Reshma
A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "long dark eyelashes".
Name Census estimates that about 424 living Americans carry the first name Reshma. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Reshma today is around 36 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Reshma births was 2000 (21 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Reshma. 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.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Reshma with official rankings and popularity over time.
People living today
424
~ 1 in 808,383 Americans
Peak year
2000
21 babies that year
Average age
36
years old
2017 SSA rank
#17,900
Tracked since 1972
Census
Reshma in the 2020 Census
The 2020 Census recorded 2,439 people with the first name Reshma, which placed it at #6,547 in the published first-name tables. This is a snapshot of people who already had the name at the time of the Census.
The SSA sections elsewhere on this page answer a different question: how often parents gave the name to babies over time. The "people living today" figure on this page is different again: it is a current estimate built from SSA birth records and age-based survival rates, so the two numbers are not expected to match exactly.
2020 Census rank
#6,547
National first-name rank
People counted
2.4K
2,439 in the published race/origin table
Per 100,000
0.8
People with this name in 2020
Largest reported group
Asian and Pacific Islander
90.1% of people with this name
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Reshma
In the 2020 Census race and Hispanic-origin table, the largest reported group for people named Reshma is Asian/Pacific Islander at 90.1%. The next largest groups are Black (4.6%) and White (2.6%). These figures describe the people who had the name in 2020, not any inherent property of the name itself.
The bar chart below shows how people with the first name Reshma described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given name, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown so the breakdown is easy to read across every published category. Because the 2020 Census first-name file also includes raw headcounts for each group, Name Census can show those alongside the percentages in the legend and hover tooltip.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A first name does not determine a person's race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the name Reshma at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander90.1% · 2,198
- Black or African American4.6% · 111
- White2.6% · 63
- Two or more races1.5% · 37
- Hispanic or Latino0.8% · 20
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.4% · 10
Popularity
Reshma: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Reshma from the 1970s through to the 2010s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 143 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1980s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Reshma 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 Reshma during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Reshmas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. New York, Illinois, California recorded the most babies named Reshma, while California, Illinois, New York recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 22 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Reshma
The name Reshma finds its origins in the Sanskrit language, with its roots stretching back to ancient India. It is derived from the word "Rashmika," which translates to "a ray of light" or "beam of light." This poetic name carries a symbolic meaning associated with brightness, warmth, and radiance.
In Hindu mythology, the name Reshma is closely linked to the goddess Lakshmi, the embodiment of beauty, prosperity, and fortune. Lakshmi is often depicted holding lotus flowers, which are associated with purity and enlightenment. This connection suggests that the name Reshma may have been bestowed upon individuals with the hope of bringing them divine blessings and auspiciousness.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Reshma can be traced back to ancient Sanskrit texts and inscriptions from the 5th century BCE. It was a popular name among the royal and aristocratic families of ancient India, particularly in regions such as Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Reshma. One of the most famous was Reshma Shrestha (1976-2008), a Nepalese singer and songwriter renowned for her contributions to the Nepali music industry. Her melodious voice and soulful compositions garnered her widespread acclaim and a dedicated fan following.
Another prominent figure was Reshma Dordi (1932-2012), an Indian classical vocalist and Padma Shri awardee, who was celebrated for her mastery of the Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana. Her performances and teachings left an indelible mark on the world of Hindustani classical music.
In the realm of literature, Reshma Kripalani (1916-2003) was an Indian author and activist who played a significant role in the Indian independence movement. Her memoirs and works shed light on the struggles and triumphs of the era, making her a influential voice in India's literary landscape.
Reshma Shetty (born 1977) is a renowned Indian classical dancer and choreographer, known for her contributions to the preservation and promotion of the Kuchipudi dance form. Her performances have been acclaimed globally, and she has received numerous accolades for her artistic excellence.
Reshma Qureshi (born 1957) is an acclaimed Pakistani artist and activist, recognized for her advocacy work for acid attack survivors. Her efforts have raised awareness and provided support to countless individuals, earning her international acclaim and numerous honors, including the Amnesty International Human Rights Defender Award.
The name Reshma has transcended cultures and borders, carrying with it a rich tapestry of history, symbolism, and artistic expression. Its enduring popularity is a testament to the enduring appeal of its meaning and the remarkable individuals who have borne this name throughout the ages.
People
Reshma + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Reshma as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with R
Other first names starting with R with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Reshma: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Reshma?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 424 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Reshma 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 808,383 US residents.
Is Reshma a common name?
We classify Reshma as "Very Rare". It ranks above 82.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 446 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Reshma most popular?
The single biggest year for Reshma was 2000, when 21 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Reshma is about 36 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
How common was Reshma in the 2020 Census?
The published 2020 Census first-name tables recorded 2,439 people with the name Reshma, or 0.81 per 100,000 residents. That placed it at #6,547 in the national Census ranking for first names.
Why is the Census count different from the living estimate?
Because they measure different things. The Census figure is a count of people who had the name Reshma in 2020. The living estimate aims to answer a current question instead: how many people with the name are alive today, based on SSA birth records and age-based survival rates. Since one number is a 2020 snapshot and the other is a present-day estimate, they are not expected to be identical.
What does the Census say about the gender split for Reshma?
In the 2020 Census sex table, Reshma appears almost entirely female. Of the 2,435 people counted with this name, 99.6% were female and only a very small share were male. The Census view is a snapshot of people living with the name in 2020, while the SSA section above tracks births across time.
What does the Census say about the background of people named Reshma?
In the 2020 Census race and Hispanic-origin table, the largest reported group for people named Reshma is Asian/Pacific Islander at 90.1%. The next largest groups are Black (4.6%) and White (2.6%). These figures describe the people who had the name in 2020, not any inherent property of the name itself. The percentages in the chart above come from self-reported race and Hispanic-origin responses in the 2020 Census.
Which group reports the name Reshma most often in the Census?
Asian/Pacific Islander is the largest reported group for people named Reshma in the 2020 Census, accounting for 90.1% (2,198 people in the published table).
Why can the Census sex total and race total differ slightly?
The Census Bureau published separate 2020 tables for sex and for race/Hispanic origin, and the released figures can differ slightly because of privacy protection in the public files. That is why this page treats the gender section and the race/origin section as two related snapshots instead of forcing them into one identical total.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only includes names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files have no Census demographic snapshot. When that happens, the SSA trend, gender history, and state sections still appear, but the 2020 Census demographic sections are omitted.
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 Reshma in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Reshma a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Reshma 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 Reshma still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Reshma 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 Reshma 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.
How many Americans are named Reshma?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.