Jemal
An Arabic masculine name derived from the word "jamal" meaning beauty or handsomeness.
Name Census estimates that about 845 living Americans carry the first name Jemal. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Jemal today is around 43 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Jemal births was 1969 (204 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Jemal. 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
845
~ 1 in 405,626 Americans
Peak year
1969
204 babies that year
Average age
43
years old
2023 SSA rank
#13,068
Tracked since 1968
Popularity
Jemal: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Jemal from the 1960s through to the 2020s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1960s, with 251 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1960s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Jemal 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 Jemal during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Jemals live
The SSA's state-level files cover 10 states and territories. New York, California, Illinois recorded the most babies named Jemal, while Florida, Texas, Maryland recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 31 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Jemal
The name Jemal has its origins in Arabic culture and is derived from the Arabic word "jamal," meaning "beauty" or "camel." It is believed to have been in use as a given name since the early days of Islam, around the 7th century AD.
In Arabic, the name Jemal is spelled جمال, and its pronunciation can vary slightly depending on the region or dialect. It is a popular name in many Arab countries, as well as in regions with significant Arab or Islamic influence.
One of the earliest known historical references to the name Jemal can be found in the Qur'an, the central religious text of Islam. The word "jamal" is mentioned in several verses, often in the context of describing beauty or referring to camels, which were highly valued in Arabian culture.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Jemal. One of the most famous was Jemal ad-Din al-Afghani (1838-1897), an Islamic philosopher and political activist who played a significant role in the late 19th century pan-Islamic movement.
Another prominent figure was Jemal Pasha (1872-1922), an Ottoman military leader and one of the three leaders of the Ottoman Empire during World War I. He was known for his harsh governance of the Syrian provinces and his involvement in the Armenian Genocide.
In the field of literature, Jemal Karshenas (1952-2022) was an Iranian poet and writer who gained recognition for his works exploring themes of love, mysticism, and social commentary.
Jemal Abdulloev (born 1945) is a renowned Tajik composer and musician, known for his contributions to the traditional music of Tajikistan and his efforts in preserving the country's cultural heritage.
Jemal Govardhan (1938-2000) was an Indian actor and comedian, known for his comedic roles in numerous Bollywood films and television shows, particularly in the 1970s and 1980s.
The name Jemal has maintained its popularity over the centuries, and while its usage may vary across different regions and cultures, it continues to hold significance and historical relevance, particularly in the Arabic and Islamic world.
People
Jemal + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Jemal as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with J
Other first names starting with J with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Jemal: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Jemal?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 845 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Jemal 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 405,626 US residents.
Is Jemal a common name?
We classify Jemal as "Very Rare". It ranks above 89% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 901 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Jemal most popular?
The single biggest year for Jemal was 1969, when 204 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Jemal is about 43 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Jemal a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Jemal in the SSA data are male. 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.