Najma
Meaningstar · Arabic
Najma is an Arabic girl name meaning “star”. 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?
- Scrabble scoreIf names were allowed in Scrabble, Najma would score 14 points, thanks largely to the J (worth 8).
- GenerationNajma peaked in 2001, which makes it a Gen Z name. The typical Najma you'd meet today is about 24 years old.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Najma would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 76,336 baby girls got the name in 2025.
- HistoryNajma first shows up in US birth records in 1983, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 42 years since.
- Where it's lovedWant to meet a lot of Najmas? Head to Minnesota, where it's the #659 girl name, its best showing of any state.
US births per million girls, 1983–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Najma
Najma is a girl name of Arabic origin meaning “star”. 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 2000s, so it feels familiar without being trendy. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Arabic names
More Arabic girl names
- Girl name: Eleanor · possibly light
- Girl name: Layla · night
- Girl name: Lyla · night
- Girl name: Aaliyah · exalted
- Girl name: Amira · princess
- Girl name: Lilly · lily flower
- Girl name: Leila · night
- Girl name: Aliyah · ascent
Questions about the name Najma
What does the name Najma mean?
Najma means “star” and comes from Arabic. Names built around “star” have been loved for generations, and give a child a meaning worth sharing when someone asks about their name. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Stella (“star”), Esther (“star”), Estella (“star”) and Estelle (“star”).
What is the origin of the name Najma?
Najma is Arabic in origin. Other Arabic names to consider are Eleanor (“possibly light”), Layla (“night”), Lyla (“night”) and Aaliyah (“exalted”).
Is Najma a boy or girl name?
Najma is a girl name. In 2025, 21 US girls were named Najma.
How popular is the name Najma?
Najma ranked #5,722 for US girls in 2025, given to 21 babies. Its best year was 2001, when it reached #3,785. Over the last five years it has slipped 1,459 places.
What names are similar to Najma?
If you like Najma, you might also like Stella, Esther, Estella and Estelle.
What should I know before naming my baby Najma?
Najma is an Arabic girl name meaning “star”. 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.