Holding steady.
Popularity of Isma since 1895
Babies named Isma per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1914, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Isma's real moment was 1899.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 10 |
| 1900s | 5 |
| 1910s | 30 |
| 1920s | 9 |
| 1930s | 0 |
| 1940s | 0 |
| 1950s | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 16 |
| 2010s | 15 |
| 2020s | 23 |
Meaning & origin
Isma is an exceedingly rare name in the United States, with its first recorded appearance in 1895. Its peak year was 1899, and it has remained stable at extremely low usage levels since. The name has never cracked the top 1000, and in most years it is given to fewer than five children nationwide. Despite its obscurity, Isma has a soft, vintage feel that might appeal to parents seeking a truly unusual name. Its origins are uncertain, possibly a feminine variant of Ismael or a creative spelling of names like Ismay. Because the name has no traditional etymology or cultural roots, it offers a clean slate for a child to define. Its stable trajectory and lack of any recorded usage history suggest it has never been widely adopted, making it a distinctive choice for those who value rarity.
Isma is a rare name that likely arose as a feminine variant of Ismael or as a shortened form of longer names like Ismay or Ismar. It first appeared in the late 19th century, with a small peak in 1899, but has remained extremely uncommon. Its origins are obscure, and it has no well-attested traditional meaning.
“Isma” around the world
Where Isma lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
10
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Sibling names for Isma
Names that share Isma's style, for a brother or sister.
