Najma
A feminine Arabic name that means "star."
Name Census estimates that about 853 living Americans carry the first name Najma. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Najma today is around 16 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Najma births was 2016 (38 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Najma. 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
853
~ 1 in 401,822 Americans
Peak year
2016
38 babies that year
Average age
16
years old
2024 SSA rank
#6,305
Tracked since 1983
Popularity
Najma: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Najma 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 307 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2000s peak, Najma remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Najma 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 Najma during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Najmas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 4 states and territories. Minnesota, Ohio, Washington recorded the most babies named Najma, while New York, Washington, Ohio recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 58 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Najma
The name Najma traces its origins to the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "najm," which means "star" or "celestial body." The name is often associated with beauty, brightness, and celestial symbolism.
In the Arabic tradition, the name Najma was likely given to girls born during a significant celestial event or under a particularly bright star. The name holds deep cultural significance, reflecting the importance placed on astronomy and celestial bodies in the region's history.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Najma can be found in the 10th century work "Kitab al-Aghani" (The Book of Songs), a celebrated anthology of Arabic poetry and songs. The name is mentioned in a poem describing a beautiful woman with the radiance of a star.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Najma. Najma Heptulla (born 1940) is an Indian politician and former Governor of Manipur. Najma Heptulla served as the Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament.
Najma Akbar (born 1939) is a Pakistani writer and activist known for her work on women's rights and social issues. She is the author of several books, including "Blasphemy and the Govern," which explores the misuse of blasphemy laws in Pakistan.
Najma Sadeque (1937-2018) was a renowned Bangladeshi journalist and writer. She was the founding editor of the Bangladeshi women's magazine "Begum" and played a significant role in promoting women's education and empowerment in her country.
Najma Ayaz (born 1956) is a Pakistani television and film actress known for her work in both Urdu and Punjabi productions. She has received several awards, including the Pride of Performance from the Government of Pakistan.
Najma Khan (born 1956) is a British-Pakistani actress and comedian. She is known for her work in television shows like "Goodness Gracious Me" and "Citizen Khan," where she has explored themes of cultural identity and humor.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Najma throughout history, reflecting its cultural significance and enduring popularity across various regions and eras.
People
Najma + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Najma 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
Najma: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Najma?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 853 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Najma 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 401,822 US residents.
Is Najma a common name?
We classify Najma as "Very Rare". It ranks above 89.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 864 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Najma most popular?
The single biggest year for Najma was 2016, when 38 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Najma is about 16 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Najma a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Najma 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.