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Basma

Girl name · Arabic

Meaningsmile · Arabic

Basma is an Arabic girl name meaning “smile”. Arabic names are often chosen for a virtue or a blessing parents hope their child will carry. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.

Did you know?

  • GenerationBasma peaked in 2017, which makes it a Gen Alpha name. The typical Basma you'd meet today is about 8 years old.
  • Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Basma would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 100,000 baby girls got the name in 2025.
  • HistoryBasma first shows up in US birth records in 1980, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 45 years since.
Baby girl in a white dress sitting in the grass
hello, little Basma

US births per million girls, 1980–2025

08.517198020002025

Similar names

Girl name: AsmaGirl name: KarismaGirl name: CharismaGirl name: EsmaUnisex name: BashGirl name: Basha
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).

About the name Basma

Basma is a girl name of Arabic origin meaning “smile”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the open vowel at the end makes it sound soft and warm. It hit its peak in the 2010s and is climbing again now. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.

Origin:Arabic names

More Arabic girl names

Questions about the name Basma

What does the name Basma mean?

Basma means “smile” and comes from Arabic. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Ibtisam (“smile”), Emiri (“often smile and jasmine”), Ebtisam (“smile”) and Miso (“smile”).

What is the origin of the name Basma?

Basma is Arabic in origin. Other Arabic names to consider are Eleanor (“possibly light”), Layla (“night”), Lyla (“night”) and Aaliyah (“exalted”).

Is Basma a boy or girl name?

Basma is a girl name. In 2025, 16 US girls were named Basma.

How popular is the name Basma?

Basma ranked #6,838 for US girls in 2025, given to 16 babies. Its best year was 2017, when it reached #4,695. Over the last five years it has climbed 374 places.

What names are similar to Basma?

If you like Basma, you might also like Ibtisam, Emiri, Ebtisam and Miso.

What should I know before naming my baby Basma?

Basma is an Arabic girl name meaning “smile”. Arabic names are often chosen for a virtue or a blessing parents hope their child will carry. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.