Faduma
A feminine name of Somali origin meaning "superior" or "sublime".
Name Census estimates that about 243 living Americans carry the first name Faduma. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Faduma today is around 17 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Faduma births was 2016 (17 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Faduma. 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
243
~ 1 in 1,410,512 Americans
Peak year
2016
17 babies that year
Average age
17
years old
2021 SSA rank
#16,017
Tracked since 1998
Popularity
Faduma: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Faduma from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 113 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2010s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Faduma 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 Faduma during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Fadumas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Faduma
The given name Faduma is of Somali origin, derived from the Arabic name Fatima. It is a female name that has been widely used among Somali communities in the Horn of Africa region for centuries. The name is believed to have its roots in the Arabic word "fatama," which means "to wean" or "to be weaned."
In Islamic tradition, Fatima was the name of one of the daughters of the Prophet Muhammad. She was born in Mecca around 615 CE and was revered for her piety, wisdom, and resilience. As such, the name Fatima, and its variants like Faduma, became popular among Muslims as a way to honor and emulate the virtues of the Prophet's daughter.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Faduma can be found in the Somali oral tradition, where it is featured in various folktales and poems. These literary works often portrayed women named Faduma as strong, resilient, and virtuous characters, reflecting the cultural significance of the name.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Faduma. One of the earliest recorded instances is Faduma Aliye (c. 1570), a Somali queen who ruled the Sultanate of Geledi in the 16th century. She was renowned for her leadership skills and her efforts to promote education and cultural development in her kingdom.
Another prominent figure was Faduma Moghe (c. 1850-1920), a Somali warrior and military strategist who played a crucial role in the Somali resistance against colonial powers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Her bravery and tactical acumen earned her a place in Somali history as a symbol of resistance and national pride.
In the modern era, Faduma Jama Riyale (1920-2005) was a Somali politician and activist who served as the first female member of the Somali National Assembly in the 1960s. She advocated for women's rights and social justice, paving the way for future generations of Somali women in leadership roles.
Faduma Salad (1942-2018) was a Somali writer and poet, known for her contributions to the development of Somali literature and her advocacy for education and cultural preservation. Her works explored themes of identity, resilience, and the experiences of Somali women.
Finally, Faduma Yusuf Ahmed (born 1981) is a Somali-Norwegian model and activist who has been recognized for her work in promoting diversity and inclusion in the fashion industry. She has used her platform to challenge stereotypes and advocate for greater representation of marginalized communities.
These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Faduma, reflecting its enduring cultural significance and the diverse contributions of those who carried this name.
People
Faduma + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Faduma as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with F
Other first names starting with F with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Faduma: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Faduma?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 243 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Faduma 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 1,410,512 US residents.
Is Faduma a common name?
We classify Faduma as "Very Rare". It ranks above 76.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 246 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Faduma most popular?
The single biggest year for Faduma was 2016, when 17 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Faduma is about 17 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Faduma a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Faduma 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.