Bamma
A name of uncertain origin, possibly derived from the West African Fon language.
Name Census estimates that about 1 living Americans carry the first name Bamma. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Bamma today is around 75 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Bamma births was 1900 (9 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Bamma. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Bamma is about 75 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Bammas were born before 1961.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Bamma. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
1
~ 1 in 342,754,338 Americans
Peak year
1900
9 babies that year
Average age
75
years old
1925 SSA rank
#5,038
Tracked since 1888
Popularity
Bamma: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Bamma from the 1880s through to the 1920s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 23 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Bamma by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Bamma during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Bamma
The name Bamma is believed to have originated from the ancient Sanskrit language of India, dating back to around the 3rd century BCE. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "bhama," which means "brightness" or "radiance." The name was initially associated with the Hindu goddess Parvati, who was known as the embodiment of divine beauty, love, and devotion.
In ancient Hindu texts such as the Puranas and the Mahabharata, Bamma is mentioned as a name given to female children born during auspicious celestial events or on specific astrological occasions. It was believed that those bearing this name would possess a radiant and captivating presence, reflecting the essence of the goddess Parvati.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bamma can be found in the 7th century CE during the reign of the Chalukya dynasty in southern India. Queen Bamma, the wife of King Vinayaditya, was a renowned patron of art and literature, known for her dedication to promoting cultural and intellectual pursuits.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Bamma. In the 12th century, Bamma Yogini was a revered mystic and spiritual teacher who is credited with establishing one of the earliest Tantric traditions in India. Her teachings and writings had a significant influence on the development of Tantric philosophy and practices.
During the 16th century, Bamma Akkanna was a celebrated poet and composer from the Kannada literary tradition. Her devotional compositions, known as "vachanas," were widely acclaimed for their profound insights and poetic elegance, reflecting the spiritual quest for divine union.
In the 19th century, Bamma Maharani was a prominent queen and ruler of the princely state of Travancore (now part of Kerala, India). She was renowned for her progressive policies, including the promotion of education and social reforms, leaving a lasting impact on the region's development.
Another notable figure was Bamma Sahib, a 20th-century social reformer and activist from the Sindhi community in Pakistan. She dedicated her life to advocating for women's rights, education, and the empowerment of marginalized communities, making significant contributions to the societal landscape of her time.
While the name Bamma has its origins in ancient India, it has transcended cultural boundaries and has been adopted by various communities around the world, each imbuing it with their own unique cultural and spiritual significance.
People
Bamma + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Bamma as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with B
Other first names starting with B with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Bamma: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Bamma?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Bamma going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 342,754,338 US residents.
Is Bamma a common name?
We classify Bamma as "Very Rare". It ranks above 3.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 59 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Bamma most popular?
The single biggest year for Bamma was 1900, when 9 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Bamma is about 75 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Bamma in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Bamma a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Bamma in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Bamma still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Bamma in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Bamma can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many Americans are named Bamma?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.