Total Babies
169
5-Yr Trend
Stable
2000
First Year
2018
Last Year
2005
Peak Year
#5032
Peak Rank
169
Total Count
19
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Hamsa

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

The hamsa, also romanized khamsa, and known as the hand of Fatima, is a palm-shaped amulet popular throughout North Africa and in the Middle East and commonly used in jewellery and wall hangings. Depicting the open hand, an image recognized and used as a sign of protection in many times throughout history, the hamsa is believed to provide defense against the evil eye.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Origin & history
A Punic stela from Carthage dedicated to Tinnit and Baal Hammon with a carved open right hand, as well as sign of Tinnit , sign of Baal Hammon above, Caduceus and naval symbols Open-hand motifs, sometimes interpreted as apotropaic, are widely attested in the ancient Near East. Vervenne notes that the hand symbol is very common in the Near East and may, in some interpretations, be regarded as an antecedent of the protective khamsa. Von Kemnitz also notes that amulets representing the hand of Ishtar were used in Mesopotamia and Babylon to prevent evil or disease from entering a building. Another

The Story of Hamsa

Hamsa first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 2000, with 7 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2005, when 16 Hamsas were born — ranking #5,032 that year. As of 2026, Hamsa ranks #10,757 for baby boys with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 169 Hamsas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Hamsa

Phonetically similar names — useful when Hamsa is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Hamsa

What does the name Hamsa mean?
The hamsa, also romanized khamsa, and known as the hand of Fatima, is a palm-shaped amulet popular throughout North Africa and in the Middle East and commonly used in jewellery and wall hangings. Depicting the open hand, an image recognized and used as a sign of protection in many times throughout history, the hamsa is believed to provide defense against the evil eye.
How popular is Hamsa in 2026?
In 2026, Hamsa ranks #10,757 among boys' names in the U.S., with 6 babies given the name that year.
When was Hamsa most popular?
Hamsa reached its peak popularity in 2005, ranking #5,032 that year with 16 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Hamsa most popular?
Hamsa has historically been most popular in Minnesota. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Hamsa.
Is Hamsa a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Hamsa is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Hamsa?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Hamsa include Duilio, Jahn, Chevelle. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

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Duilio
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Jahn
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Chevelle
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Jonus
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Saed
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Gianpaolo
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Latrelle
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Kellon
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About the name Hamsa

Hamsa is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2000 and has accumulated 169 births in the dataset. Hamsa's peak popularity came in 2005 when it ranked #5,032. Use the chart and map above to compare Hamsa's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.