Lamya
An Arabic name meaning "beautiful, captivating night black-haired woman".
Name Census estimates that about 2,006 living Americans carry the first name Lamya. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Lamya today is around 17 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Lamya births was 2007 (162 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Lamya. 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
- • Lamya is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 17 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.
People living today
2.0K
~ 1 in 170,865 Americans
Peak year
2007
162 babies that year
Average age
17
years old
2024 SSA rank
#11,656
Tracked since 1981
Popularity
Lamya: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Lamya from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 1,051 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Lamya 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 Lamya during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Lamyas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 24 states and territories. Illinois, Michigan, Ohio recorded the most babies named Lamya, while Wisconsin, Delaware, Oklahoma recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 40 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Lamya
The given name Lamya has its origins in Arabic, originating from the ancient Semitic language family. It is derived from the Arabic word "lam'a," which means "a flash of light" or "brilliance." The name is believed to have been in use since ancient times in the Middle East and North Africa.
In Islamic tradition, Lamya is mentioned as one of the names of the Prophet Muhammad's wives. However, there is some debate among scholars about the authenticity of this claim.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lamya dates back to the 8th century, when it was mentioned in Arabic poetry and literature. Lamya bint Abi Dhu'ayb, a renowned Arab poetess from the 7th century, was known for her eloquence and her contributions to pre-Islamic Arabic poetry.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Lamya. Lamya al-Amiri (1175-1209) was a famous Andalusian poet and writer from Spain. Her works were widely admired and influenced the literary traditions of her time.
Lamya al-Ghul (1894-1982) was a prominent Lebanese novelist and activist. She was known for her efforts in promoting women's rights and her literary works that explored social and political issues.
Lamya Majed (born 1985) is a Kuwaiti actress and television personality. She has starred in several popular television shows and films in the Gulf region.
Lamya Mahmoud (born 1979) is an Egyptian singer and actress. She has released several successful albums and has appeared in various television series and movies.
Lamya Kaddor (born 1978) is a German scholar and social activist of Syrian descent. She is known for her work in promoting interfaith dialogue and addressing issues related to Islam in Europe.
The name Lamya has maintained its popularity across various cultures and regions, particularly in the Arab world and parts of Europe, where it is often chosen for its beautiful meaning and historical significance.
People
Lamya + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Lamya as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with L
Other first names starting with L with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Lamya: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Lamya?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 2,006 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Lamya 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 170,865 US residents.
Is Lamya a common name?
We classify Lamya as "Rare". It ranks above 93.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 2,032 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Lamya most popular?
The single biggest year for Lamya was 2007, when 162 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Lamya is about 17 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Lamya a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Lamya 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.