Jama
Jama is a common Somali male name. The name is usually given to boys born on the blessed Islamic day of Friday (jumu’ah).
Meaning & Origin of Jama
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Jama is a common Somali male name. The name is usually given to boys born on the blessed Islamic day of Friday (jumu’ah).
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Jama
As a girl name
Jama first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1918, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1961, when 54 Jamas were born — ranking #1,533 that year. As of 2026, Jama ranks #14,501 for girls with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 2K Jamas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Jama first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1976, with 7 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2017, when 9 Jamas were born — ranking #8,137 that year. As of 2026, Jama ranks #12,323 for boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 101 Jamas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Jama
Phonetically similar names — useful when Jama 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 Jama
What does the name Jama mean?
How popular is Jama in 2026?
When was Jama most popular?
In which U.S. states is Jama most popular?
Is Jama a unisex name?
What names go well with Jama?
About the name Jama
Jama is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1918 and has accumulated 2K births in the dataset. Jama's peak popularity came in 1961 when it ranked #1,533. Use the chart and map above to compare Jama's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1961 →
- Names of the 1960s →
- Names starting with "J" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
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.