Jamala
- US rank
- Unranked
- Syllables
- 3
- Peak
- #5,427 in 1979
0 babies were named Jamala in the US in 2025.
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US births per million girls, 1972–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Jamala you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- HistoryJamala first shows up in US birth records in 1972, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 53 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 1979, when it reached #5,427.
About the name Jamala
Jamala is a girl name of African and Swahili origin. It has 6 letters and 3 syllables, starting with J and ending in “-ala”. US birth records list Jamala for girls from 1972 to 2001, in 15 of those 30 years. Its best year was 1979, when it ranked #5,427 among girl names. It hasn't been given to 5 or more US babies in a year since 2001, so today it's a genuinely rare choice.
Origin:African namesSwahili names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5.1 | 197,044 girls |
| 1980s | 1.9 | 534,759 girls |
| 1990s | 0.3 | 3,703,704 girls |
| 2000s | 1.4 | 714,286 girls |
More African girl names
- Girl name: Layla · night
- Girl name: Aisha · alive
- Girl name: Amber · amber resin
- Girl name: Zahra · radiant, bright
- Unisex name: Amani · peace
- Girl name: Salma · safe, peaceful
- Girl name: Khadija · premature child
- Girl name: Xolani · peace
Questions about the name Jamala
What is the origin of the name Jamala?
Jamala has African, Swahili roots in our records. Other African names include Layla, Aisha, Amber.
Is Jamala a boy or girl name?
Jamala is a girl name.
How popular is the name Jamala?
Jamala is rare: fewer than 5 US girls got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 2001. It peaked at #5,427 in 1979.