Basma
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "smile" or "fragrant".
Name Census estimates that about 444 living Americans carry the first name Basma. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Basma today is around 15 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Basma births was 2017 (29 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Basma. 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.
People living today
444
~ 1 in 771,969 Americans
Peak year
2017
29 babies that year
Average age
15
years old
2024 SSA rank
#6,407
Tracked since 1980
Popularity
Basma: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Basma from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 194 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Basma remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Basma 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 Basma during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Basmas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Basma
The name Basma is of Arabic origin and has its roots in the Arabic language. It is derived from the word "basmah," which means "smile" or "fragrance." The name is believed to have been in use since ancient times in the Middle East and North Africa.
Basma was a popular name among Arab tribes and communities in the Arabian Peninsula and surrounding regions. It was often given to baby girls as a wish for them to bring joy and happiness to their families, and to have a pleasant and fragrant presence.
In Islamic history, the name Basma is mentioned in some early Arabic literature and poetry. It was also the name of a few notable women from the early Islamic era, such as Basma bint Ismail, a prominent figure in the Abbasid Caliphate.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Basma can be found in the works of the famous Arab poet and philosopher, Al-Mutanabbi, who lived in the 10th century CE. He wrote a poem praising the beauty and grace of a woman named Basma.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Basma. These include:
1. Basma Bint Ismail (8th century CE), a member of the Abbasid royal family and a patron of arts and literature.
2. Basma Qadhi (1888-1952), a Syrian feminist and activist who fought for women's rights and education.
3. Basma Bint Talal (born 1951), a Jordanian princess and advocate for various social and humanitarian causes.
4. Basma Kodmani (born 1958), a Syrian academic and former spokesperson for the Syrian National Council during the Syrian Civil War.
5. Basma Hamdy (born 1986), an Egyptian actress and television presenter known for her roles in various TV series and films.
While the name Basma has been popular throughout the Arab world, its usage has also spread to other regions and cultures over time, making it a truly international name with a rich history and diverse cultural associations.
People
Basma + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Basma 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
Basma: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Basma?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 444 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Basma 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 771,969 US residents.
Is Basma a common name?
We classify Basma as "Very Rare". It ranks above 83.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 450 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Basma most popular?
The single biggest year for Basma was 2017, when 29 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Basma is about 15 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Basma a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Basma 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.
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.