Narma
An Indian feminine name of uncertain meaning.
Name Census estimates that about 2 living Americans carry the first name Narma. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Narma today is around 87 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Narma births was 1917 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Narma. 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
- • The typical person named Narma is about 87 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Narmas were born before 1949.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Narma. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
2
~ 1 in 171,377,169 Americans
Peak year
1917
6 babies that year
Average age
87
years old
1940 SSA rank
#4,215
Tracked since 1917
Popularity
Narma: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Narma from the 1910s through to the 1940s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1940s, with 6 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Narma 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 Narma during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Narma
The name Narma is believed to have its origins in the ancient Tamil language of southern India, dating back to the 3rd century BCE. It is derived from the Tamil word "Narma," which means "pleasant" or "delightful." This name was primarily used in the regions of Tamil Nadu and neighboring areas where Tamil culture flourished.
One of the earliest known references to the name Narma can be found in the ancient Tamil epic, "Silappadikaram," written by the renowned poet Ilango Adigal. In this epic, Narma is mentioned as the name of a character, suggesting the name's usage during the Sangam period of Tamil literature (300 BCE to 300 CE).
The first recorded instance of an individual bearing the name Narma dates back to the 6th century CE. Narma Pallavamalla was a Tamil poet and scholar who lived during the reign of the Pallava dynasty in the Tamil region. His works, which included poetry and commentary on ancient Tamil texts, contributed significantly to the preservation and propagation of Tamil literature.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the name Narma. One of the most prominent figures was Narma Sarasvati, a 12th-century Hindu philosopher and scholar from the Advaita Vedanta tradition. Narma Sarasvati's writings and teachings heavily influenced the development of Advaita philosophy, and his works are still widely studied and revered today.
Another significant figure was Narma Nayaka, a 16th-century ruler of the Vijayanagar Empire in southern India. Narma Nayaka was known for his patronage of arts and literature, and his reign saw the construction of several architectural marvels, including the Hazara Rama Temple in Hampi.
In the field of literature, Narma Sivam was a renowned Tamil poet and playwright who lived in the 19th century. His works, which explored themes of social justice and human emotions, have left a lasting impact on Tamil literature and continue to be widely read and performed.
Narma Muppanar, a 20th-century Tamil scholar and author, made significant contributions to the study and preservation of Tamil language and literature. His works included translations of ancient Tamil texts, as well as original literary compositions that celebrated the rich cultural heritage of the Tamil people.
While the name Narma has its roots in ancient Tamil culture, it has transcended geographical boundaries and found its way into other cultures and languages over time. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in the Tamil tradition, serving as a testament to the enduring legacy of this ancient language and its influence on the world.
People
Narma + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Narma 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
Narma: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Narma?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 2 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Narma 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 171,377,169 US residents.
Is Narma a common name?
We classify Narma as "Very Rare". It ranks above 4.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 12 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Narma most popular?
The single biggest year for Narma was 1917, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Narma is about 87 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Narma in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Narma a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Narma 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.
Is Narma still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Narma in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Narma can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people share the name Narma?
Want to know how many Americans are named Narma? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.