Find out how popular the first name Jamaal has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Jamaal by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Jamaal is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 99% of people named Jamaal being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 38 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Jamaal.

The history of the first name Jamaal

The name Jamaal has its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "jamal," which means beauty or perfection. The name can be traced back to the 7th century CE, during the early days of Islam.

Jamaal is a variant spelling of the more common Arabic name "Jamal." The earliest known use of the name Jamaal can be found in historical records from the Middle East and North Africa. It was a popular name among Arab families during the medieval period.

In Islamic tradition, the name Jamaal is believed to have a connection with the concept of divine beauty. The Quran, the holy book of Islam, contains references to the beauty and perfection of God's creation, which may have influenced the popularity of names like Jamaal.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Jamaal was Jamaal al-Din al-Afghani, an influential Islamic philosopher and political activist who lived from 1838 to 1897. He played a significant role in the late 19th-century Islamic revivalist movement.

Another notable figure was Jamaal Khashoggi, a Saudi Arabian journalist and dissident who was assassinated in 2018. His murder sparked international outrage and drew attention to issues of human rights and press freedom in Saudi Arabia.

In the realm of sports, Jamaal Wilkes, an American professional basketball player, had a successful career with the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors. He was born in 1953 and won four NBA championships during his playing career.

Jamaal Tinsley, an American professional basketball player born in 1978, spent several years as a point guard in the NBA, primarily with the Indiana Pacers and the Memphis Grizzlies.

Jamaal Magloire, a Canadian professional basketball player born in 1978, played center in the NBA for teams like the New Orleans Hornets and the Milwaukee Bucks. He represented Canada in international competitions and had a successful career spanning over a decade.

While the name Jamaal has Arab roots, it has gained popularity worldwide and is used across various cultures and communities. Its meaning and historical significance make it a name with a rich cultural heritage.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Jamaal was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Jamaal, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!