Naimah
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "bliss" or "delight".
Name Census estimates that about 1,592 living Americans carry the first name Naimah. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Naimah today is around 25 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Naimah births was 2011 (77 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Naimah. 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
1.6K
~ 1 in 215,298 Americans
Peak year
2011
77 babies that year
Average age
25
years old
2024 SSA rank
#6,825
Tracked since 1976
Popularity
Naimah: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Naimah from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 442 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
Naimah 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 Naimah during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Naimahs live
The SSA's state-level files cover 12 states and territories. New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania recorded the most babies named Naimah, while Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 49 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Naimah
Naimah is an Arabic name derived from the root word "na'ama," which means "to be blessed" or "to live in comfort and happiness." The name is predominantly found in the Middle East and North Africa, regions where Arabic culture and language have a strong presence.
The earliest recorded use of the name Naimah can be traced back to the 7th century CE, during the time of the Islamic Golden Age. It is believed that the name was initially given to girls born into affluent or noble families, as it symbolized the wish for a life of blessings and contentment.
In the 9th century, a renowned Muslim scholar and poet named Naimah bint al-Hasan al-Kindia gained recognition for her contributions to literature and poetry. She was born in Kufa, Iraq, and her works were widely celebrated during her lifetime.
Another notable historical figure with the name Naimah was Naimah al-Watariyah, a 10th-century mystic and Sufi saint from present-day Syria. She was revered for her spiritual teachings and is said to have influenced many followers during her time.
In the 12th century, a prominent female scholar and jurist named Naimah bint Yahya al-Qurashiyah made significant contributions to the field of Islamic jurisprudence. Her writings and legal opinions were highly regarded, and she was recognized for her extensive knowledge of Islamic law.
During the Ottoman Empire, a 16th-century Ottoman princess named Naimah Sultan gained prominence as the daughter of Sultan Selim II. She played an influential role in the imperial court and was known for her patronage of the arts and architecture.
While the name Naimah has deep roots in Arabic culture and Islamic history, it has also been adopted by various communities around the world, transcending cultural and religious boundaries. The name continues to carry the essence of its original meaning, representing the aspiration for a life filled with blessings and happiness.
People
Naimah + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Naimah as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with N
Other first names starting with N with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Naimah: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Naimah?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,592 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Naimah 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 215,298 US residents.
Is Naimah a common name?
We classify Naimah as "Rare". It ranks above 92.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,641 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Naimah most popular?
The single biggest year for Naimah was 2011, when 77 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Naimah is about 25 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Naimah a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Naimah 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.